Still uncertain about future, Walton focused on winning
B OULDE R» Few players have experienced the career arc quite like the one traveled by Dallas Walton.
The roller coaster ride endured by the 7-footer from Arvada West has been well-documented. After two ACL surgeries on his left knee, Walton took a redshirt season as a true freshman in 2016-17.
He emerged as a promising low-post force a year later, but then suffered a torn ACL in his right knee that cost Walton the 2018-19 season.
After battling back into the rotation via a sort of live-action redshirt season last year as he regained strength in his legs, Walton has, at long last, returned to the form that offered so much promise three years ago.
Even Walton isn’t quite sure if this is his final run with CU, but just in case he is certain to savor the final home game of the season on Thursday night as the 24th-ranked Buffs host Arizona State.
“I knew what I was capable of and I knew could contribute on this team and get some Ws,” Walton said. “Being able to do that and produce in a variety of different ways has been very special to me. It’s been a long journey over the past five years I’ve been here, and even before I got here too, just to get to the level that I’m at right now. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s a very special season.”
Despite missing six midseason games due to injury and illness, it has been a season of redemption for Walton.
He struggled to regain his preACL form in 28 games off the bench last season, but Walton has been a dependable presence in the middle of the Buffs’ attack this year. Although he takes a slight shooting slump into Thursday’s game (4-for-17 in the past four games), Walton still is shooting .558 overall with a 7for-15 mark on his occasional attempts from 3-point range.
Given that his redshirt season was taken in part to get stronger after his injuries at Arvada West, and then he missed the 2018-19 season to injury, Walton previously indicated he planned to petition for a sixth season of eligibility.
With that process no longer necessary after the NCAA granted eligibility relief for the 202021 season, Walton isn’t yet ready to address anything beyond what is immediately ahead of him — the Arizona State home finale, the Pac-12 tournament, and a likely date in the NCAA Tournament.
“I have no idea where I’m at with that right now,” Walton said. “I’m just kind of finishing out the season, and right now that’s all I can think about — just finishing out the season on a strong note.”