MaxPreps Holiday Classic: Walker picks hoops

THERIVALS150:2016|2017

PALMSPRINGS,Calif.--SpreadaroundthePalmSpringsarea,theMaxPrepsHolidayClassicisoneofthewinter'slargestpost-Christmastournaments.Saturday,five-starshootingguardM.J.Walkerreaffirmedhisdecisiontofocusonbasketball.

Iwasimpressedby...

Untilrecently,five-starshootingguardM.J.Walkerhadbeenconsideredatwo-sportstardoublingasahighprofilewidereceiverrecruit.However,the6-foot-4junioratJonesboro(Ga.)Highhasdecidedtoputuphiscleatsandfocusonhoopsfornow.

Aphysicallytoughandoffensivelyaggressivetwoguard,Walkercameoutfiringawayfromdeepearlyandoften.Afterscoring21firsthalfpointshefinishedwith25onthegameasJonesborowipedthefloorwithLosAngeles(Calif.)Windward.

IlikethatWalkercanstretchdefenseswithhisdeepjumpshootingbutwhatIreallylikedseeingwashimlookingtoputtheballonthefloorandgettotherim.He'stoostrongtosettleforjumpersandhisabilitytomakeplaysbyinitiatingcontactcanopenthingsupforhimandallowhimtogeteasypointsatthefreethrowline.

Walkerdidn'tentirelyruleoutareturntofootballdowntheline,butfornowhe'scommittedtobasketballonly.

"Itwasmoreofafamilydecision,"saidWalker."WewantedtofocusononesportandwiththeinjuriesthatIsufferduringthefootballseasonandtimecampstakeduringthesummerwedecidedtostickwithbasketballfornow."

Mostrecently,WalkertookanunofficialvisittoTennesseeduringthefallandhementionedMaryland,OhioStateandFloridaStateasprogramswhoseeffortshavestoodoutearly.He'sgotoffersfromallofthemplusGeorgia,GeorgiaTech,Memphis,Auburn,FloridaandWestVirginia,amongothers.

2017SGMJWalkerdidn'ttraveltotheDeserttobepassive.Strong6'5"shooterislettingthemfly.Pouringinpoints

#hcholidayclassic-EricBossi(@ebosshoops)December26,2015

Iwassurprisedby...

AfterwinningtheprestigiousCityofPalmsinFt.Myers,Fla.earlierintheweekbehindtheplayoftheUCLAcommittedbrothertriooffive-starseniorpointguardLonzoBall,three-starjuniorshootingguardLiAngeloBallandfreshmanLaMeloBall,IthoughtChinoHills(Calif.)Highmighttrytogettheirstarssomerest.

Ithoughtwrong.

AteamthatlikestopressondefensewhiletheBallbrothersletshotsflyfromallover,ChinoHillsnevertooktheirfootoffthegasenroutetoa97-58win.AtthehelmwasthelikelyMcDonald'sAll-American,Lonzo.A6-foot-5pointguardwhoranksNo.8intheclassof2016,Ballisthemostgiftedpasserinthecountryandheshowedthatalongwithhisreboundingandabilitytocausehavocinthepressashejustmissedaquadrupledoublerackingup25points,14assists,sevenreboundsand10steals.HisbrotherGeloadded31pointsofhisown.

MichiganClickOtherthoughts...HeretoviewthisLink.commitJordanPooleClickOtherthoughts...HeretoviewthisLink.getstheheadlinesforMilwaukee(Wisc.)King,butthefour-starjuniorshootingguardwasmostlyquietinhisteam'swin.Instead,itwasjuniorpointguardVirshonCottonClickOtherthoughts...HeretoviewthisLink.whodidthedamage.Askinnysix-footer,Cottonhitseveralthreesandlookedconfidentwiththeball.

6-foot-6juniorpowerforwardEvanBatteyClickHeretoviewthisLink.isgoingtobeaninterestingevaluation.Batteyisaspaceeating250pounderwithlongarmsandhereboundsatahighrate.He'smorejumpshooterthanpowerplayerwhichmakeshimunconventional,buthe'sproductive.

Hehadsomeflashesofbrilliance,butthecountry'sNo.6rankedseniorMalikMonkClickHeretoviewthisLink.neverreallygotitgoinginBentonville(Ark.)High'swinoverSt.Petersburg(Fla.)High.TheKentuckyClickHeretoviewthisLink.commithadafewveryathleticplaysandhitsomethreesfrombeyondNBArangebutwasn'tahugethreatattackingthebasketwhilescoring16.

ImpressingforSt.Petersburgwasthree-starjuniorDariusBanksClickHeretoviewthisLink..Aphysicallytoughwing,hehadsomestrongdrivesandhitjumperstoscore24.HementionedoffersfromFloridaGulfCoast,WyomingClickHeretoviewthisLink.,USFClickHeretoviewthisLink.,UCFClickHeretoviewthisLink.andBowlingGreen.Also,keepaneyeoutforsophomorecomboguardSerrelSmithClickHeretoviewthisLink.whocanshootandhassomeslashingabilityoffthedribble.

WindwardgotsmokedbyJonesboro,butsophomorecomboguardPaytonMooreClickHeretoviewthisLink.showedwell.At6-foot-3he'sgotgoodsize,isstrongoffthedribbleandcanscorewithsomeregularity.Athree-starprospect,he'sparticularlyimpressiveasanontheballdefender.

ColoradoClickHeretoviewthisLink.committedcomboguardBrycePetersClickHeretoviewthisLink.iscurrentlytheNo.150playerinthe2016Rivals150andoddsarehewillremainintherankings.Petershasverygoodsize(pushing6-foot-4),isahighlevelathleteandtheLaVerne(Calif.)DamienstarwasparticularlyimpressivewithhispassingonSaturday.

2017three-starpointguardDamariMilsteadClickHeretoviewthisLink.'swilltocompetewasn'tenoughforHayward(Calif.)MoreauCatholicagainstMissionHills(Calif.)BishopAlemany,buthedeservescredit.Milsteadscored27andlookedgoodhittingpull-upjumpshots.

6-foot-4juniorEarnestSearsClickHeretoviewthisLink.ofBishopAlemanylookslikehe'srealclosetomakingthetransitiontoplayerfromprospect.Athinandrangytwoguard,he'sabouncyfinisherneartherimandhasaworkablejumper.Thethree-starwingjustneedsalittlemoreconfidencebuthehashighupside.

Finally, for the second event in a row, junior shooting guard Charles O'Bannon Jr.Click Here to view this Link. looked the part of a legit top-50 player. He scored from deep and showed toughness going to the rim. He's playing with extreme confidence and projects as high level scorer on the next level.

Click Here to view this Link.