National recruiting analysts break down Cason Wallace's game with KSR

Cason Wallace has committed to Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats over Tennessee, Texas and UTSA, among other offers.

The addition gives UK its fourth commitment in the class, with Wallace joining fellow top-15 prospects Shaedon Sharpe (No. 1), Chris Livingston (No. 5) and Skyy Clark (No. 13) in the On3 Consensus Rankings.

What does Wallace bring to the table as a player and how does he fit in alongside UK’s other commitments? KSR spoke with national basketball analysts from On3, ESPN, 247Sports, and Rivals to get their thoughts on the newest Wildcat’s game.

Gerry Hamilton – On3 Sports (Senior National Recruiting Analyst)

Cason Wallace plays both ends of the floor better than anyone in the 2022 cycle. He always guards the opponent’s best player at the high school level, then turns around and runs a state-ranked team. His competitive fire is not matched by many. As his offensive game has expanded on the perimeter, he’s ascended to be a top-10 player in the country. His work and improved confidence from the three-point line is clearly evident. He’s got a wiry strong frame that can absorb contact, and stay under control to finish.

Doesn’t make the wow play with the ball, but makes the correct play a very high percentage of the time. Makes free throws. Wants the ball when it matters most. Will guard multiple positions at the next level. Plays as well without the ball, as with the ball. Both quick enough and fast enough. Uses all his athletic gifts to make winning plays.

High IQ player. Will understand how to fit in well at the next level, and beyond. Makes a team better every day when the cameras aren’t rolling. Understands the process for maximizing his talent.

Paul Biancardi – ESPN (National Recruiting Director)

Wallace is a true combination guard and a two-way contributor because he can be effective with the ball, be a threat off the ball and defend with impact. 

As a scoring guard, he is productive. His jumper is solid and he gets into the paint with a strong finish game. As a facilitator, he can handle the ball on the break and find the open man with regularity. His penetration and kick game has vision and is on point. Ownership to run the offense is the next step. 

A high-end defender who uses his grit and quickness to lock down opposing ball-handlers or to chase shooters off screens. Wallace is a smart steal defender with quick hands and is a positional defender with instincts. 

His team play, toughness, and game focus makes him a great teammate and difficult to play against. 

Travis Branham – 247Sports (National Basketball Analyst)

The biggest thing that stands out to me about Cason’s game is that he’s a winner. He doesn’t have a sexy game, making flashy plays and scoring a lot of points but he impacts the game in every way and does dirty work. He’s an elite defender, a good positional rebounder, has a knack for coming up with loose balls, shares the basketball and can score from all three levels.

Jamie Shaw – Rivals (National Basketball Recruiting Analyst)

Cason had one of the best Summers of any player in the 2022 class. He showed to be a true combo guard, comfortable as a scorer or a secondary ball handler. Defensively, Wallace uses his toughness, anticipation, and quickness to be one of the premier perimeter defenders in his class. Every Batman needs a Robin, Wallace makes everyone around him better.

Pilgrim’s Take

Wallace is one of the toughest, most competitive players in the senior class. As a result, the winning has followed him at every stop and in every setting.

What makes him such a winner? He’s a versatile do-it-all guard willing to fight on both ends of the floor. On offense, he’s capable of playing both on- and off-ball at all three perimeter positions, fitting in as a plug-and-play piece. As a primary ball-handler, he controls the pace of the game well and executes the offense, creating easy scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates with paint touches. In attack mode, Wallace is a crafty finisher at the rim who is comfortable scoring through contact. As an off-ball guard, he’s proven to be a consistent catch-and-shoot threat from deep.

His greatest value comes as a defender, though, as he’s comfortable guarding one through three. He’s physical and instinctual, leading to forced turnovers and scoring opportunities in transition at the other end of the floor. Wallace takes it upon himself to cover the opposing team’s best perimeter player, rarely losing those head-to-head battles.

With Shaedon Sharpe, Chris Livingston and Skyy Clark already committed for 2022, it’s hard to find a better complementary piece than Cason Wallace.