Walker eyes future without regret

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Former Husker Marcus Walker isn't certain where he'll play college basketball next season. He isn't worried about it, either.

Not yet, anyway. Not until his current team, Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College, finishes its season.

To Walker's disappointment, that finish came a step closer to reality Wednesday, with Seminole State's 70-60 upset of top-ranked Indian Hills in the opening round of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.

Indian Hills (32-2) drops to the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tournament. For now, that has Walker's full attention.

“I ain't put too much thought into something that has nothing to do with where we are right now,” Walker said.

Others certainly have Walker in mind, though. Most notably, a plethora of NCAA Division I coaches who attended Wednesday's game. Among them was Nebraska's Doc Sadler.

Walker said Nebraska and Creighton have been showing interest, and that he's also talked to Virginia Tech and Florida State.

“It's all over the board,” Walker said. “I really don't know. I'll let my coaches handle that.”

Walker, a 6-foot-1 point guard, averages 13.2 points, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals for the Warriors. On Wednesday, he scored five points on 1-of-10 shooting with five rebounds, one assist and three turnovers. His lone field goal was a three-pointer in the final minute.

“We lost today,” Walker said, “but nobody's pointing fingers.”

As a freshman at Nebraska, Walker averaged 5.6 points and 2.2 assists through 33 games, 12 of which he started. Walker, though, said he wasn't suited for the style of play under former coach Barry Collier, and left.

“The way I play and the way we played last year just didn't fit,” Walker said. “We had a lot of set offense, we didn't press that much. We didn't have that many fast-break points.

“If I'm going to play four years of college, I'd rather play the way that got me to college. It wasn't gonna happen there.”

Walker said he doesn't regret going to Nebraska, but that he also hasn't regretted leaving.

“It's the best decision of my life, basketball-wise,” Walker said of playing at Indian Hills, led by second-year coach Jeff Kidder.

“Best coach I've ever played for, me and my teammates get along. There ain't been a place I've been where I didn't get along with my teammates, but it's just our chemistry together.”

Walker plans on taking “a couple” of official visits during his spring break, April 5-16, although he's unsure of what schools he'll visit. He'll sign during the late signing period, which begins April 11.

What team will interest Walker? One that plays an up-tempo game, and one that will have immediate and abundant playing time for a point guard.

“Basically, it's all about me going in and playing. I'm trying to play for the rest of my life,” Walker said.

“Whatever decision I make for college I'm sure will be a good decision. Every decision I made so far has been good.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.