Reading native, Miami star Lonnie Walker drafted by Spurs
Two years ago, Lonnie Walker IV put all of Berks County and the surrounding area on his back in leading Reading Area High School to its first PIAA Class 6A Championship.
Now, he’ll take his loyal followers with him down south.
Walker, a freshman at Miami University, was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 21 at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center.
“I feel like it’s just God’s message to put me in the right place with the right team,” Walker said. “It’s just time to work, time to prove everyone wrong and I know I’m in the right place at the right time to become something special.”
Walker was projected as a possible lottery selection, though the Spurs never worked out the 6-4 guard in the weeks leading up to the draft.
Originally recruited to Miami as a shooting guard, Walker was forced to move to point guard when injuries hit the Hurricanes. Last season, he averaged 11.5 points per game and shot 35 percent from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 26 points on five 3-pointers with seven boards in a 6954 win over Boston University in December. It was the first of three games in which the 19-year-old exceeded 20 points.
His scoring ability and athleticism aside, Walker plans to do whatever is asked of him with San Antonio.
“If Coach (Gregg) Popovich needs me to dive on the floor strictly, then I’ll strictly dive on the floor. I’m going to do whatever it takes for us to get that win sooner rather than later, hopefully receive that championship,” he said.
Walker is of course no stranger to championships.
During his senior season at Reading High School, Walker led the Red Knights to a 30-3 overall record, which included the Berks County and PIAA Class 6A Championship titles.
For the season, he averaged over 18 points per game, held to double-digit scoring in only five games all year. He scored a season-high 36 points in a nonconference win over Math, Civics and Science early in the season, then scored 35 against Archbishop Ryan in the state semifinal.
Walker was one of four players who played high school basketball in Pennsylvania selected in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Westtown School grad and University of Texas freshman center Mohamed Bamba was taken by the Orlando Magic with the No. 6 pick. Four picks later, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Great Valley High School graduate and Villanova junior Mikal Bridges at No. 10 before trading him off to the Phoenix Suns for Zhaire Smith and a future first-round pick.
Penn State University sophomore and Roman Catholic High School graduate Tony Carr was taken 51st overall by the New Orleans Pelicans.
With uncertainty surrounding superstar forward Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio, Walker will step into a crowded backcourt that includes Dejounte Murray, Danny Green, Patty Mills, Bryn Forbes and Brandon Paul.
“I’m ready to get after it right now,” Walker said. “If they wanted me to work out and practice right now, I’d do it. I’m ready to compete, and at the end of the of the day, I want to be the best. I’m addicted to being the best. I’m obsessed with being the next great. It’s time to be a dog, and it’s just that simple I’ve got something to prove.”
Just moments after he heard his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, sitting with Spurs great David Robinson and reporter Maria Taylor, Walker made it clear that he’ll never forget where he came from.
“At the end of the day, it’s bigger than basketball,” he said. “I got the opportunity to create my message through basketball.
“I’m just a kid from Reading.”