My Basketball Journey: Ty Walker
3/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2011
This article was originally published in the Feb. 22 edition of Wake Forest's basketball gameday magazine, which is given away at all men's basketball home games.
Q: When did you first start playing basketball?
A: My first time ever playing basketball was when I was with the Wilmington Riptide. I was 12 years old. I didn't really know much about the game. I was just out there to have fun and because my mother wanted me to be out there.
Q: When did you first realize you were "good" at basketball?
A: Probably in my junior year of high school. I didn't play my first regulation basketball game until my freshman year of high school. Taking the time and working hard I realized I was different from everybody else my junior year.
Q: Were you always one of the better and taller players on the court growing up playing basketball?
A: When I was growing up, no. I guess you can call me a late bloomer. I didn't get good at basketball until I was about a junior in high school, and that's really when my recruitment started. As a very little kid I was short, but then out of nowhere I just hit an abnormal growth spurt, and here I am today standing seven-foot-one.
Q: What is the one area of your game that you have had to work the hardest on to improve?
A: I definitely had to work on my strength. Last year I was about 215 pounds and a very skinny kid. Before this year I hit the weight room hard with [strength and conditioning coach] Todd Hedrick, and he has me helped me add about 16 more pounds.
Q: What is the one area of your game that has just seemed to come naturally?
A: Shot blocking. That's what I was recruited for, and that's what I'm known for.
Q: What is the best memory of your high school basketball career?
A: My best memory is winning the (2007) state championship for the first time for the school in 39 years and being the MVP of that game. I played in Chapel Hill, so it was a big deal and a packed crowd. I was very nervous.
Q: What is the best memory of your AAU basketball career?
A: I would have to say playing against (former teammates) Al-Farouq [Aminu] and Tony [Woods]. I was with Boo Williams, and they were with the Georgia Stars. They were favored to beat us, but we ended up winning that game by 14.
Q: What was the recruiting process like for you?
A: My recruitment was crazy. I had schools coming at me left and right, but Wake Forest was the school that was there first. They offered me a scholarship when I was a sophomore in high school. I didn't really know much about the game, but they saw something in me.
Q: What do you see yourself doing after your basketball career is finished?
A: I'm a communication major, so I'd like to get into sports broadcasting.