Chris Walker Gunning For That #1 Spot (and UK offer)

Okay, this is not the right Chris Walker...how about this one? Class of 2013 6'9 PF Chris Walker is back in the news now that the season is over.  During the 2010-2011 season, we saw Walker emerge out of Florida has a dominant high school basketball player with insane physical gifts.  His work on the spring and summer circuit landed him a spot in every recruiting sites top 10 for the Class of 2013.  Walker made waves during the off season last year when his list fluctuated, as he dropped and added UK depending on how much attention he received from the coaching staff. Today, Jeff Borzello published an interview where Chris Walker plans to become the #1 2013 recruit this summer (and hopefully get that elusive UK offer).  Check out this quote from Chris:

“I think I will be number one by the end of this summer,” Walker said. “I'm going to play harder than everybody on the court. I'm going to go out with a blast. After this last AAU season, Chris Walker is going to be a household name."

Chris is, without a doubt, an amazing athlete and talented basketball player.  According to Scout's latest rankings, Walker is ranked #6, with Jabari Parker, Julius Randle, the Harrison twins, and Aaron Gordon ranked above him (all of whom are being heavily recruited by UK and, I think, have offers).  Walker averaged 32 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks and three assists this past season, and he will be a force for his Florida Rams AAU team. Check out with Walker had to say on the schools on his list:

Kentucky: “How [John] Calipari puts people into the pros.” Kansas: “The pick and roll scenario.” Baylor: “How coach [Scott} Drew lets his players play one-on-one.” Ohio State: “How the post gets ball first.” Syracuse: “The zone.” Florida: “How me and coach [Billy] Donovan's relationship is.”

Those reasonings may seem a little silly.  What recruit gives a crap about a zone?!  More importantly, Kentucky is the ONLY team on his list to not offer yet.  You may be wondering why that is.  I think it's a combination of a few things. First, UK really wants Julius Randle, the #2 overall recruit who happens to play the same position as Walker.  Can he and Chris play together?  Probably Would they want to? That's a tough question.  If getting Walker means losing out on Randle, I think the UK staff would rather hold off and see how things play out. Secondly, Chris is an 'interesting' character.  His recruitment list has be erratic and it's been almost as if he has been begging for Calipari's attention via public interviews.  The other 2013 recruits are in no rush, but Walker seems offended that UK has yet to make him high priority.  That could explain his intense drive to be #1 this year.  After following him on twitter (a mistake, I know), his mental toughness scares me.  But he's young, so I can't hold twitter transgressions against him yet. Chris Walker's recruitment will be a very interesting one to watch evolve over the next year.  The Harrison twins, Jabari Parker, and Julius Randle would make for a dream  class - and if Coach Cal decided to make Walker a priority, he'd be a great addition, too.