Gator Country

REM08 · 10-01-2012, 11:33 AM

Pretty short, but worth reading I guess.

http://www.slamonline.com/online/the...lk-the-walk/#1

My take on kids who talk a lot is that I couldn't care less as long as they back it up and don't disrupt the team. He'd have ended up at a school like Baylor if coaches thought he wouldn't fit in well and be moldable.

Quote:

Understand, we would’ve called Chris Walker if he hadn’t called us first.

At 6-10 and a shade over 215, Walker has the requisite size for a top high school prospect. Pair those dimensions with athleticism and explosiveness equal to anyone in his class, and it’s obvious why we would’ve reached out to set up an interview. But Walker beat us to it. That’s just his style—you simply won’t find another player who combines so much talent with such a knack for self-promotion.

“People think I’m cocky,” he says, “but I’m just very confident. I’ve been putting in work since Day One, and it’s really starting to pay off now.”

A consensus top-10 national ranking, and being the focus of a recruiting war that included a slew of heavyweight programs competing for his attention, seems to justify that confidence. But that doesn’t mean he’s trying to do it alone. In July, Walker announced he was going to be a Florida Gator, ensuring the Holmes County (FL) High star would keep his talents in-state. The chance to stay close to home and play for Billy Donovan were obvious draws, but so was the chance to team with his Florida Elite AAU running mate (and fellow top-10 prospect), point guard Kasey Hill. After a terrific run with Hill on the summer camp and tournament circuit, Walker says, “I realized me and him at Florida could be like Blake and CP or LeBron and DWade.”

Walker’s size, athleticism and fierce finishing certainly bring Blake Griffin to mind, but the 17-year-old chooses to emulate that other physical specimen—the one who finally copped a ring back in June. “This is gonna sound crazy, but I feel like if I have the right trainer and put on a little weight, I can be like LeBron,” Walker says. “LeBron is just the truth, man. He’s got a great basketball IQ, he’s athletic, strong, he can shoot, pass, rebound, block shots, guard any position. At the end of the day, I just want to be as complete a player as I can. That’s my goal.”

Big as he talks, Walker knows he’s far from the finished product, citing his strength, footwork and ballhandling as skills he needs to sharpen. “I ain’t there yet,” he says. “I ain’t near there yet.” Those deficiencies well in mind, Walker’s focused on working toward a freshman year strong enough to justify a place in the 2014 NBA Draft Lottery. Where many of his peers tend to downplay the one-and-done dream while still in high school, Walker is honest about his plan. “My goal for freshman year is to average like 15 and 8, with 3 or 4 blocks, 3 or 4 assists,” he says. “Hopefully, with that, I can be a Lottery pick.”

In the meantime, he’s focused on his senior season at Holmes County, where he says he’s happy to stay after toying with the idea of transferring to a prep power. Such a move might have meant more exposure, but in that, Walker hardly needs help. After our interview, he texted us to ask if we would publish his Twitter handle, “so I can get more followers!” It’s not normally our style, but sure, in this case we can give a plug to @cwalkertime23, aka “Chris Skywalker.” And of course, he’s on Facebook, Instagram and Kik, too. Might as well get on this dude’s bandwagon now, before it gets too crowded. Although we’ve got a feeling he’ll always be happy to make room for more fans.

InstiGATOR1 · 10-01-2012, 02:33 PM

I like his enthusiasm. I wonder if it came as a shock to him when he was omitted from the first 2014 mock draft on Draftexpress.com?

**gatordee** · 10-01-2012, 02:40 PM

it is going to be an iteresting year for sure.

rserina · 10-01-2012, 04:20 PM

Donovan has a reputation for challenging freshmen with the demands of his system and the intensity of practices, so if Walker can make it through that he could be just fine. There are few coaches who know how to bring elite preps down to size as effectively as Donovan.

**GothamGator** · 10-02-2012, 08:34 AM

He talks more than anyone I've seen on our hoops team, and given that Joakim Noah played here, that's quite a statement.

Nevertheless, if he's got the work ethic he says he has, then I am fine with it.

gatordd · 10-02-2012, 08:46 AM

Chris has some growing up to do but give him a break he is 17

tupacbiff · 10-02-2012, 09:16 AM

We have been missing this type of brash confidence for some
Time.

REM08 · 10-02-2012, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tupacbiff

We have been missing this type of brash confidence for some
Time.

I don't know whether you're right about this or not when it comes to recent Florida teams, but I do think there's something to be said for this notion. You'll hear some coaches (usually football) talk about needing a few guys with some attitude - or even a loose cannon. I'm not sure I'd go so far as to suggest this is required, but could there be times (or teams) where this might be helpful? Doesn't seem impossible to me.

I think its easy to look back to Noah as being that kind of brashness and then connecting it to how well that team performed. However, were he a much more introverted, meek/mild form of the same talented player he was, its not like you guys wouldn't have won a title all of the sudden. You guys haven't seen a TEAM like that since Noah left. IMO this isn't because you haven't had a player with that kind of attitude.

