4-Star PF Nigel Walls Breaks Down Recruitment
Nigel Walls is the No. 42 player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking and the No. 9 overall power forward. The 6-foot-9 Walls recently came with his Houston (TX) St. Francis team to play in The Bash XI. Walls earned game MVP honors after finishing with 31 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks while shooting 5-8 from three.
“I feel like my game has evolved with my shooting and my ball handling,” Wells told On3. “Before, I was inside a lot more, but now I feel like I’m able to play inside, and out. I take smaller defenders inside and bring out bigger defenders, and I’m able to get past them. My playmaking ability I think makes my game different from others. I can see the floor and read the defense well.”
“I watch a lot of Brandon Miller,” Walls said. “Players like Brandon Ingram, Kevin Durant; just tall and lanky guys that can get to their shot. Guys who can handle the ball and play make, and get their team into the offense.”
On3 caught up with four-star forward Nigel Walls after a live viewing at The Bash XI to talk about his recruitment.
“I have not taken any official visits yet,” Walls said. “And I don’t have any planned right now. I think we are going to wait until the start of January to start doing those. I would say I’m probably hearing the most from Alabama, Kansas State, Texas, Arkansas, and TCU right now.”
Walls Talks Recruitment
TEXAS: “I talk the most with Coach Byron Jones. A lot of our conversations are about the team and the culture they have there. They talk about how they play, their style, and that they have a family-based team, and we talk about how to be a better man off the court. Not even about basketball all the time.
“Growing up, you know, it was always a dream to be recruited by the in-state schools. Texas is obviously an in-state school, so I’m just blessed to have that opportunity.”
ARKANSAS: “My mom went to school there, she has a strong tie with the school and the program there. I talk with Coach Ronnie Brewer the most. He is always checking up on me and always has conversations with me. He tells me that he really likes me and my game a lot. I talk with Coach Keith Smart too. I have daily conversations with them, and it goes both ways. They check how I’m doing and I check how they’re doing.
“They beat Duke the other night. I feel like how they get up and down the court is how I’m used to playing. They play defense and their bigs are able to play inside and out. I feel like I could fit right into how they play.”
ALABAMA: “I know a lot about their style of play. They like to shoot a lot of threes, and they get up and down the court as well. Their players are all long and play fast, getting up and down. Guys like Brandon Miller who just went there. I feel like my game relates a lot to that and how they play.”
KANSAS STATE: “My relationship keeps getting stronger with them. I talk with Coach (Jerome) Tang all the time and Coach Ulric Maligi, they’re always showing love. I know how they play. Having Tylor Perry handle the ball and coming off screens looking for the big man. They let their forwards get to work, look at Arthur Kaluma, he’s doing really well. Getting up and down the floor, I just really like how they play.”
TCU: “They were kind of the first ones there for me, so I know a lot about the program. Coach (Duane) Broussard is always on me, we talk a lot. He tells me what I need to do to keep getting better and we talk about how I’ve been working and what I’m working on. They get up and down the floor, I like how they play and think I could fit right in.”
Walls Talks Decision
“We’re going to wait until the new 2024 year before I start taking visits,” Nigel Walls said. “Early January, maybe February. We’ve talked a little about a commitment date, and I’d like to commit by the start of my high school season next year. But we’ll see whatever God has in store for us.
“I want to go into a program that has a family-based environment. On the court, I want to play in a system that is going to get up and down the floor and stress playing defense and switching everything. I don’t want to play for a system where the big is just playing inside. That just isn’t how the NBA is these days. Bigs can get the rebound, push the break, and move the ball. I want to be developed.