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KJ Walton article on his transfer
Posted on: May 9, 2017 at 15:20:21 CT
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http://www.thestarpress.com/story/sports/college/ball-state/2017/05/09/missouri-transfer-kj-walton-commits-ball-state/101435014/
When K.J. Walton visited Ball State last Thursday through Saturday, he was greeted by familiar faces. He saw Tahjai Teague, one of his close friends and a teammate on the 2015 Indiana All-Stars. There was Tayler Persons and Jeremie Tyler, two players Walton got to know when he starred for Brownsburg High School.
The trip was everything the University of Missouri transfer was looking for, so he committed to head coach James Whitford and the Cardinals.
“I love Indiana, and it’s somewhere I wanted to be and make my mark,” Walton told The Star Press.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound combo guard joins a program on the rise, with 21 wins in each of the last two seasons and a strong returning cast. He will have to redshirt next season due to transfer rules and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Joining a Cardinals squad heavy on in-state talent was absolutely a factor, he said. Walton will be the seventh Indiana All-Star on the roster next season, joining Sean Sellers, Kyle Mallers, Zach Gunn, Tyler, Persons and Teague.
“Indiana guys, they’re very competitive and have a lot of pride in their state,” Walton said. “To come back and play with some really good guys and guys that I know want to win for this state, it’s really important. I’m glad to be a part of something like this.”
Ball State didn’t heavily recruit Walton out of Brownsburg, where he averaged 19.7 points and five rebounds as a senior while leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back sectional titles. He chose Missouri over Cincinnati and Xavier and then averaged 5.3 points as a freshman while playing in all 31 games. He averaged 6.7 points this past season as a sophomore with Missouri (8-24), making 17 starts while playing in all 32 contests. Missouri fired head coach Kim Anderson after the season and hired former Cal coach Cuonzo Martin.
Walton, who announced his intent to transfer last month, said that he received interest from numerous schools. He also seriously considered Mid-American Conference rival Akron, but he said that he felt like he already knew so many of the Ball State players. He clicked with Persons especially on his visit, which bodes well since both could be playing significant roles in the backcourt in the 2018-19 season. Walton said he is comfortable playing with or without the ball.
“Coach Whitford talked about using ball screens a lot more, getting downhill and being able to create a lot more,” Walton said. “At Missouri, our offense was a lot different.”
Tyler, Sellers and Francis Kiapway, all of whom have played considerably in the backcourt during their careers at Ball State, each only have one year of eligibility left, so they figure to be gone by the time Walton is eligible. Incarnate Word transfer Jontrell Walker will also be in the backcourt mix.
One of the obvious perks of choosing Ball State is that Walton’s family will be able to come watch him more regularly. But it all comes back to the type of atmosphere Walton sees in his home state – and at Ball State.
“The (Missouri) fans were great, the coaching staff was great and my teammates were great,” Walton said. “But as far as getting to the next level and comfortability-wise, my best choice was to come home and play in Indiana.”
When K.J. Walton visited Ball State last Thursday through Saturday, he was greeted by familiar faces. He saw Tahjai Teague, one of his close friends and a teammate on the 2015 Indiana All-Stars. There was Tayler Persons and Jeremie Tyler, two players Walton got to know when he starred for Brownsburg High School.
The trip was everything the University of Missouri transfer was looking for, so he committed to head coach James Whitford and the Cardinals.
“I love Indiana, and it’s somewhere I wanted to be and make my mark,” Walton told The Star Press.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound combo guard joins a program on the rise, with 21 wins in each of the last two seasons and a strong returning cast. He will have to redshirt next season due to transfer rules and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Joining a Cardinals squad heavy on in-state talent was absolutely a factor, he said. Walton will be the seventh Indiana All-Star on the roster next season, joining Sean Sellers, Kyle Mallers, Zach Gunn, Tyler, Persons and Teague.
“Indiana guys, they’re very competitive and have a lot of pride in their state,” Walton said. “To come back and play with some really good guys and guys that I know want to win for this state, it’s really important. I’m glad to be a part of something like this.”
Ball State didn’t heavily recruit Walton out of Brownsburg, where he averaged 19.7 points and five rebounds as a senior while leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back sectional titles. He chose Missouri over Cincinnati and Xavier and then averaged 5.3 points as a freshman while playing in all 31 games. He averaged 6.7 points this past season as a sophomore with Missouri (8-24), making 17 starts while playing in all 32 contests. Missouri fired head coach Kim Anderson after the season and hired former Cal coach Cuonzo Martin.
Walton, who announced his intent to transfer last month, said that he received interest from numerous schools. He also seriously considered Mid-American Conference rival Akron, but he said that he felt like he already knew so many of the Ball State players. He clicked with Persons especially on his visit, which bodes well since both could be playing significant roles in the backcourt in the 2018-19 season. Walton said he is comfortable playing with or without the ball.
“Coach Whitford talked about using ball screens a lot more, getting downhill and being able to create a lot more,” Walton said. “At Missouri, our offense was a lot different.”
Tyler, Sellers and Francis Kiapway, all of whom have played considerably in the backcourt during their careers at Ball State, each only have one year of eligibility left, so they figure to be gone by the time Walton is eligible. Incarnate Word transfer Jontrell Walker will also be in the backcourt mix.
One of the obvious perks of choosing Ball State is that Walton’s family will be able to come watch him more regularly. But it all comes back to the type of atmosphere Walton sees in his home state – and at Ball State.
“The (Missouri) fans were great, the coaching staff was great and my teammates were great,” Walton said. “But as far as getting to the next level and comfortability-wise, my best choice was to come home and play in Indiana.”
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KJ Walton article on his transfer - FIJItiger MU - 5/9 15:20:21