Options galore for two-sport star Walker
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Life has to be pretty good for rising junior shooting guard M.J. Walker. The No. 25 player in his class, Walker has also developed into a big-time football prospect who has no shortage of opportunities. At some point he may need to pick one or the other, but for now he's rolling with it all as best he can.
A well-built 6-foot-4 wing from Jonesboro (Ga.) High, Walker is in Alameda, Calif., for this week's Stephen Curry Select Camp.
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"This is my second year here and it's a great experience and opportunity," Walker told Rivals.com. "It's a blessing that out of all these athletes in the country we are chosen and you want to take advantage of it, not take it for granted.
"I'm focusing on my lateral quickness and my shooting. Especially my shot off the dribble."
Walker has always been a strong driver who can play through contact but the tweaks to his game are showing. He has looked good shooting the ball during drills at camp and he feels good about the way he has played on the grassroots circuit with his travel team the Atlanta Express.
The play has resulted in hoops offers from Maryland, West Virginia, Florida State, Auburn and Memphis.
"I feel like I've been real aggressive," Walker said. "I've been putting the hours in the gym and working real hard."
Then there's the football side of things. Over the past few months Walker has emerged as one of the most coveted wide receiver prospects in the Southeast. He's now accumulated gridiron offers from N.C. State, Clemson, North Carolina, Florid State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ole Miss and Georgia.
Now that both basketball and football coaches can call him, life has become really hectic. It's also clear to Walker that he's got some potential on the football field that he didn't realize.
"It's a lot with the calls," Walker said. "June 15 passed and all the college coaches can call, and the offers started coming in. It's made me really start seeing my potential in football."
At some point, a decision will need to be made about whether to focus on basketball or football or even make a run at playing both. For now, Walker and his family are simply trying their best to enjoy the process.
"Right now my parents are just letting me play it out and see where it falls," Walker said. "We've talked about possibly playing both in college but right now we are just enjoying it."
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