DetNews Profile on Derrick Walton Jr.
Rod Beard interviewed Derrick Walton Jr. for a Detroit News profile. Here are some highlights from the article:
Rated in the top 100 nationally in his class, Walton was an important recruit — positionally and geographically — for Michigan coach John Beilein and assistant coach Bacari Alexander as they try to build on the success of U-M's surprising 21-14 record and fourth-place finish in the Big Ten last season.
"Coach Bacari said it a lot — that he wanted a lot of guys from the Detroit area, so I guess I was his main target and it was a priority for me to come to Michigan," Walton said. "What they said is they wanted to bring U-M back to a focal point for guys in the Detroit area."
Hopefully, Carlton Brundidge and Walton are the beginning of a steady stream of top Detroit area players choosing to head to Ann Arbor. A couple of 2014 prospects to keep an eye on in this regard: Maceo Baston Jr. (Troy) and Lindsey Hunter IV (Southfield Christian).
The first part of the following portion of the article makes me a bit nervous, but Walton seems solidly committed to Michigan:
While he's not opposed to considering other schools, Walton acknowledges there are several factors that will make rethinking his decision unlikely.
"Choosing Michigan was just me," Walton said. "I just thought it was the best place for me, and I just went with my first mind. I stayed home because I thought the coaching staff at Michigan was like family and I could rely on them to be there for me every day.
"It was the campus and the education. The degree is ranked really high. That was a big factor, and the vibe you get once you step on campus was crazy. Having a good football team and being on the rise again in basketball was a good feeling."
Walton also confirms that MSU was seriously interested in him:
"MSU came at me pretty hard, but they were supposedly officially going to offer Aug. 2, and since I made my decision Aug. 1, there was no point," Walton said.
In the latest Scout rankings for 2013, Walton moved up from #77 to #57. Interestingly, Monte Morris actually shot ahead of Walton into the #50 position. (Not that there's a huge difference between those two spots.)
The 2013 Scout rankings also have Goodluck Okonoboh, a 6-foot-7 power forward from Boston, at #51. In this article he claims that Michigan is among a large number of schools pursuing him:
"Probably, Michigan, Missouri, Pitt, Providence, Syracuse and UConn," he said of the schools recruiting him the hardest. But did add, "everyone is coming pretty hard."
With it being so early in the process, Okonoboh has decided to keep his options open and hear from schools. He has yet to trim his list or name any favorites for that matter.
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
Give Beilein a couple of more winning seasons and Michigan basketball is back on the map nationally. With the recruits coming in I for one am very excited to see what our basketball team can do here in the next few years.
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^
A guy named Goodluck, I want him. We have way to many (insert ex pro name here) Jr. Or III.
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^
To be fair, Beilein hasn't landed a IV yet, and with Baston Jr. there's the bonus of him being a legacy recruit. It's been a while since we've had one on the basketball side. Was Dugan Fife the last one, or am I forgetting someone?
The downside of landing someone named Goodluck is having to fear what the Crisler PA announcer will do with that name.
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
...be serious. Maceo Baston, Jr.?
August 23rd, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
From that part on, all I was thinking as I read this was, "Damn, how old am I?"
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
It's just really hard for me to believe that a kid born in 1996 - the year of the Atlanta Olympics! - is now old enough to be on college teams' radars. And this year's HS seniors were born the year of the OJ trial!
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^
I'm not even old, but I had to do a double take when I saw Maceo Baston Jr. as well....
August 23rd, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
I just read that Okonoboh is actually 6' 9" and after watching his highlights I now want this kid as part of our 2013 class. He looks like he has the potential to be a defensive stud and a great rebounder.
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
I agree that Okonoboh's highlights are impressive (embed below). It sounds like UConn might have the best shot at him, in part because he's a first cousin of the Huskies' Alex Oriakhi, but he seems far from a decision at this point. I found this interview he did with a UConn blog, and his list of the schools that are pursuing him the hardest is quite different from the one above—and doesn't include Michigan:
UConnBall: What are some schools that are coming at you the hardest right now?
Goodluck: There are a lot of schools. Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), Louisville, Florida, UConn, Providence, Gonzaga, Minnesota, Penn State, and the list goes on.
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:54 PM ^
Again Beilein gets in on the ground floor while Izzo is dithering about. JB is turning into a recruiting force.
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^
was Baston when he had this kid? My memory isn't what it used to be but I thought he was at UM in '96? If that is the case, that is young to have a child. I was 20 when my daughter was born and I don't think you could have found a more unprepared father...
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
Baston Jr. was born while his father was still at Michigan. I remember reading a couple articles at the time about Maceo juggling fatherhood with school and basketball.
August 23rd, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
What a funky looking shot, not sure what the leg kick is designed to do, but it ain't pretty.
EDIT: I am referring to Okonohboh's shot not Walton's
August 23rd, 2011 at 3:43 PM ^
Chandler Park is very close to where I live. Can't wait for the upcoming season...