(Photo courtesy of the Colorado Springs Gazette)

By: Antonio G. Castillo

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 What a difference a few years can make. Anthony “AJ” Walker was a part of a very deep 2017 Tri-Regions class where he starred for St. Mary’s Hall High School. Twenty-four of the first thirty ranked prospects in our final edition of the Super 60, all ended up eventually signing with a division one program. Walker took the much less traveled road, and attended one of the service academies, the Air Force, and now three years later he’s one of the most coveted transfer prospects in the country.

“I’m kind of going through this process, I’m enjoying it. I really didn’t have offers like this coming out of high school. The only offer I had was the academy. I’m just trying to enjoy the moment, it’s a blessing,” said Walker.

From only having Air Force as an option as a high school senior, he now has a who’s who list of programs that have all reached out. Ohio State, Texas, Texas Tech, Missouri, Cincinnati, and Gonzaga have all touched base and are after the 6’2” point guard.

“Nothing is final still, I’m weighing all of my options, gathering all the information I can. Due to the Corona virus I can’t go on any visits. Some programs have explained part of the process, that they do have a spot for me and I’m considering making a decision without a visit.”

Making AJ even more attractive as a transfer, is he still has 3 years left to play 2 on the hardwood. In 2017-2018, he attended the Air Force Prep Academy which does not count against NCAA eligibility, all service academies have a prep program to prepare incoming freshmen for the rigors of academy life.

As a freshman, he set an Air Force record averaging 10.3 ppg in Mountain West play, along with 185 total points in those same conference games.

This past season as a sophomore he averaged 11ppg, nearly 4rebs, 3asts and shot 40% from the 3-point line. He did it in one of the most difficult conferences facing the likes of San Diego State, Utah State, New Mexico, UNLV, and other top competition.  

As a team, the season didn’t go as planned for the Falcons, finishing 12-20, and resulting in Head Coach Dave Pilipovich being removed. AJ was direct in saying that the coaching change was the biggest factor in him deciding to start a new. Regardless of the coaching change, in three years at the Springs, he certainly forged some friendships and memories that will be following him wherever he lands next.

“The guys on the team, every day we put in work. I give all the love to the senior class. With out them they paved the way for me coming out of the prep school. Those guys are the ones who helped shape me.”

Walker has not made a list or narrowed down his choices, but could potentially start doing so by next week. Once that step occurs in the process, the middle or end of May is when he looks to make his decision of where he’ll be transferring.

Don’t be surprised if his list of suitors even grows bigger. An athletic point guard with good size, who has speed, takes care of the ball, makes other’s around him better, can score it in a hurry, and is proven against top competition Any division one program with the space, would add that type of player in a heartbeat, hence why AJ is now so highly sought after.