Kyree Walker
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 2000 |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| Position | Small forward |
Kyree Walker (born November 20, 2000) is an American basketball player who is signed with training program Chameleon BX. At the high school level, he played for Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California before transferring to Hillcrest Prep Academy. A former MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year, Walker was a five-star recruit early in high school but left as a four-star recruit.
Early life and high school career
In eighth grade, Walker drew national attention for his slam dunks in highlight videos.[1] He often faced older competition, including high school seniors, in middle school with his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team Oakland Soldiers.[2] As a high school freshman, Walker played basketball for Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California, averaging 21.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists per game.[3] After leading his team to a California Interscholastic Federation Division II runner-up finish, he was named MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.[4] Entering his sophomore season, Walker transferred to Hillcrest Prep, a basketball program in Phoenix, Arizona, with his father, Khari, joining the coaching staff.[3][5] On October 25, 2019, during his senior year, he left Hillcrest Prep, intending to move to the college or professional level.[6] In December 2019, Walker graduated from high school but did not play high school basketball while weighing his options.[7]
Recruiting
On June 30, 2017, Walker committed to play college basketball for Arizona State over several other NCAA Division I offers. At the time, he was considered a five-star recruit and a top five player in the 2020 class by major recruiting services.[8] On October 21, 2018, Walker decommitted from Arizona State.[9] On April 20, 2020, as a four-star recruit, he announced that he would forego college basketball.[7]
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyree Walker SF |
Phoenix, AZ | Hillcrest Prep (AZ) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | — | |
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 81
| ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: 247Sports: 35 | ||||||
Sources:
| ||||||
Professional career
On April 20, 2020, Walker announced that he would forgo college basketball and join training program Chameleon BX in preparation for the 2021 NBA draft.[7]
Personal life
In 2018, Walker's mother, Barrissa Gardner, was diagnosed with breast cancer but achieved remission in the following months. However, the diagnosis, along with the death of Walker's grandfather in the same year, negatively impacted his basketball performance.[10]
References
- ^ Smith, Cam (May 17, 2016). "Kyree Walker can already jump out of the gym, in eighth grade". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Cronin, Courtney (March 30, 2017). "Meet Kyree Walker, the Bay Area hoops prodigy you don't know but should". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ a b Sabedra, Darren (May 22, 2017). "Moreau Catholic's Kyree Walker transferring to Arizona school". The Mercury News. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ "2016-17 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team". MaxPreps. April 18, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Obert, Richard (July 11, 2017). "Could Arizona State commit Kyree Walker, father be next to take national basketball center stage?". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Obert, Richard (October 25, 2019). "Top basketball recruit Kyree Walker leaves Hillcrest Prep, weighing options". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c Zagoria, Adam (April 20, 2020). "Top High School Basketball Prospect Kyree Walker Says He Will Skip College To Prepare For 2021 NBA Draft". Forbes. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Obert, Richard (June 30, 2017). "Kyree Walker, National Freshman of the Year, commits to ASU". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Borzello, Jeff (October 21, 2018). "No. 14 recruit Kyree Walker decommits from Arizona State, sources say". ESPN. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Newman, Logan (February 22, 2019). "Mentally healthier after mom's cancer remission, Kyree Walker 'probably' reclassifying to 2019". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved August 15, 2019.