Update: http://iuplanet.com/forum/indiana-ba...rean-soon.html
If his unofficial visit goes well, Walker said he will commit to IU and the So Cal All-Stars may have been beaten in the semi-finals of the Gold Bracket in the
Adidas May Classic, but he and IU coach Tom Crean could both go back home feeling very happy if an unofficial visit goes well tomorrow.
The 6’4”, 200 lb small forward from San Juan Capistrano (CA) could be committed to Crean and the Hoosiers as soon as tomorrow. three-star prospect stood out in his team's loss to Indiana Elite One, racking up a game-high 21 points and two steals. He took control of his team's offense in the second half, slashing to the basket for lay-ups, fouls, or both.
Walker has several other big schools that are highly interested in the 2009 recruit, but right now the ball is in Coach Crean’s court. Walker said today that he has an unofficial visit planned with Crean after the conclusion of the AMC. Crean contacted Walker’s AAU coach, Pat Barrett, and invited him to visit Indiana while he was here.
“After this game, I’ll probably, either tomorrow morning or later tonight, I’m going to take an unofficial visit at [Indiana]," Walker said. "I’m going to talk things over with my mom, and if everything’s offered well and everything’s on the table, who knows what could happen.”
He also added that Indiana is unequivocally on top of his list at this point, and that he is on the verge of making his decision, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.
“I’m real close. Probably within the next two weeks I’ll be making my decision on where I’ll commit. I have a lot of schools on me right now, but as far as Indiana goes, they’re my number one,” he said.
On the possibility of committing before heading back home tomorrow night, he said, “If everything goes well, I’ve talked everything over with my mother and my coaches and they say it’s a perfect fit for me, so I could.”
He did mention a couple of other possibility, but at this point it sounds like he is set on Indiana barring a major setback. “North Carolina, I might visit there. It depends on how everything goes with this visit this weekend. If everything goes good, Indiana is my number one school, and that’s where I’ll be going. “
Crean had the benefit of forming a relationship with Walker when he was still coaching at Marquette, and now that he is at Indiana, the offer is even more attractive to the big guard. “Yes, [Crean] did [start showing interest when he was at Marquette],” Walker said. “Now that he got the bigger job, at the bigger school, he’s coming even harder now, because he knows he has the atmosphere and the school, just the big name around Indiana, to get big players.”
Walker cited Crean’s style of play and his success in developing guards like NBA star Dwyane Wade as major factors in his decision.
“I didn’t really look at Indiana as a school that would be a good fit for me because of the style of basketball, but now that they have Coach Crean…I’ll probably fit well [in Crean’s offense]. You know, he’s a guard coach. You saw him at Marquette, when he had Dwyane Wade, and when he had the new point guard, Dominique James, and all those guys there. They’re really good penetrators, and that’s what I am. I’m a real good penetrator, and he’s going polish up my game, and he’s gonna make everything look good.”
He also added, “We’re real good together, he’s a guard coach, and that’s what I’m looking for. I’m looking to polish up my guard skills, so if I do take that jump to the next level, I’ll be ready.”
As for Bloomington and Indiana as a whole, Walker had nothing but good things to say. “I love it. It’s a basketball state, and that’s exactly where I want to be. I love the atmosphere, I love the gym, the fans, everything, I love everything about Indiana.”
From everything that he said, it sounds like Crean would have to practically chase Walker away for him to not commit here. That’s unlikely, however, because what Crean has said sounds like it already has Walker hooked:
“Coach Crean said he wants to rebuild the program around me, what player would turn that down?”
Watch for IUplanet updates on Walker's commitment status.
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