ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 3, 1996 TAG: 9604030024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J.
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
HE'S LOST SOME of his flash since joining the Wildcats, and Antoine Walker likes it that way.
Maybe the most noteworthy aspect of Antoine Walker's play Monday night was its absence of flash.
Walker's statistical line in the NCAA championship game was a coach's dream: 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four steals, zero turnovers.
``I told Antoine privately that watching him grow as a young man is the most special moment in my life in basketball,'' coach Rick Pitino said after Kentucky beat Syracuse 76-67 in the NCAA championship game.
The Wildcats got more spectacular games out of senior Tony Delk, who tied a championship game record with seven 3-point goals, and freshman Ron Mercer, who had a season-high 20 points. But Walker was all over the court.
Walker was not known for his all-around game when he played at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, where he averaged more than 29 points as a senior and had a reputation for wildness.
``You think you would leave the gym and not be interested in him,'' Pitino said. ``I saw a young man who forced a shot every time down the floor. As soon as he crossed halfcourt, he was thinking about shooting.
``He didn't attempt to guard anybody. He was a good offensive rebounder, though, and you could just see the talent. He had great passing skills; he just didn't utilize them.''
The conversion to team player began slowly, as Walker played fewer than 15 minutes per game in 1994-95 as a freshman. However, he started 35 of 36 games this season and averaged 15.3 points and 8.4 rebounds, with more than 100 assists.
``I don't know if I was undisciplined in high school,'' said Walker, a 6-foot-8, 224-pounder. ``I was only 16 or 17 at the time, so I was a little simple-minded, but I thought I was the greatest player in the world.''
Walker clearly has a bright future and, with Mercer, should give the Wildcats a formidable 1-2 punch next season.
``Antoine came in similar to [Jamal] Mashburn with defensive liabilities, with a great game, but not an understanding of what the game is all about,'' Pitino said. ``And, right now, he's developing into an absolutely tremendous basketball player.
``When I said he stirs the drink, boy, did he stir it this year.''
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP The growth of Antoine Walker (center, with teammatesby CNBAnthony Epps, left, and Ron Mercer), from selfish teen-ager to
consummate team player was a key to Kentucky's successful run to the
NCAA basketball championship.