Brooks: Dallas Walton Proving To Boyle, Buffs He’s Where He Belongs
October 21, 2016 | Men's Basketball, B.G. Brooks
7-foot freshman has showed well in early men’s basketball practices
BOULDER – In almost everyone's mind except his Dallas Walton was added to the University of Colorado's basketball roster last spring as somewhat of a project – or in his own words, "This skinny seven-footer; he's going to have to redshirt for sure, for sure."
It might turn out that Walton is indeed outfitted in a redshirt for the 2016-17 basketball season. But for the time being – at least until next month – Buffs coach Tad Boyle is putting that decision on hold, mainly because Walton hasn't practiced like the project that so many outsiders believed he would be.
When I asked Boyle after a recent practice if Walton's early performance had given him pause in answering the redshirt question, this was Boyle's answer:
"The way he shoots the ball from the position that he plays gives me pause. Because he can really stretch the defense and you have to guard him beyond the three-point line. He stretches the defense from that five spot."
Now this is something that belongs in any conversation with Boyle about redshirting: If he had his druthers, he would redshirt every incoming freshman. He might even redshirt managers, trainers, cheerleaders, even reporters covering his team.
"No question, a redshirt year will benefit anybody," Boyle said. "That makes Dallas no different. It's 'do we have enough depth at that position' – that's what the question comes down to . . . I'd love to redshirt every freshman and every 'big' for sure. We'll see; we'll make that decision come November.
"You never know (about freshmen). I don't put my expectations too high or too low. He's here because he belongs here. You appreciate the good things he does and you want him to understand the things he needs to get better at. But I've been very pleased with his demeanor, his attitude, his effort. It just takes time . . . there's no fast forward button."
BUT FOR NOW, WHAT ONCE seemed to be an obvious scenario with Walton has blurred just a bit. Give him all the credit making that happen. He's a rare freshman, and not simply because he stands out on campus as a 7-footer. His road to Boulder was littered with more than one hardship, more than one seemingly insurmountable roadblock.
Yet Walton took each on and won. He's overcome back-to-back ACL tears in his left knee that knocked him out of his entire junior season in high school and, after the second injury, left him wondering whether the long rehab and basketball were worth it.
His ultimate decision: Yes, he missed his sport, loved it enough to commit to a comeback and stay the course. But he admits, "There was a dark moment there after my second knee injury where I really did not think I was going to continue basketball. It actually took a lot of talking with my parents and people close to me to find that motivation in me.
"There was a lot of adversity . . . with the back-to-back knee injuries. Spending over a year not playing basketball – it hurt. It hurt. I mean it was something I didn't expect. Ever. Making up for that year was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in terms of getting my strength back and making sure I was able to still play.
"What they say about injuries really showing love for your sport – I found out that I really love basketball and it's something that I really wanted to do. I was really motivated and got through that to play the sport I love."
Walton still practices with a large brace on his left knee but otherwise says the knee is fine. Boyle agrees but adds, "The brace is a pain in the butt because he bangs other guys – but, yeah, the knee is fine." Teammates such as senior wing Xavier Johnson who have returned from season-ending injuries – "XJ's" was a torn Achilles – have noticed Walton still possibly being tentative because of his knee issues.
"I just think he needs to have more confidence in himself," Johnson said. "The two ACL tears he's had – it messes with your mind. Just like an Achilles tear messes with your mind. Just like me, I never think about it anymore. I think sometimes he's a little hesitant, takes baby steps instead of those long strides and that can slow him up. But when he gets past that mental part . . ."
Once he signed with CU and was graduated from Arvada West, Walton got acquainted – really acquainted – with the Coors Events Center and new Buffs strength and conditioning director for basketball Steve Englehart. Much of what Walton called personal time from July to mid-August was "just me getting in the gym by myself."
He was in the 205-pound range when he reported but has gotten as high as 224. He's about two pounds lighter now that preseason practice is in full swing, but Walton hopes a full year spent with Englehart will get his weight to the 230-235 range.
"The weight room and me are going to be best friends this year," Walton said.
