walton commits to SDSU

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Chris Walton Commits
To SDSU--(Oct. 26, 1999)

Chris Walton (6'-8" Sr. PF) from University of San Diego High School in San Diego, has given a verbal commitment to San Diego State. Walton turned down a scholarship offer from UCLA to take the offer presented by Aztec head coach Steve Fisher. Walton is the youngest son of former Bruin great Bill Walton, and had recently been recruited by the Bruins. Walton, a strong, tough player who runs the floor well and is a good athlete who averaged 15 ppg last season for the Dons, opted for immediate playing time and a chance to contribute as a freshmen in electing to stay at San Diego.

Walton will also re-join his former high school teammate David Abramowitz and his former high school coach, Jim Tomey, who was recently hired as an assistant at SDSU. In explaining his decision to local newspaper reporters, Walton told Ed Graney of the San Diego Union Tribune, that he knew SDSU was where he wanted to go: "I explored all my options and know it's the best place for me. I have 100 percent confidence that Coach Fisher is going to turn the program around. I've had a great experience from the moment he began recruiting me. I've lived in Boston and Los Angeles and traveled all over the country with basketball and have never been in a place like San Diego. I just love being here with my family and friends."

Walton also told Graney that he didn't feel any pressure to go to his dad's alma mater: "I've been living with that my whole life. I got over that a long time ago. UCLA has a great tradition and incredible athletes, but I feel (SDSU's) system is a better fit for me. I'm sure my dad would have been extremely happy had I chosen UCLA, but I also know he would never want me to be someplace I wasn't happy. He has always wanted us to make our own decisions."

Graney also interviewed Walton's current USDHS coach, Chris Grazier, about how Walton feels about his decision: "Chris feels that Coach Fisher now adds a legitimacy to the program and the institution. It's a place he can go and contribute right away. I think it's a great decision for him. He needs to develop his frame and knows that he'll have to work extremely hard. I think he will. He knows the game better than most coaches. Those fundamentals and the footwork were already in place once he arrived (at USDHS). He's a very smart young man and knows this allows him an opportunity to help build something special."