It’s time to get to know the newest – and youngest – member of the Boston Celtics: Jordan Walsh.
The C’s selected Walsh with their only pick of the 2023 NBA Draft at No. 38 overall out of the University of Arkansas. He’s a 6-foot-7 forward with a massive 7-foot-3 wingspan, which he uses to wreak havoc on the defensive end.
Walsh was also a pleasant surprise offensively during July’s Summer League session in Las Vegas, where he was Boston’s leading scorer at 16.0 points per game while shooting 40.7 percent from 3-point range.
Now, let’s get to know Walsh on a more personal level as he gets ready for his rookie season. Here are his Five Facts:
- He shares a birthday with Jayson Tatum. Walsh was born March 3, 2004, exactly six years after Tatum. Yet somehow, they’re both just 19 years old (😉).
- Walsh grew up in DeSoto, Texas, the hometown of many accomplished NFL players such as Hall-of-Famer Tim Brown, former New England Patriot Ellis Hobbs, current Patriot Jalen Mills, and eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller.
- Walsh has Alopecia, which is “a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss,” according to the National Institutes of Health. He has dedicated much of his free time to raising awareness about alopecia and has become a mentor to children dealing with the autoimmune disease. Other athletes with alopecia include former NBA forward and mentor of Walsh, Charlie Villanueva, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and former NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Shazier.
- During his freshman year of high school, Walsh led Faith and Family to a 36-6 record and its first Class 4A state title. In the championship game, he slammed home the game-winning dunk just before the final buzzer for a 53-51 win.
- Walsh was a consensus Top 25 recruit in the high school class of 2022. He was ranked 11 by ESPN, 19 by 247Sports, and 24 by Rivals. ESPN also ranked him as the No. 1 player from Texas and the No. 4 small forward in the nation.