 Walker with the Bobcats |
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| No. 15 – Charlotte Bobcats | |||||||||||||
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| Point guard | |||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | May 8, 1990 The Bronx, New York |
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| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 184 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Rice (Harlem, New York) |
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| College | Connecticut (2008–2011) | ||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall | ||||||||||||
| Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats | |||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2011–present | ||||||||||||
| League | NBA | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| 2011–present | Charlotte Bobcats | ||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Kemba Hudley Walker (born May 8, 1990)[1] is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Charlotte Bobcats of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Walker grew up in The Bronx, New York and graduated from Rice High School in 2008. With the Huskies basketball team at the University of 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]
Contents |
High school career [edit]
Walker attended Rice High School in Harlem, New York. 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 [edit]
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.[6] 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.[7]
On March 14, 2011, The United States Basketball Writers Association named Walker a first team All-American.[8] He was picked to the Second Team All-America by Fox Sports.[9] 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.[10][11] Walker was named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award for the top point guard in the nation.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]
College statistics [edit]
| College | Year | GP | GS | MIN | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 2008–09 | 36 | 2 | 25.2 | .470 | .271 | .715 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 8.9 |
| Connecticut | 2009–10 | 34 | 34 | 35.2 | .405 | .339 | .767 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 14.6 |
| Connecticut | 2010–11 | 41 | 41 | 37.6 | .428 | .330 | .819 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 23.5 |
| Career | 111 | 77 | 32.8 | .428 | .325 | .782 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 16.1 |
Professional career [edit]
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.[15] Walker signed a Multi-Year shoe deal with Under Armour, the first rookie from the 2011 Draft Class to do so.[16]
On December 11, 2011, he signed the rookie scale contract with the Bobcats,[17] and with the injury of point guard D.J. Augustin, he became their starting point guard. On January 28, 2012, in a home game against the Washington Wizards he achieved his first triple-double with 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, joining Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson as the only Bobcats in team history to record one.[18] Walker participated in the 2012 Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend.
On January 21, 2013, Walker scored a career-high 35 points against the Houston Rockets.[19] During the 2012-13 season, Walker was selected with teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to the 2013 Rising Stars Challenge. Walker scored 8 points.
Kemba finished the 2012-13 season with averages of 17.7 points, 5.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2 steals a game. He took significant strides over his rookie year.
NBA career statistics [edit]
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular season [edit]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Charlotte | 66 | 25 | 27.2 | .366 | .305 | .789 | 3.5 | 4.4 | .9 | .3 | 12.1 |
| 2012–13 | Charlotte | 82 | 82 | 34.9 | .423 | .322 | .798 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 2.0 | .4 | 17.7 |
| Career | 148 | 107 | 31.4 | .401 | .315 | .795 | 3.5 | 5.1 | 1.5 | .3 | 15.2 |
Personal [edit]
Walker grew up in the Sack-Wern Houses in Soundview, Bronx, and is the youngest of three siblings.[20][21] 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.[22]
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 Walker.[23]
Notes [edit]
- ^ "Kemba Walker". Retrieved 2009-06-21.
- ^ "Kemba Walker profile on espn.go.com". Retrieved 2011-03-15.
- ^ Lawlor, Christopher (January 11, 2007). "Chicago standout Rose takes stage in New York". USA Today. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ "Kemba Walker Rice Basketball Stats 07-08". MaxPreps. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
- ^ Espn.com uconn huskies' team stats
- ^ Roger Rubin (March 28, 2009). "Freshman Kemba Walker's 23 points helps UConn outlast Missouri". Daily News.
- ^ "Connecticut Huskies vs. Louisville Cardinals - Recap". ESPN. 2011-03-12. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ "Walker named All-American". The Day. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Goodman, Jeff (Mar 7, 2011). "Goodman's 2010-11 All-America teams". Fox Sports (Fox Sports Interactive Media). Retrieved June 21, 2011.
- ^ Hard to argue Walker's POY candidacy, Jeff Goodman, FOXSports.com
- ^ Bronx product Kemba Walker has dazzled fans with clutch play at UConn, Kevin Armstrong, NY Daily News
- ^ Report: Kemba Walker wins Bob Cousy Award, accessed March 31, 2011
- ^ UConn defeats Butler 53-41 for 3rd national title, Fox Sports, Associated Press
- ^ UConn Men Celebrate With Thousands of Fans; Kemba Walker's Jersey Retired. Journal Register News Service, April 5, 2011
- ^ "Sources: Kemba Walker going pro". ESPN.com. April 12, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ "Kemba Walker signs multi-year deal with Under Armou". Digital Sports Scene. Retrieved 7/5/11.
- ^ "Charlotte Bobcats Sign Guard Kemba Walker". NBA.com. 2011-12-11. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
- ^ "JaVale McGee scores 22, adds 10 boards to guide Wizards past Bobcats again". ESPN.com. 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ Kemba Walker Career Stats
- ^ Begley, Ian (June 19, 2007). "Walk this way: Kemba can relax, now that he's settled on Connecticut". New York Daily News.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Rubin, Roger (November 25, 2009). "UConn's Kemba Walker retraces steps to Manhattan's Rice High School". New York Daily News.
- ^ Dime Magazine. June 21, 2011 http://dimemag.com/2011/06/kemba-walker-drops-the-ez-pass-mixtape-with-dj-skee/
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External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kemba Walker |
- Official site
- UConn Huskies bio
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com, or Basketball-Reference.com
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