Post by Lawdog on Apr 26, 2011 15:54:51 GMT -5
Walker a Man Among Boys: One of the top high school players in the country resides in Bonifay, Fla., which has a population of 2,780 and a city limit that extends just 3.6 miles. Very few people have heard of the small town, but Chris Walker may change that.
The 6-foot-9 phenom is putting Bonifay on the map and talent evaluators are coming from across the country to see him play. This season, Walker turned heads when he averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds, 8 blocks, 5 assists and 3 steals. He drew comparisons to Kevin Durant as he filled highlight reels with poster dunks and cringe-worthy blocks.
More impressive than his stat line, however, is that fact that's he's only a sophomore.
Walker is one of the top prospects in the class of 2013, but he had no problem dominating players that were, in some cases, two years older than him. Despite being the youngest player on the floor on some nights, he was almost always the main attraction.
"How can you not like him? He has a chance to be great," said one scout.
Many of the top programs in the country also like what they see in Walker. He currently has offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina State, Tennessee, UCF, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. He has also received interest from Baylor, Clemson, Connecticut, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, North Carolina and Ohio State. With so many schools making offers and recruiting him, he has an ever-changing top five.
"Right now, I do have a top five. It's Kentucky, Florida, Florida State, Syracuse and Kansas," Walker told HOOPSWORLD in a phone interview.
Unlike most players of his stature, Walker is comfortable in his body because he had his growth spurt at a young age. In the summer before middle school, he went from being one of the tallest kids in his class to one of the talent people in his town.
By the time he entered sixth grade, he was towering over his peers at 6-foot-5 and learning how to use his height to his advantage on the court. He has had years to adjust to his size, which is why he's so agile and athletic.
"I'd say my strengths are running the floor, beating the defender down the court, being efficient at the rim, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds," Walker said.
At 16 years old, there's also the possibility that he'll continue growing.
"Doctors aren't sure how tall I'll be when I stop growing; they don't even know," Walker said. "If I had to guess, I'd say I end up somewhere around 6-foot-10 or 6-foot-11. We'll see."
-NBAnews
The 6-foot-9 phenom is putting Bonifay on the map and talent evaluators are coming from across the country to see him play. This season, Walker turned heads when he averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds, 8 blocks, 5 assists and 3 steals. He drew comparisons to Kevin Durant as he filled highlight reels with poster dunks and cringe-worthy blocks.
More impressive than his stat line, however, is that fact that's he's only a sophomore.
Walker is one of the top prospects in the class of 2013, but he had no problem dominating players that were, in some cases, two years older than him. Despite being the youngest player on the floor on some nights, he was almost always the main attraction.
"How can you not like him? He has a chance to be great," said one scout.
Many of the top programs in the country also like what they see in Walker. He currently has offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina State, Tennessee, UCF, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. He has also received interest from Baylor, Clemson, Connecticut, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, North Carolina and Ohio State. With so many schools making offers and recruiting him, he has an ever-changing top five.
"Right now, I do have a top five. It's Kentucky, Florida, Florida State, Syracuse and Kansas," Walker told HOOPSWORLD in a phone interview.
Unlike most players of his stature, Walker is comfortable in his body because he had his growth spurt at a young age. In the summer before middle school, he went from being one of the tallest kids in his class to one of the talent people in his town.
By the time he entered sixth grade, he was towering over his peers at 6-foot-5 and learning how to use his height to his advantage on the court. He has had years to adjust to his size, which is why he's so agile and athletic.
"I'd say my strengths are running the floor, beating the defender down the court, being efficient at the rim, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds," Walker said.
At 16 years old, there's also the possibility that he'll continue growing.
"Doctors aren't sure how tall I'll be when I stop growing; they don't even know," Walker said. "If I had to guess, I'd say I end up somewhere around 6-foot-10 or 6-foot-11. We'll see."
-NBAnews