If his overall game lacks polish and fine-tuning, that's not totally unexpected for a 7-foot freshman. But as Johnson said, "You can't teach tall, like they always say. He's a big guy (and) he's working hard. That's all you can ask for anybody, that you come to work and work hard every day, give it your all.
"If you do that you can fit. Plus, he shoots the ball really good . . . every time he shoots a three it goes in – I don't know how – but it goes in."
THE OUTSIDE TOUCH, SAID WALTON, has come naturally during his entire hoops career. But once practice began at this level, he came to the realization that while knocking down 3-pointers benefitted a 7-footer, the opportunities wouldn't be as numerous as in high school.
"So when you get your shots you better make them," he said. "I want to make sure when I do get a shot – I know we've got a lot of experienced guys on this team who will create a lot of plays – when I'm open I will knock down the shot. I think I knew I had something in store when I put in all the work over the summer."
Realistically, Boyle's team isn't likely to need Walton this season for his perimeter shooting. Losing 6-10 Josh Scott to graduation, the Buffs are counting on Tory Miller and Wes Gordon – both 6-9 – and possibly Walton and 6-10 fellow freshman Lucas Siewert for their inside presences.
While Walton has worked with the 6-9, 242-pound Miller on playing more physical inside, Boyle says the game as a whole "physically is a little overwhelming for (Walton) right now. (It) still moves a little fast for him, the reactionary time for him is a little slower – which is expected from a freshman. And big guys have a bigger jump to make than guards do . . . but he's gotten a lot of reps, he's gotten better and he's coachable. He's going to be a good player."
Walton is also mature enough to accept Boyle's and his staff's evaluation of what this season might hold for him. "The coaches are going to make the right decision," he said, adding that he appreciates that no one at CU told him from signing day forward that he was destined to redshirt this season.
"The way I've always looked at it, I'm not going to listen to what anybody else is going to say . . . I always knew that I have a mission," he said. "I always go out trying to prove something. I feel like people don't expect too much out of me. I knew that I had something to prove to myself, the coaches, my teammates as well – that I belong here."
Whether it happens at CU this season or next, or even the one after that, Dallas Walton already has proved a couple of things: He's OK with hard work. And for those who raised eyebrows when the Buffs signed him, it's OK to lower them now.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
It might turn out that Walton is indeed outfitted in a redshirt for the 2016-17 basketball season. But for the time being – at least until next month – Buffs coach Tad Boyle is putting that decision on hold, mainly because Walton hasn't practiced like the project that so many outsiders believed he would be.
When I asked Boyle after a recent practice if Walton's early performance had given him pause in answering the redshirt question, this was Boyle's answer:
"The way he shoots the ball from the position that he plays gives me pause. Because he can really stretch the defense and you have to guard him beyond the three-point line. He stretches the defense from that five spot."
Now this is something that belongs in any conversation with Boyle about redshirting: If he had his druthers, he would redshirt every incoming freshman. He might even redshirt managers, trainers, cheerleaders, even reporters covering his team.
"No question, a redshirt year will benefit anybody," Boyle said. "That makes Dallas no different. It's 'do we have enough depth at that position' – that's what the question comes down to . . . I'd love to redshirt every freshman and every 'big' for sure. We'll see; we'll make that decision come November.
"You never know (about freshmen). I don't put my expectations too high or too low. He's here because he belongs here. You appreciate the good things he does and you want him to understand the things he needs to get better at. But I've been very pleased with his demeanor, his attitude, his effort. It just takes time . . . there's no fast forward button."
BUT FOR NOW, WHAT ONCE seemed to be an obvious scenario with Walton has blurred just a bit. Give him all the credit making that happen. He's a rare freshman, and not simply because he stands out on campus as a 7-footer. His road to Boulder was littered with more than one hardship, more than one seemingly insurmountable roadblock.
Yet Walton took each on and won. He's overcome back-to-back ACL tears in his left knee that knocked him out of his entire junior season in high school and, after the second injury, left him wondering whether the long rehab and basketball were worth it.
