THE BEST IN CLASS
Cy Creek pair, Shadow Creek star earn top area hoops honors.
Shadow Creek forward Ramon Walker, who signed with the University of Houston in November, cemented his place among the Houston area’s greatest boys basketball players, winning the 2021 Guy V. Lewis Award. The list of past honorees includes Galen Robinson Jr. (Westbury Christian, 2015), Quentin Grimes (College Park, 2018) and Tramon Mark (Dickinson, 2020) — who went on to play for UH. And the award is named after Houston’s Hall of
Fame coach, who led the Cougars to 27 straight winning seasons.
Walker, a 6-5, 195-pound three-star recruit, helped Shadow Creek establish a winning tradition, leading the young program to the Class 5A regional finals in 2019-20 with a 22-3 record and 6A regional quarterfinal trip this year.
His efforts this season also clinched 6A all-state and all-region honors from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches and secured the Houston Chronicle’s All-Greater Houston Boys Basketball Player of the Year award.
Q: Where do you feel you grew the most while playing in high school?
A: Coach Prez (David President) was always on me about getting in the gym, working hard and trusting the process, so from my sophomore year all the way up until this moment, my game has made a huge jump in all aspects, and it’s all due to hard work. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but the grind for me was different, and I fell in love with it, and the outcome was great.
Q: What are your strengths on the basketball court?
A: I see myself as a three-level scorer. I can knock the 3 down, I can shoot the mid-range, I can score in the post, I can play above the rim, I can rebound and I can dunk. I’m basically a do-it-all player, and I’m not afraid to get physical. I play hard. It’s about doing whatever you can to win, and whenever I play, that’s what I’m worried about — doing what I can to get my team the win.
Q: Is there anyone to whom you compare your game?
A: I try to model my game like a Paul George — a two-way shot maker who can lock down on the defensive end and go get a bucket on the offensive end.
Q: What did you do to try to help build up the Shadow Creek program?
A: I just tried to maintain the culture Coach President established there. Over the years, my name started getting bigger and bigger, and so more people around the city started to see what we’re doing at Shadow Creek. Now they’re seeing the culture that we bring, how bad that we want to win and how hard we play. That, over the past few years, helped us build our legacy, along with sticking to our principles, paying attention to details, and bringing maximum effort every time we play.
Q: How will you look back on your high school career?
A: I definitely wish I had a state championship under my belt, but in the runs we went on, I had the best times of my life. Being with my teammates, and playing with those seniors last year, who I learned so much from, it was all love. We were brothers, and going on those runs, and being in those moments with them, is what I live for.
Q: What convinced you to sign with Houston?
A: Coach (Kelvin) Sampson has high expectations for all his players, and he’s going to coach every single player on his team as hard as he can because he wants the best for them, and that’s what I want. I didn’t want to go to a place where I could get by with just a few things. I want to be coached to my full potential. And they recruited me hard. As soon as I got my offer, I heard from them every day, just checking in on me and sending me stuff like social media posts and hype videos, and I fell in love with it, so I decided to commit.
Q: What has it been like watching Houston’s NCAA Tournament run?
A: Seeing what they’re doing this year, I feel like I’m right next to them. I’m just as excited as they are about how far they’ve gotten, the run they’re on, and knowing that I can come in and possibly do the same thing with them next year.
Q: What did it mean to you to win the Guy V. Lewis award?
A: Knowing my name is stamped in history, after winning that big award, and seeing those names, those elite players, on that list with me … lets me know that I’m on track to getting where I want to go. But I’ve got to keep working. I can’t get comfortable. I’ve got to work hard, and everything will open up to me.
Q: What is the next step as you prepare to join the Cougars?
A: I report June 5, so I’m going to work as hard as I can over the next couple months. I’m working with my trainer Kenny Ellis, who’s a great NBA trainer. I’m with him every day, trying to perfect my skills and working hard. I want to be ahead of the curve when I get there.