Biography And Basketball Career Of Lonnie Walker
Lonnie Walker describes himself as the definition of different and who can doubt that. The Reading-born basketball star who was dubbed the next Michael Jordan for his superb performances in the one year he spent in college at the University of Miami, never had it all laid out for him. Born in a crime-ridden neighborhood with a crime percentage that is even higher than the national average, it was his focus and drive to succeed that kept him from the vices he grew up in.
Lonnie Walker was born in Reading, Pennsylvania where he was also raised. His birthdate is given as the 14th of December 1998. He was born to an African American basketball loving father, Lonnie Walker III (Walker is known as Lonnie Walker IV) while the name of his mother is not known.
Being born and raised in a basketball-crazy community like Reading, he developed a passion for the game at a very early age. In fact, long before the palm of his hand could hold a basketball firmly, he would always want to have the big round leather ball with him and would always resort to crying whenever anyone tries to 'dispossess' him of the ball. But while it is true that the culture of his environment was absorbed in the round leather game, it would not be wrong to believe that his early affinity for the game of basketball also had something to do with genetics as his father played the game so well in his younger days.
Be that as it may, Lonnie Walker attended Reading High School where he was a three-sport athlete. He participated in track and field events, football, and also basketball, and more so, he excelled in all three of them. While he played football as a running back and recorded an average of 6 touchdowns per game, Walker also dominated the track competitions in Reading High. But in all, he stuck to basketball in 8th grade. He led the Red Knights (the basketball team of Reading High School) as they won the state championship in his senior year in 2017. This would be the first time the school would achieve such a remarkable feat in their 117 year history and the fingerprints of Lonnie Walker could be seen all over the place. The feat made Walker a local champion and was billed for great heights as his father by the community. He would leave Reading High as their all-time leading scorer.
Being a standout player, he was sought after by a host of college basketball programs including Arizona, Kentucky, Villanova, Miami, and Syracuse, however, he chose to play for the Miami Hurricanes. Lonnie Walker made his debut from the bench in a game against Gardner-Webb University which the Hurricanes won.
His acrobatic floating for a tying layup which forced the game against Louisville - in which he had recorded 25 points - into overtime and his 3-pointer against Boston College with two seconds on the clock and with the Hurricanes 76-78 down in losing position (a game they ended up winning 79-78), provided a major highlight for his debut season while also earning him the next Michael Jordan tag. His freshman season became his only season with the Hurricanes as he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft where he was selected by the San Antonio Spurs as the 18th overall pick. In his one and only season at the University of Miami, Walker averaged 11. 5 points, 2. 6 rebounds, and 1. 5 assists per game with a shooting percentage of 34. 6 from 3-point range in 27. 8 minutes.
