Few central Pa. players ever made it to NBA. Jarace Walker set to join that elite list.
They still talk about the elementary school kid who dribbled a basketball through his New Freedom neighborhood every day.
Jarace Walker never relented, even then. It still amazes those who know him best how he never hesitated to go to a practice, a game, a training opportunity of any kind.
Never balked at taking advantage of his prodigious size, at improving his blessed, innate abilities.
That's a big part of why the York County native is about to become an NBA Draft pick − a projected top 10 "lottery pick," at that.
He will become a member of an ultra-select group. Less than 20 central Pa.-bred players have ever played in the NBA. Only two were drafted as high as Walker is expected to be Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Most analysts predict him to be selected between the No. 4 (Houston Rockets) and No. 8 (Washington Wizards) picks.
"His will to work never died. It never faded off. I can never remember him once saying, 'Dad, I don’t feel like doing this today.'" Horace Walker says now.
"A lot of kids started off this journey better than Jarace ..." he said of those early days playing youth and AAU basketball.
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Of course, Walker took full advantage of his elite physical abilities, drawing crowds to Susquehannock's gym as a 6-foot-4, dunking, no-look-passing eighth-grader. Since, he attended the prestigious IMG Academy in Florida, won a high school national title and played for the No. 1-ranked Houston Cougars and legendary coach Kelvin Sampson.
After just one year of college, he's going to be the highest NBA draft pick from the area in at least 30 years − and a multi-millionaire at just 19.
He doesn't overwhelm and impress with prolific scoring and flashy ballhandling, in part, because he's never been forced or even asked to fill those roles in high school or college. Rather, he's a do-everything talent, lauded most for his defensive prowess, particularly in being able to guard smaller and larger players with equal abilities.
He plays even bigger than his nearly 6-foot-8, 240-pound build, thanks to a stunning 7-foot-plus wingspan.
"I think there's a lot more of his game we haven't seen much of yet," said Justin Haynes, one of his agents from WME Sports. "A lot more playmaking, ballhandling and wing ability he was not always able to show at IMG and Houston. He'll get more open space in the NBA, and the format will allow him to do more."
Certainly, he is entering rarified territory.
He figures to be only the third player ever with strong ties to York County to play in the NBA, following Mark Hendrickson and Del Beshore. New Cumberland's Beshore did not get drafted but made the Milwaukee Bucks after a camp tryout in 1978. The Red Land grad played in the league for two years.
Hendrickson grew up in Washington state, though he spent his summers and holidays in York County with both sides of his family. He settled in the area after being a second-round draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996 and, later, pitching for five Major League Baseball teams.
Other local basketball notables include Spring Grove and Michigan grad Eli Brooks, who's currently gunning for the NBA as a player in its development G-League. Also, 1987 York High grad Chantel Tremitiere played in the WNBA after starring at Auburn University.
Delone Catholic grads John Gabriel, Tom Sterner and Tom Conrad spent much of their working lives in the NBA in scouting, assistant coach and general manager roles. Gabriel worked his way to GM of the Orlando Magic and was inducted into the team's hall of fame in 2022.
But only about a dozen central Pa. high school grads have ever played in the NBA (this list does not include Reading and Berks County):
Bob Davies, Harrisburg
Davies, a John Harris High grad, was a Hall of Fame guard known as the "Harrisburg Houdini" for his slick ballhandling and playmaking ability. He starred in the NBA from 1948 to 1955 with the Rochester Royals.
Whitey Von Nieda, Ephrata
Von Nieda, an Ephrata High grad, played in the NBA in the 1949-50 season with the Baltimore Bullets.
Benny Stewart, York
The York Catholic star led the Irish to the PCIAA Class B State Championship before playing for Villanova. He was an 11th round draft pick of the Philadelphia Warriors in 1952.
Bob Brady, York
The York Catholic grad left San Diego State as the Aztec's leading scorer and is in their sports hall of fame. He was a seventh round pick of the Philadelphia Warriors in 1954.
Charles Dudley, Harrisburg
Dudley played in the NBA from 1972 through 1979 with the Seattle Supersonics, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls. He averaged a career-best 7.2 points per game in 1976-77 season with the Warriors.
Dave Twardzik, Middletown
A second-round pick of the ABA's Virginia Squires in 1972, where he played four seasons. Twardzik also played four years in the NBA with the Portland Trailblazers, helping them to a league title as a starting guard in 1977.
Wally Walker, Millersville
Walker, a Penn Manor High grad, was a first-round draft pick (fifth overall) by the Portland Trailblazers in 1976. He played nine seasons in the NBA, the last two with the Houston Rockets. He averaged a career-best 10 points a game in the 1981-82 season.
Del Beshore, New Cumberland
The Red Land High grad signed as an undrafted free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1978. He played one season there and another with the Chicago Bulls.
Greg Manning, Steelton
The Steel High grad went on to star for coach Lefty Driesell at the University of Marland before getting his NBA shot in 1981. He was a seventh round pick of the Denver Nuggets.
Mark Dearborn, York
The York Catholic standout and St. Joseph's University grad was drafted in the ninth round in 1982 by the Portland Trailblazers.
Sam Bowie, Lebanon
Bowie was the second overall pick in the 1984 draft by the Portland Trailblazers − one spot ahead of Michael Jordan. The former University of Kentucky star played 10 seasons in the NBA, averaging 11 points per game for his career.
Jeff Lebo, Carlisle
After starring for Dean Smith at North Carolina, Lebo went undrafted in 1989. He signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs. He played in just four NBA games.
Rod Brookin, Steelton
The Steel-High grad and former Pitt star went undrafted in 1990. He signed a brief free agent contract with the Boston Celtics.
Billy Owens, Carlisle
Owens was picked No. 3 in the 1991 NBA Draft but refused to sign with the Sacramento Kings. He was traded to Golden State. He played for a decade in the league in Golden State, Miami, Seattle, Philadelphia, Detroit and even, later, with the Kings. He averaged 11.7 points per game over his career.
Andy Panko, Harrisburg
The Bishop McDevitt grad went undrafted in 1999 out of Lebanon Valley College. He signed free agent contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks but played in only one NBA game.
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Lancaster
The Lithuanian native finished his high school career at Solanco. After starring at Maryland, he went undrafted in 1998. He signed with the Indiana Pacers in 2005 and played two seasons in the NBA.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Houston's Jarace Walker set for lottery pick in NBA Draft 2023
