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Kemba Walker

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Kemba Walker
No. 1 – Charlotte Bobcats
PositionPoint guard
Personal information
Born (1990-05-08) May 8, 1990 (age 34)
The Bronx, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight172 lb (78 kg)
Career information
High schoolRice (New York)
CollegeConnecticut
NBA draft2011: 1st round, 9th overall pick
Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats
Career history
Charlotte Bobcats
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Kemba Walker
Medal record
Men’s basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Americas U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2008 Formosa Team competition

Kemba Hudley Walker (born May 8, 1990)[1] is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats. Walker grew up in The Bronx, New York and graduated from Rice High School in 2008. With the Huskies basketball team at Connecticut, Walker was the 2nd leading college basketball scorer in the United States and helped his team win the 2011 NCAA tournament. In the 2011 NBA Draft, Walker was drafted ninth overall by the Bobcats.[2]

High school career

In his junior year, Walker played against Simeon Career Academy and senior guard Derrick Rose in Madison Square Garden in a 53–51 win.[3] During Walker's senior year he averaged 18.2 points per game and 5.3 assists per game,[4] earning him a spot on the prestigious McDonald's All-American Team. Walker played for the New York Gauchos AAU basketball program with fellow Big East players Jordan Theodore, Darryl "Truck" Bryant, Devin Hill, and Danny Jennings. The team went on to finish #1 in the nation. Following high school he agreed to play for the University of Connecticut.

College career

During his freshman year at UConn, Walker played in every game. He helped the Huskies achieve a number one seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Despite starting in only two games he averaged 25.5 minutes per game, far more than any regular non-starter.[5] He also helped the Huskies go to the 2009 Final Four with a 23 point effort in the Elite Eight vs Missouri. Walker appeared on one of the six regional covers Sports Illustrated. Twelve games into his junior campaign, Walker was the nation's leading scorer, averaging 26.7 points per game. In addition, he averaged five rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

In the 2011 Big East Tournament (during his junior year), Walker hit the game winning shot as time expired to beat #3 overall Pittsburgh and advance UConn to the semi-finals. He led UConn to victory over University of Louisville in the Big East Championship game and was named MVP for the tournament. Walker scored 130 points in five games, a Big East Tournament record and the most points scored in any conference tournament in the past 15 seasons. UConn became the first school to win five games in five days to earn a conference championship.[6]

On March 14, 2011, The United States Basketball Writers Association named Walker a first team All-American.[7] He was picked to the Second Team All-America by Fox Sports.[8] He was also a finalist for College Basketball Player of the Year honors due to his performance in the 2010-11 season. Although he finished second (to Jimmer Fredette), two journalists thought that Walker was the best player in college basketball that year.[9][10] Walker was named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award for the top point guard in the nation.[11] On April 4, 2011 Walker led the University of Connecticut with 16 points in winning the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, and was named the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player.[12] Walker was added to the Huskies of Honor upon the team's return from Houston at a pep rally to celebrate the National Title. He became the first men's basketball player to receive the honor since inaugural class was announced in December 2006.[13]

College statistics

College Year GP GS MIN FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
UConn Huskies 2008–09 36 2 25.1 .470 .271 .715 3.5 2.9 1.0 0.2 8.9
UConn Huskies 2009–10 34 34 35.2 .405 .339 .767 4.3 5.0 2.0 0.4 14.6
UConn Huskies 2010–11 41 41 37.6 .428 .330 .819 5.4 4.5 1.9 0.2 23.5
Career 111 75 32.8 .428 .325 .782 4.3 4.4 1.7 0.2 16.1

Professional career

Walker announced that he would leave UConn to enter the 2011 NBA Draft on April 12. Walker was selected 9th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats.[14] Walker signed a Multi-Year shoe deal with Under Armour, the first rookie from the 2011 Draft Class to do so. [15]

Personal

Walker grew up in the Sack-Wern Houses in Soundview, Bronx, and is the youngest of three siblings.[16][17] His mother is a Crucian, raised in Antigua of Antiguan Parentage, and his father is Antiguan. Walker is also a dancer. He performed three times at the Apollo Theater for the TV show Showtime at the Apollo.[18]

On June 21, 2011, Kemba Walker released a mixtape in collaboration with DJ Skee and Skee Sports. The mixtape features songs inspired by and inspiring to Kemba.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ "Kemba Walker". Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  2. ^ "Kemba Walker profile on espn.go.com". Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  3. ^ Lawlor, Christopher (January 11, 2007). "Chicago standout Rose takes stage in New York". USA Today. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  4. ^ "Kemba Walker Rice Basketball Stats 07-08". MaxPreps. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  5. ^ Espn.com uconn huskies' team stats
  6. ^ "Connecticut Huskies vs. Louisville Cardinals - Recap". ESPN. 2011-03-12. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  7. ^ "Walker named All-American". The Day. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
  8. ^ Goodman, Jeff (Mar 7, 2011). "Goodman's 2010-11 All-America teams". Fox Sports. Fox Sports Interactive Media. Retrieved June 21, 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  9. ^ Hard to argue Walker's POY candidacy, Jeff Goodman, FOXSports.com
  10. ^ Bronx product Kemba Walker has dazzled fans with clutch play at UConn, Kevin Armstrong, NY Daily News
  11. ^ Report: Kemba Walker wins Bob Cousy Award, accessed March 31, 2011
  12. ^ UConn defeats Butler 53-41 for 3rd national title, Fox Sports, Associated Press
  13. ^ UConn Men Celebrate With Thousands of Fans; Kemba Walker's Jersey Retired. Journal Register News Service, April 5, 2011
  14. ^ "Sources: Kemba Walker going pro". ESPN.com. April 12, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
  15. ^ "Kemba Walker signs multi-year deal with Under Armou". Digital Sports Scene. Retrieved 7/5/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ^ Begley, Ian (June 19, 2007). "Walk this way: Kemba can relax, now that he's settled on Connecticut". New York Daily News.
  17. ^ Lupica, Mike (March 11, 2011). "Kemba Walker and Dwight Hardy both make Bronx love at Garden, but Walker steals the spotlight". New York Daily News.
  18. ^ Rubin, Roger (November 25, 2009). "UConn's Kemba Walker retraces steps to Manhattan's Rice High School". New York Daily News.
  19. ^ Dime Magazine. June 21, 2011 http://dimemag.com/2011/06/kemba-walker-drops-the-ez-pass-mixtape-with-dj-skee/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

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