His ultimate decision: Yes, he missed his sport, loved it enough to commit to a comeback and stay the course. But he admits, "There was a dark moment there after my second knee injury where I really did not think I was going to continue basketball. It actually took a lot of talking with my parents and people close to me to find that motivation in me.
"There was a lot of adversity . . . with the back-to-back knee injuries. Spending over a year not playing basketball – it hurt. It hurt. I mean it was something I didn't expect. Ever. Making up for that year was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in terms of getting my strength back and making sure I was able to still play.
"What they say about injuries really showing love for your sport – I found out that I really love basketball and it's something that I really wanted to do. I was really motivated and got through that to play the sport I love."
Walton still practices with a large brace on his left knee but otherwise says the knee is fine. Boyle agrees but adds, "The brace is a pain in the butt because he bangs other guys – but, yeah, the knee is fine." Teammates such as senior wing Xavier Johnson who have returned from season-ending injuries – "XJ's" was a torn Achilles – have noticed Walton still possibly being tentative because of his knee issues.
"I just think he needs to have more confidence in himself," Johnson said. "The two ACL tears he's had – it messes with your mind. Just like an Achilles tear messes with your mind. Just like me, I never think about it anymore. I think sometimes he's a little hesitant, takes baby steps instead of those long strides and that can slow him up. But when he gets past that mental part . . ."
Once he signed with CU and was graduated from Arvada West, Walton got acquainted – really acquainted – with the Coors Events Center and new Buffs strength and conditioning director for basketball Steve Englehart. Much of what Walton called personal time from July to mid-August was "just me getting in the gym by myself."
He was in the 205-pound range when he reported but has gotten as high as 224. He's about two pounds lighter now that preseason practice is in full swing, but Walton hopes a full year spent with Englehart will get his weight to the 230-235 range.
"The weight room and me are going to be best friends this year," Walton said.
If his overall game lacks polish and fine-tuning, that's not totally unexpected for a 7-foot freshman. But as Johnson said, "You can't teach tall, like they always say. He's a big guy (and) he's working hard. That's all you can ask for anybody, that you come to work and work hard every day, give it your all.
"If you do that you can fit. Plus, he shoots the ball really good . . . every time he shoots a three it goes in – I don't know how – but it goes in."
THE OUTSIDE TOUCH, SAID WALTON, has come naturally during his entire hoops career. But once practice began at this level, he came to the realization that while knocking down 3-pointers benefitted a 7-footer, the opportunities wouldn't be as numerous as in high school.
"So when you get your shots you better make them," he said. "I want to make sure when I do get a shot – I know we've got a lot of experienced guys on this team who will create a lot of plays – when I'm open I will knock down the shot. I think I knew I had something in store when I put in all the work over the summer."
Realistically, Boyle's team isn't likely to need Walton this season for his perimeter shooting. Losing 6-10 Josh Scott to graduation, the Buffs are counting on Tory Miller and Wes Gordon – both 6-9 – and possibly Walton and 6-10 fellow freshman Lucas Siewert for their inside presences.
While Walton has worked with the 6-9, 242-pound Miller on playing more physical inside, Boyle says the game as a whole "physically is a little overwhelming for (Walton) right now. (It) still moves a little fast for him, the reactionary time for him is a little slower – which is expected from a freshman. And big guys have a bigger jump to make than guards do . . . but he's gotten a lot of reps, he's gotten better and he's coachable. He's going to be a good player."
Walton is also mature enough to accept Boyle's and his staff's evaluation of what this season might hold for him. "The coaches are going to make the right decision," he said, adding that he appreciates that no one at CU told him from signing day forward that he was destined to redshirt this season.
"The way I've always looked at it, I'm not going to listen to what anybody else is going to say . . . I always knew that I have a mission," he said. "I always go out trying to prove something. I feel like people don't expect too much out of me. I knew that I had something to prove to myself, the coaches, my teammates as well – that I belong here."
Whether it happens at CU this season or next, or even the one after that, Dallas Walton already has proved a couple of things: He's OK with hard work. And for those who raised eyebrows when the Buffs signed him, it's OK to lower them now.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
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