I realize I brought up Noah, but I'm not sure he's the perfect comparison to Walker in the first place. Some of you would know better than me though.

gatordd · 10-02-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REM08

I don't know whether you're right about this or not when it comes to recent Florida teams, but I do think there's something to be said for this notion. You'll hear some coaches (usually football) talk about needing a few guys with some attitude - or even a loose cannon. I'm not sure I'd go so far as to suggest this is required, but could there be times (or teams) where this might be helpful? Doesn't seem impossible to me.

I think its easy to look back to Noah as being that kind of brashness and then connecting it to how well that team performed. However, were he a much more introverted, meek/mild form of the same talented player he was, its not like you guys wouldn't have won a title all of the sudden. You guys haven't seen a TEAM like that since Noah left. IMO this isn't because you haven't had a player with that kind of attitude.

I realize I brought up Noah, but I'm not sure he's the perfect comparison to Walker in the first place. Some of you would know better than me though.

I disagree. Tupac is right, we have been Soft with a capital S of late.

rserina · 10-02-2012, 03:26 PM

Soft? I would hardly call Walker, Boynton, Beal, Wilbekin, Yeguete, Macklin, et al, soft because they don't scream after they score or pound their chests after an "and one." Was Haslem soft for the same reason? Or Bonner?

Competitiveness and toughness have nothing to do with a kid's personality and brashness has to do with a kid's personality.

tupacbiff · 10-02-2012, 04:08 PM

I never said soft I said brash confidence.

We have missed the type of vocal kid who when you are flat playing a team a lot worse than you lets it be know we have to step it up. How many times in recent memory have we failed to win easily against far inferior opponents?

I like a kid like walker who in those situations will think I'm not losing to these guys and will do what it takes to win.

Rserina- all those guys you mentioned except yeguete don't appear to be vocal leaders. Most were quiet guys.

Ahab · 10-02-2012, 05:47 PM

You always want players to have confidence in their abilities. The question is how he responds when he's faced with adversity. High school and AAU are a long way from big time college ball.

**regurgigator** · 10-04-2012, 03:09 PM

His desire to pattern his game after LeBron makes me happy. Love those teamwork-oriented players who take as much pride in setting up teammates to score as in scoring themselves!!!

And, yes, "teamwork-oriented" play can live side by side with bravado and self-promotion comfortably.

PSGator66 · 10-04-2012, 04:43 PM

Our hoops will be good for the next several years that is for sure.

themistocles · 10-04-2012, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rserina

Donovan has a reputation for challenging freshmen with the demands of his system and the intensity of practices, so if Walker can make it through that he could be just fine. There are few coaches who know how to bring elite preps down to size as effectively as Donovan.

Good point rserina.

Droppingin · 10-04-2012, 09:16 PM

I love Walkers walk, the talk too.

He will excel under Coach D because as much as he is confident, he pactices and plays just as hard.

Droppingin · 10-04-2012, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REM08

I don't know whether you're right about this or not when it comes to recent Florida teams, but I do think there's something to be said for this notion. You'll hear some coaches (usually football) talk about needing a few guys with some attitude - or even a loose cannon. I'm not sure I'd go so far as to suggest this is required, but could there be times (or teams) where this might be helpful? Doesn't seem impossible to me.

I think its easy to look back to Noah as being that kind of brashness and then connecting it to how well that team performed. However, were he a much more introverted, meek/mild form of the same talented player he was, its not like you guys wouldn't have won a title all of the sudden. You guys haven't seen a TEAM like that since Noah left. IMO this isn't because you haven't had a player with that kind of attitude.

I realize I brought up Noah, but I'm not sure he's the perfect comparison to Walker in the first place. Some of you would know better than me though.

And the only reason for our less talented and deep teams was a perfect storm of folks leaving early, transfers, and one or two injuries.

Once that wave of two to three years came through, it impacted recruiting too.

Like I said in the other thread, our next few years are golden.

**gatordee** · 10-04-2012, 09:22 PM

To be honest, if he backs it up, I am looking forward to a little cockyness as long as he is still respectful to our opponents.

gatordd · 10-05-2012, 09:08 AM

It's just my opinion.

gatordd · 10-05-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rserina

Soft? I would hardly call Walker, Boynton, Beal, Wilbekin, Yeguete, Macklin, et al, soft because they don't scream after they score or pound their chests after an "and one." Was Haslem soft for the same reason? Or Bonner?

Competitiveness and toughness have nothing to do with a kid's personality and brashness has to do with a kid's personality.

Really? Macklin was tough?

I never said Haslem or Bonner were soft. I also never said that individual players like Walker, Boynton, Beal, Wilbekin, and Yeguete were soft. All I said is that our team on the whole has been soft of late. Yes, Joakim and Al were tough, they were the ones doing the intimidating when they were on the court.

I'm hoping Pat finds his confidence this season and doesn't let the moment get the best of him for the same reasons.