Kemba Walker
Encyclopedia
Kemba Hudley Walker (born May 8, 1990) is an American
professional basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats
. Walker grew up in The Bronx
, New York
and graduated from Rice High School
in 2008. With the Huskies
basketball team at 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.
in Madison Square Garden
in a 53–51 win. During Walker's senior year he averaged 18.2 points per game and 5.3 assists per game, 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.
. Despite starting in only two games he averaged 25.5 minutes per game, far more than any regular non-starter. He also helped the Huskies go to the 2009 Final Four
with a 23 point effort in the Elite Eight
vs Missouri
. 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.
On March 14, 2011, The United States Basketball Writers Association named Walker a first team All-American. He was picked to the Second Team All-America by Fox Sports. 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. Walker was named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award
for the top point guard in the nation. 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
. 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.
on April 12. Walker was selected 9th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats.
Walker signed a Multi-Year shoe deal with Under Armour
, the first rookie from the 2011 Draft Class to do so.
, and is the youngest of three siblings. 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
.
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 Kemba.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player for the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
. Walker grew up in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and graduated from Rice High School
Rice High School (New York)
Rice High School was a private, Roman Catholic high school in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, United States. It is located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York...
in 2008. With the Huskies
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
basketball team at 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
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
, Walker was drafted ninth overall by the Bobcats.
High school career
In his junior year, Walker played against Simeon Career Academy and senior guard Derrick RoseDerrick Rose
Derrick Martell Rose is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association ....
in Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in a 53–51 win. During Walker's senior year he averaged 18.2 points per game and 5.3 assists per game, 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
During his freshman year at UConn, Walker played in every game. He helped the Huskies achieve a number one seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
. Despite starting in only two games he averaged 25.5 minutes per game, far more than any regular non-starter. He also helped the Huskies go to the 2009 Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
with a 23 point effort in the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
vs Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. Walker appeared on one of the six regional covers Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. 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
2011 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
-Championship Game:* Denotes Overtime Game-Rutgers–St. John's controversy:The second round St. John's-Rutgers game was criticized for poor officiating on the part of veteran officials Jim Burr, Tim Higgins, and Earl Walton. In the final play of the game, Justin Brownlee of St. John's stole an...
(during his junior year), Walker hit the game winning shot as time expired to beat #3 overall Pittsburgh
2010–11 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2010-11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their Head Coach was Jamie Dixon, who was in his 8th year as head coach at Pittsburgh and 12th overall at the University...
and advance UConn to the semi-finals. He led UConn to victory over University of Louisville
2010–11 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team represented the University of Louisville during the college basketball season of 2010–2011. The team's head coach was Rick Pitino, who was in his tenth season. The season was the school's first in the newly constructed KFC Yum! Center and they...
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.
On March 14, 2011, The United States Basketball Writers Association named Walker a first team All-American. He was picked to the Second Team All-America by Fox Sports. He was also a finalist for College Basketball Player of the Year
Oscar Robertson Trophy
The Oscar Robertson Trophy is given out annually to outstanding men's college basketball players by the United States Basketball Writers Association . The trophy is considered to be the oldest of its kind and has been given out since 1959...
honors due to his performance in the 2010-11 season. Although he finished second (to Jimmer Fredette
Jimmer Fredette
James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association...
), two journalists thought that Walker was the best player in college basketball that year. Walker was named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award
Bob Cousy Award
The Bob Cousy Award presented by The Hartford is an annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to the top men's collegiate point guard. It is named after six-time National Basketball Association champion Bob Cousy, who played point guard for the Boston Celtics...
for the top point guard in the nation. On April 4, 2011 Walker led the University of Connecticut with 16 points in winning the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, and was named the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
At the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
. Walker was added to the Huskies of Honor
Huskies of Honor
Huskies of Honor is a recognition program sponsored by the University of Connecticut . Similar to a hall of fame, it honors the most significant figures in the history of the Connecticut Huskies—the university's athletic teams—especially the men's and women's basketball teams...
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.
College statistics
| College | Year | GP | GS | MIN | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UConn Huskies Connecticut Huskies men's basketball The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference... |
2008–09 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2008 and ended with the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 6, 2009 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The season saw six different teams achieve the AP #1 ranking during the... |
36 | 2 | 25.1 | .470 | .271 | .715 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 8.9 |
| UConn Huskies Connecticut Huskies men's basketball The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference... |
2009–10 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2009, and ended with the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 5, 2010 on the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The opening round occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, followed by first... |
34 | 34 | 35.2 | .405 | .339 | .767 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 14.6 |
| UConn Huskies Connecticut Huskies men's basketball The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference... |
2010–11 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season The 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 8, 2010 with the preliminary games of the 2010 Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic, and ended with the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 4, 2011 at Reliant Stadium in Houston... |
41 | 41 | 37.6 | .428 | .330 | .819 | 5.4 | 4.5 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 23.5 |
| 111 | 75 | 32.8 | .428 | .325 | .782 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 16.1 |
Professional career
Walker announced that he would leave UConn to enter the 2011 NBA Draft2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
on April 12. Walker was selected 9th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats.
Walker signed a Multi-Year shoe deal with Under Armour
Under Armour
Under Armour is an American sports clothing and accessories company. The company is a supplier of a wide range of sportswear and casual apparel mainly focusing on hi-tech sportswear for professional athletes...
, the first rookie from the 2011 Draft Class to do so.
Personal
Walker grew up in the Sack-Wern Houses in Soundview, BronxSoundview, Bronx
Soundview is primarily a residential neighborhood geographically located in the South Central section of the Borough of The Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 9...
, and is the youngest of three siblings. His mother is a Crucian, raised in Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
of Antiguan
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
Parentage, and his father is Antiguan
Antiguan
Antiguan may refer to:* Something of, or related to Antigua. See also the country, Antigua and Barbuda.* A person from Antigua, or of Antiguan descent. For information about the Antiguan people, see Demographics of Antigua and Barbuda and Culture of Antigua and Barbuda. For specific Antiguans, see...
. Walker is also a dancer. He performed three times at the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
for the TV show Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater...
.
On June 21, 2011, Kemba Walker released a mixtape in collaboration with DJ Skee
DJ Skee
Scott Keeney , better known by his stage name DJ Skee, is a DJ and entrepreneur operating out of Los Angeles. Skee manages his own new media music, marketing, and production company, Skee.TV...
and Skee Sports. The mixtape features songs inspired by and inspiring to Kemba.