There’s not much EJ Walker can’t do on the basketball court. Same could be said off the court.
Whether he’s pulling down rebounds and starting a fast break or accumulating a 4.0 GPA in the classroom, whoever Walker committed to for his academic and basketball career on Friday at Lloyd Memorial High School was getting the complete package.
“EJ epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete,” Lloyd Memorial Athletic Director Bill Pilgrim said. “He showcases not only his remarkable talent on the court, but also demonstrates exceptional character and leadership.”
Walker narrowed down his list of over 30 offers down to four this week, ultimately making his decision to verbally commit to the University of South Carolina on Friday inside Scheben Gym at the high school.
“They’re building something over there and I want to be a part of that,” Walker said. “I think SC will give me a better chance to show my versatility.”
Walker is ranked No. 2 in the state of Kentucky for the class of 2025, 131st nationally, according to On3’s recruiting rankings and one of the highest ranked recruits to ever come out of Northern Kentucky. He finished with 34 offers in total, starting in eighth grade when Youngstown State was the first to do so.
Not only did Walker blossom with his height, but his game evolved with his growth spurts. His 6-foot-8, 230 pound frame creates a mismatch anytime he’s on the floor with his ability to knock down the outside jumper, handle the ball like a guard and rebound with relative ease.
That’s why South Carolina, coming on late and winning out over three Big 10 schools in his final four (Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin) made the most sense for him.
“They see the potential and the way they’re going to use him and his versatility,” Mike Walker said, EJ’s father and head coach at Lloyd. “It’s something we were really looking for and also the academics and SEC, it’s one of the best conferences in the country. We’re excited, it’s been a long time coming. This week was stressful.”
Walker finished his junior season with 16.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He scored his 1,000th career point in January. On top of his high GPA, he was taking some history and math classes at Northern Kentucky University. He has 1,322 points in his high school career, 267 away from program record holder Ryan Wilson, a 2000 graduate with 1,588 career points.
Walker does it in an efficient manner, too. He shot 58% from the field, 38% from three and 70% from the free throw line this past season.
Michael Walker wears two hats with EJ, the dad hat and the coaches hat. Mike was a standout himself at Yellow Springs High School near Dayton, Ohio, eventually becoming a basketball coach at Cincinnati State before coming to Lloyd in 2020. The Juggernauts have endured one of their better stretches of basketball in program history since Walker came on board. They’ve gone 66-27 in the past three seasons with three straight trips to the 9th Region semifinals.
“We look forward taking it one step at a time,” Mike Walker said. “Get these younger guys acclimated. Went 25-9 last year and didn’t lose anyone.”
With nearly the whole roster expected back next season from a 25-9 team, EJ is optimistic they can do something special in his senior season.
With his decision out of the way, he’ll get to play stress free basketball and not worry about which coach is at which game this upcoming season, a common occurrence for Walker over the past couple seasons.
“This will help me play free and not have to worry about playing a bad game,” Walker said. “Hopefully we can cut down some nets and make it to Rupp and get my first win there before I get another one (at South Carolina).”
He was joined by his family on the stage inside Scheben Gym, a family of six including four siblings. The athletic genes don’t just stop with EJ either, his sister Peyton is headed to play volleyball at Eckert College in St. Petersburg, Florida.