Buffs Big Man Walton Ready For Return

BOULDER — One year to the day after he suffered his third torn ACL, Colorado center Dallas Walton walked off the CU Events Center basketball floor, wiped away the sweat and smiled as he sat down to talk to reporters.

Walton talked about the past, specifically the last year and what it took for him to endure the long, painful and arduous rehabilitation process for the third time in his young hoops career. He talked about the future, specifically the high expectations that accompany this year's Buffaloes and what they might accomplish.

But most of all, the 7-footer talked about the present — the day-to-day approach he has taken, the attitude he has developed and the mental fortitude required to come back from a third ACL surgery.

"I was talking to one of my mentors, (former Buff) Josh Scott, and he told me you can't live your life in fear," Walton said. "I take that to heart every day I come out here, every day I'm doing something. You can't live your life in fear because you don't know what you missed out on. Those who don't pursue what they love or what they are passionate about, they can't find bliss. I'm just out here doing what I love and I'm taking it day by day."

Walton hasn't played in a game since March 8, 2018, when the Buffs suffered a loss to Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament, the last game of Walton's promising redshirt freshman year. Barely seventh months later he suffered a torn ACL in practice, sidelining him for the 2018-19 season.

Now, he will finally get back in a game — albeit an exhibition contest — when the Buffs host Pomona-Pitzer in a 1 p.m. affair Saturday at the Events Center.

"I feel really good," said Walton, who suffered two torn ACLs in a 10-month span when he was at Arvada West High School. "My health is my No. 1 priority and the fact that I've been able to maintain that and do what I want to do and what I need to do out there on the court and in the weightroom is a good feeling. I'm excited to be out there."

Walton has been "100 percent" cleared to play. He's been practicing full speed since the Buffs opened fall drills in late September, and there have been no setbacks.

But he has also been careful not to over-extend himself right away.

"I'm doing all I can until I can't," he said. "It's not like I'm counting the reps in my head. Once I feel something, or something feels a little weird, I'm like, 'All right, I need to sit out this rep.' I'll let one of the coaches know. What's really good about the training staff here and the coaches here is they're willing to work with me."

Indeed, CU head coach Tad Boyle has said he is fine with allowing Walton to come back at the rate with which he feels comfortable.

"I have to trust Dallas when it comes to listening to him to when he tells me he's sore one day or there's some swelling on a different day," Boyle said. "We can bring him back at his own pace. I don't need to throw him into the fire, and we wouldn't want to do that anyway. We don't need 30 minutes a night, but he brings something to this team that we don't have. Having a seven-foot rim protector, a guy who is skilled and a guy who's played in Pac-12 level games before — it helps."

Walton doesn't expect all of his considerable skills to magically return at once. But because this is his third go-round with returning from such an injury — "left, left, right" if you're wondering in what order the torn ACLs occurred — he knows what to expect.

"It's a delicate balance," Walton said. "I have to understand that I may not be back to the spot I want to be at yet. But I know that in time, things are going to come back to me. Things are going to get smoother. I'm putting together positive things. Day by day by day, just making sure I can stack more and more on top of what I need to do and what I want to do."

Walton is no doubt a big component to CU's lineup. He gives the Buffs a tremendous defensive presence in the post and is a more-than-capable scorer and rebounder. As teammate Tyler Bey said, "He was the missing piece we needed last year. Everyone needs that 7-footer that can contest everything at the rim. It's great having him back."

But the Buffs also have the luxury of some depth on the front line. Returning this year are Bey, sophomore Evan Battey, senior Lucas Siewert and junior Frank Ryder (a redshirt from last year). It means Walton isn't under any undue pressure to be at full speed from the beginning. Rather, it is much more important that he shake the rust off early at his pace and be at full speed when CU hits Pac-12 play.

"It feels good being surrounded by a lot of talent," Walton said. "I was excited about that, even last year, seeing them grow and come into their own and knowing that when I come back, I can help. I can just contribute. I don't have to be that guy, I don't have to be a certain thing. I can just contribute all I can and it will be positive towards the team's success."

As a redshirt freshman, Walton showed flashes of being a dominant player inside. He started in 25 of CU's last 26 games, and had some memorable moments: a 15-point game in a win over No. 14 Arizona, 13 points and four blocked shots against Washington, and a career-high 16 points against Washington State.

Now, he's part of a team that was picked by the media to finish second in the Pac-12 and earlier this week received the 27th-most votes in the first Associated Press poll of the year.

That's enough to make the big man flash a big smile.

"I've been a Buff fan for a long time," he said. "I grew up in Colorado. Just seeing all the things that they're saying about CU, it feels good … But we can't be thinking about that too much as we practice, as we're going through our preseason stuff. Even though we do have that target on our back, we have to make sure we start all our practices with the mindset that it's on, there's going to be people chasing us."

And every day, Walton takes the floor with the same mindset: not to let fear steal his passion.

"The mental part is probably the hardest part," he said. "Physically you may be ready but mentally you know there's stuff in the back of your mind ... But I don't think of it in a negative aspect, I think of it in a progressive aspect in terms that I've come a long way and I still have a lot left to do and that I want to accomplish. Mentally you have to be strong."

Indeed.

Three torn ACLs, three surgeries, three years of rehabbing his injuries. It's difficult for most folks to even comprehend.

But Walton has refused to wallow in misery. He is still playing the game he loves.

"It's been a journey for sure," Walton said. "But I'm happy to call it my own."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu