At 6-foot-10 with a hard-to-find mixture of skill, athleticism and size, Chris Walker is such a force that his decision on where he would play college basketball tilted the balance of power in the national recruiting rankings.
For, as soon as Chris elected to attend Florida next year, the Gators bolted to the No. 1 recruiting class for 2013,
Chris Walker, who is from Bonifay, Florida, teamed in Indianapolis’ renowned Adidas camp with point guard Kasey Hill, from Eustis, Florida. Not only did their team win the prestigious tournament, but the pairing gave Walker a glimpse of the future — and it looked good enough for him to want to continue it in college.
“In Indianapolis when I saw the way me and (Hill) played, I saw the bigger picture with us possibly competing for a national title,” Walker said.
And that is why Walker chose Florida over Louisville and Kansas, he said.
The Gators, who moved pass North Carolina for the top spot in the class rankings, do so on the strength of those two Top 10 players in the class of 2013. The big man-point guard tandem of Walker and Hill should translate into one of the more significant duos in college basketball once the pair matriculates.
Walker is a physical specimen and one of the most athletically gifted players in the class. There isn’t another big in the class with his strength, ability to change ends of the floor and be a factor in the paint defensively.
Ranked No. 6 in ESPN’s senior rankings, Hill was the first to commit to Florida coach Billy Donovan. Hill is the point guard for the travel team, and he Walker clearly established a strong bond and affection for their in-state Gator team.
Walker, ESPN’s 7th-ranked player, said it was that connection with Hill that ignited his decision – and disappointed the fans of Louisville and Kansas.
