WALKER FINDS NICHE EARLY FOR UCONN
By Zach Smart
It’s often described as a “quantum leap.”
It’s also the reason many college freshmen encounter difficulty in a new system, acclimatizing themselves to playing with the big dogs. It’s also why some freshmen, true freshmen and beyond, don’t make an immediate impact their first year.
This is the jump from high school to Division-I hoops, of course.
For Connecticut freshmen Kemba Walker, however, his hoops resume and experience etching a name for himself in the New York City street game made him a perfect fit for the high-horsepower, go-go style of basketball employed at the University of Connecticut.
Read More...Click Below!
“It’s all about toughness, being able to run, run, and run some more,” said Walker, who’s materialized as one of the Big East’s premier rookies, along with Big East Rookie of the Week Samuerdo Samuels (Louisville), Jordan Theodore (Seton Hall), and an elite society of others.
New York features a number of courts that help players build a New York savvy. There’s “The Cage” on West Fourth Street, which plays host to one of the toughest semi-professional leagues summer after summer. This past summer, St. John’s product and NBA guard/forward Ron Artest competed in the league, as did former New York Knick sharpshooter Allan Houston. Former Providence standout God Shammgod was another one of the top performers in the popular city summer league.
Rucker Park, the tough hoop haven that Walker is most familiar with, also holds a good deal of baller-breeding credibility. Walker has shined in this streetball venue and has also learned lessons the hard way. He’s played with a number of New York legends, some only recognized by street credit, playing on these hardscrabble courts for as long back as he can remember.
“Growing up I’ve always been in games where I’m a young kid playing against grown men,” said Walker, who’s averaging 14 points, three assists, and four rebounds.
“It definitely allows you develop toughness and helps in the long run.”
Walker has been a presence in the running game and the passing lanes for the Huskies, which improved to 6-0 this weekend. After admitting to pre-game jitters that swarmed his stomach prior to the first game of the season (a win against Western Carolina), the freshman has played beyond his years.
He erupted for 21 points during a win against lowly Hartford and has developed solid chemistry with 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. He hasn’t dominated the basketball or dribbled too much, a problem some feared would surface.
During Saturday’s drubbing of Bryant, the at-times out of control guard showed flashes of excellence. He had one jaw-dropping three-point play where he scored off a nifty spin move, bringing an unusually reticent crowd of 12,558 to their feet.
“My confidence level has increased,” explained Walker, the kid who witnessed UConn fans holding up signs for him on the night of his official visit. “Playing with these guys every day has really got my confidence up.”
It’s often described as a “quantum leap.”
It’s also the reason many college freshmen encounter difficulty in a new system, acclimatizing themselves to playing with the big dogs. It’s also why some freshmen, true freshmen and beyond, don’t make an immediate impact their first year.
This is the jump from high school to Division-I hoops, of course.
For Connecticut freshmen Kemba Walker, however, his hoops resume and experience etching a name for himself in the New York City street game made him a perfect fit for the high-horsepower, go-go style of basketball employed at the University of Connecticut.
Read More...Click Below!
“It’s all about toughness, being able to run, run, and run some more,” said Walker, who’s materialized as one of the Big East’s premier rookies, along with Big East Rookie of the Week Samuerdo Samuels (Louisville), Jordan Theodore (Seton Hall), and an elite society of others.
New York features a number of courts that help players build a New York savvy. There’s “The Cage” on West Fourth Street, which plays host to one of the toughest semi-professional leagues summer after summer. This past summer, St. John’s product and NBA guard/forward Ron Artest competed in the league, as did former New York Knick sharpshooter Allan Houston. Former Providence standout God Shammgod was another one of the top performers in the popular city summer league.
Rucker Park, the tough hoop haven that Walker is most familiar with, also holds a good deal of baller-breeding credibility. Walker has shined in this streetball venue and has also learned lessons the hard way. He’s played with a number of New York legends, some only recognized by street credit, playing on these hardscrabble courts for as long back as he can remember.
“Growing up I’ve always been in games where I’m a young kid playing against grown men,” said Walker, who’s averaging 14 points, three assists, and four rebounds.
“It definitely allows you develop toughness and helps in the long run.”
Walker has been a presence in the running game and the passing lanes for the Huskies, which improved to 6-0 this weekend. After admitting to pre-game jitters that swarmed his stomach prior to the first game of the season (a win against Western Carolina), the freshman has played beyond his years.
He erupted for 21 points during a win against lowly Hartford and has developed solid chemistry with 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet. He hasn’t dominated the basketball or dribbled too much, a problem some feared would surface.
During Saturday’s drubbing of Bryant, the at-times out of control guard showed flashes of excellence. He had one jaw-dropping three-point play where he scored off a nifty spin move, bringing an unusually reticent crowd of 12,558 to their feet.
“My confidence level has increased,” explained Walker, the kid who witnessed UConn fans holding up signs for him on the night of his official visit. “Playing with these guys every day has really got my confidence up.”
Labels: Connecticut news
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