Boys’ Athlete of the Week : Walker Learns to Do More Than Score

Keith Walker of Brea-Olinda High School scored 42 points in an 81-70 victory over El Dorado on Wednesday. That’s more points than some teams are averaging per game this season.

It tied Brad Hanson as the second-most points in a game by a Brea player. The record of 46 was set in 1985 by Kevin Walker, Keith’s brother.

Yet, what Coach Rick Jones liked about Walker’s performance didn’t have anything to do with shooting.

“Keith had 11 rebounds and 4 assists,” Jones said. “He wasn’t out there just shooting. He was doing other things to help the team win.”

Walker, The Times’ athlete of the week, has made some changes in his game since last season. Changes that are for the better.

A year ago, Walker was a sophomore starter on the varsity, as his brother had been before him. Kevin Walker, who graduated in 1986 and now is at UCLA, was a 3-year star for the Wildcats.

“I watched Kevin play in his senior year when I was in the eighth grade,” said Walker, who also scored 28 in an 81-66 loss to El Modena on Friday. “I remember those playoff games when he was scoring 30 points a game. I thought that was going to be me when I got to high school.”

Walker averaged 14 points per game as a sophomore. However, Jones was disappointed in Walker’s performance at times.

“There were times last year when all Keith cared about was Keith Walker, the basketball player,” Jones said. “He seems to have gained some perspective in the last year. It’s made him a better player.”

Walker still is concerned about himself as a player. But he knows it will take more than shooting ability to get him where he wants to go.

“I figured if I wanted to play beyond high school, I was going to have to do more than shoot,” said Walker, who is averaging 20 points a game this season. “I had to do the other stuff well also.”

That included ballhandling, rebounding and passing. Little things like that.

Walker attended the five-star basketball camp in Pittsburgh during the summer. There he learned he would need a little more to get a scholarship.

“I did pretty good against guys my own age,” Walker said. “But it was tougher against the guys who were going to be seniors. I knew I needed to work on the other parts of the game. I could shoot already.”

Walker has been improving his skills since he returned from the camp.

Every day he goes through drills designed to improve his ballhandling. Every game he works on getting better position for rebounds and tries to see the whole court to make better passes.

“I figure I’m going to be a guard when I get to college, so I’d better learn those skills now,” Walker said. “But the big thing is I’m helping the team win. That is what’s important.”

Said Jones: “Keith is more concerned with the team this year. He’ll do what we ask of him to help us win.” And sometimes, that even means scoring a little. Or a lot.

TOP PERFORMERS

Pete Bach of Fullerton scored 63 points in 3 games as the Indians won their tournament title. Bach was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Greg Reynolds of El Toro scored 40 points in 3 games as the Chargers won the Carson City tournament title. Reynolds was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Joe Romero of Western scored 51 points in 3 games as the Pioneers finished second in the Fullerton tournament. Romero was named to the all-tournament team.

Keith Walker

Brea-Olinda High School

Position: Guard/forward

Height, Weight, Class: 6-5, 180, Senior

Last Week: Walker scored 42 points in an 81-70 victory over El Dorado on Wednesday and scored 28 in an 81-66 loss to El Modena on Friday.

Season: Walker is averaging 20 points and 6 rebounds.