Kings star’s flight fright
Memory stays with ace
AS the aeroplane started losing control, Derrick Walton Jr feared he was going to die.
It’s 2017 and Walton Jr and his Michigan college teammates thought the worst as their plane helplessly slid off the runway.
The team’s trip to Washington DC for the NCAA Big Ten tournament was put on hold as high winds forced the plane’s takeoff to be aborted.
A jammed right elevator, which controls the plane’s pitch, prevented it from stopping despite strong braking.
The plane crashed and was extensively damaged, and while no one was seriously injured, Walton cut his knee when he was struck by an emergency door and required five stitches.
Five years on, the memories of the frightening ordeal remain for the Sydney Kings import guard.
“In the moment, it was traumatic,” Walton, 27, recalled.
“Everyone was scared and screaming. We had family and friends on the plane and the band and cheer teams as well.
“Being in the back of the plane I couldn’t really see what was going on, but you could tell that something wasn’t right, and I was just glad to be alive.
“As soon as we got off the plane, everyone ran as fast as possible to safety.”
The team debated skipping the tournament after the plane scare before deciding to fly out the following morning at 6am via Detroit.
Michigan received the ultimate gift in its time of need from NBA side the Detroit Pistons, who let the college team borrow the franchise’s private jet to fly to Washington for the Big Ten tournament.
Walton will be forever grateful to the Pistons – as Michigan went on to win four games in four days to claim the tournament title after the plane crash.
The now Kings guard was crowned tournament MVP after playing the entire event with five stitches in his knee.
The plane scare and injury left scars, but Walton credits the adversity for helping to create a ‘special’ memory for himself and his Michigan teammates.
“Getting through those emotions and looking back on it now, it’s something I cherish, and that incident bonded the team together for life,” he said about the ’17 Michigan side, which featured NBA players like Duncan Robinson (Miami) and DJ Wilson (Toronto and Oklahoma City).
“That team is really connected, and we still stay in touch.”
Walton Jr revealed he is no certainty to take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Wednesday night’s top four blockbuster due to an ankle injury.
Sydney would love for Walton Jr to play given he dropped 45 points against South East Melbourne in round 11.
However, the Kings lost in double overtime as Phoenix star Mitch Creek starred with a game-high 46 points.