Bill Walker doesn’t know how high he can sky.
“I won’t get it measured. I want it to be a secret,” Kansas State University’s physically gifted freshman guard/small forward said of his vertical leap, which – legend has it – compares favorably to that of LeBron James today and Michael Jordan in his prime.
The secret will be out of the bag today when the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Cincinnati native makes his college debut against Kennesaw State.
Tip for KSU versus KSU is 2:37 p.m. in Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan with a live telecast on Fox Sports Midwest, cable channel 36.
Purple-clad fans can only hope Walker breaks free for a slam jam or two.
“There are not too many guys as talented as him out there,” Kansas University coach Bill Self said of Walker, who committed to KSU shortly after receiving his high school diploma from Cincinnati North College Hill High earlier this fall.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete who has things you can’t teach – running, jumping, strength. He’s powerful.”
The power is unleashed when Walker takes it to the hole and dunks.
“Against China in the USA Games he dunked from almost the free-throw line over two people. It’s what I remember,” said KU freshman Darrell Arthur, a teammate and roommate of Walker at the 2005 USA Development Festival in San Diego.
“I think he can be an impact player right away. He can handle the ball and jump real well,” Arthur added.
Walker, who has practiced with the team just one time at KSU since becoming eligible for second semester, is so gifted coach Bob Huggins doesn’t mind adding to the hype machine.
“The reality is, if you could draft high school players, he would be drafted,” Huggins said of a player he calls “one of the best athletes in college basketball.
“He is going to make an impact athletically. If there is a buzz word in the draft it’s ‘upside.’ I don’t know of a player who has more upside than he has.”
A player Arthur referred to as “a good guy,” Walker said his main goal was to fit in, not to showcase himself for the NBA Draft. He was humble during his first session with media members Saturday at the Legends Room (where else?) in Bramlage Coliseum.
“I am not going to come in and try to score a thousand points or anything,” said Walker, who has worked out on his own while taking one hour of coursework since arriving at KSU. He’ll enroll in a full load of classes second semester.
“I am just going to let the game come to me and just help the team out where I can. Right now, you can just expect me to work hard.”
Rivals.com’s No. 6-rated player averaged 21.7 points and 10.1 rebounds a game last season playing in the same lineup as O.J. Mayo, a fellow blue chipper who has commited to Southern California.
“I think as a basketball player, your game is never where you want it to be. You can always do something better – shoot better or defend better,” noted Walker, who played with Mayo on two Ohio state championship teams.
“I am just working on being a better shooter and a more heady player. I don’t want to make dumb decisions with the ball.”
Huggins, who said Walker would begin making a big impact on KSU’s program “at 2:30 p.m. Sunday,” plans on playing Walker as long as he’s able to go.
He has not discounted the possibility of even starting Walker as the Wildcats try to improve to 7-3 on the season against an overmatched foe.
“I let guys go until they’re tired and then take them out. He just needs to play as many (minutes) as he can while playing hard. He’ll decide when he’s tired. That’s what they all do,” Huggins said.
Huggins, who has coached nine all-Americans and 13 NBA draft picks in his 25 years in the business, believes Walker could emerge as one of his best players he’s mentored.
“He gives us another really good player and makes us deeper,” Huggins said. “Once he knows what he is supposed to do and he can react, he’s going to be able to make a lot of basketball plays. He can make plays other guys can’t make because of his athleticism.”
Kansas will get its first look at Walker on Feb. 7 in Allen Fieldhouse, with the KU-KSU rematch Feb. 19 in Bramlage Coliseum.
“I’m sure he’ll have a big impact, if not immediately soon after that,” Self said. “I’m not trying to make excuses (for Walker) but I think it’d take anybody a couple weeks to get in the groove. I think he’d be a good addition to any ballclub. I’m sure he’ll make K-State better.”
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Shout for joy, no more finals: KU sophomore Julian Wright, who has said many times he’d be back for his junior season, showed again this week how much he enjoyed college life.
Wright, who had four final exams, participated in a “Finals Frenzy Scream” on Wednesday outside the Kansas Union. The event, which KU’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center hopes will become a new tradition at KU, took place at 4:15 p.m.
Wright – who had two finals remaining – had taken a study break and was bowling a few frames at the Jaybowl when informed students were screaming to releive stress outside the building.
“I’d been trying to buckle down (all week studying). I usually don’t get to scream out loud. At least I got to do that and show my actual emotions,” Wright said.
As far as another stress reliever, bowling …
“The first time I bowled was seventh grade. The next time was at freshman orientation (at KU),” the Chicago native said. “Second semester last year I started liking it. In the summer I was up there (to union) every day. Some guys bowl 220, 230, in the 260s. I was struggling to get no gutters. Now I’m in the 160 range. I used to barely break 100. Now out of five games, I almost break 200 every two or three games.”
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Simien back in Miami: Former KU forward Wayne Simien of the Miami Heat has returned to Miami after spending four days in New York with an infection treatment specialist, coach Pat Riley told the Miami Herald on Friday.
