FRESHMAN SEASON (2020-21)
Averaged 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks • Shot 57.8 percent from the floor  • Earned co-ACC Freshman of the Week honors for his performances against Marquette on February 24 and Florida State on February 27 • Scored 94 of his 127 points and made 38 of his 52 field goals in the last 11 games • Scored in double figures five times with a season-high 20 at home against Florida State • Grabbed 45 of his 94 rebounds (47.9 percent) on the offensive boards • Set or matched season scoring and field goal highs in five straight games from February 13-27.

First career double-double (16 points and 12 rebounds) and a season-high and UNC freshman record eight blocks in the ACC second round win over Notre Dame • Set all-time ACC Tournament freshman record with eight blocks (previous was six by Duke’s Mike Gminski in 1977 and Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan in 1994) • Previous UNC record for any ACC Tourney game was six by Eric Montross in 1994 • Made 7 of 11 field goals, had five offensive rebounds and two steals • Won UNC’s defensive player of the game honors for the second time • Blocked three shots in the home win over Duke • Season- and game-high 20 points, nine field goals (in 10 attempts), five offensive rebounds, eight rebounds and four blocks in the 78-70 win over ACC-leading Florida State • Started the second half vs. the Seminoles and went 7 for 7 from the floor for 14 points (four more than his previous game high) in 12:18 of second-half action • Also won his first defensive player of the game award vs. FSU • Made five field goals and matched his previous scoring high again with 10 points vs. Marquette • Season-high three assists, all in the first half as UNC built a 48-29 lead, scored 10 points and had two steals against Louisville • Then-season highs in points (10), rebounds (7) and assists (2) vs. Northeastern • Led UNC with a then-season-high nine points and added five rebounds in 12 minutes at Virginia • Six rebounds and had three blocks and three steals at NC State • Key player in Carolina’s late first-half surge at NC State • Seven points and six rebounds vs. UNLV • Missed two weeks of practice leading up to the first game due to Covid safety protocols • Had six points and four rebounds in four minutes in college debut vs. Charleston.
 

MOST BLOCKED SHOTS  — GAME, UNC

10    Brendan Haywood vs. Miami (Fla.), Dec. 4, 2000

  9    John Henson vs. Michigan State, Nov. 11, 2011 

    in San Diego (on USS Carl Vinson)

  9    Warren Martin vs. Stanford, Dec. 20, 1985

*8    Walker Kessler vs. Notre Dame, March 10, 2021 in Greensboro

^8    Brice Johnson vs. Florida Gulf Coast, March 17, 2016 in Raleigh

  8    Brendan Haywood vs. Tulsa, Nov. 11, 2000

MOST BLOCKS — GAME, UNC FRESHMEN

*8    Walker Kessler vs. Notre Dame, March 10, 2021 in Greensboro

 6    Armando Bacot vs. Oregon, Nov. 29, 2019 in The Bahamas

 6    Ed Davis at Virginia Tech, March 4, 2009

 6    Rasheed Wallace vs. Virginia, Feb. 19, 1994

 6    Rasheed Wallace vs. NC State, Jan. 5, 1994

MOST BLOCKS — ACC TOURNAMENT GAME, ALL FRESHMEN

*8    Walker Kessler vs. Notre Dame, March 10, 2021 in Greensboro

 6    Tim Duncan, Wake Forest vs. Georgia Tech, 1994

 6    Mike Gminski, Duke vs. Clemson, 1977

PREP
The 2020 Gatorade High School Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Georgia Player of the Year • Named to the 2020 McDonald’s All-American Game and Nike Hoop Summit • As a senior, led Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.) to the first boys basketball state title in the school’s 120-year history • Played at Woodward for Coach Anthony Thomas • Career totals include 2,003 points, 1,185 rebounds and 524 blocks • Averaged 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.2 blocked shots, 1.3 steals and 1.2 assists as a senior • In a February 2020 game against Sandy Creek, which featured the state’s top-ranked junior, he scored 33 points on 14 of 25 shooting with 13 rebounds and three blocks • As a junior, averaged 21.0 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.4 blocks • Participated in a 2019 minicamp for the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team.
 
PERSONAL
Born Walker Ross Kessler on July 26, 2001, in Atlanta • Is the son of Dr. Chad and Andrea Kessler • Member of the National Honor Society • His father played basketball at Georgia from 1983-87, scored 675 career points, won Academic All-America honors and was a fifth-round NBA Draft pick by the L.A. Clippers in 1987 • Walker’s brother, Houston, played at Georgia from 2013-17 • His uncle, the late Alec Kessler, earned All-SEC honors at Georgia, where he led the Bulldogs to the 1990 SEC championship • Alec is Georgia’s second-leading career scorer and was selected by Houston with the ninth pick in the 1990 NBA Draft • Plays the guitar.