LITTLE ROCK — A.J. Walton returned to Little Rock last week for Christmas break.
The former Hall High School standout is back home again tonight, but this time it’s a business trip.
Walton is a freshman point guard for Baylor, which plays Arkansas at 8 p.m. at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.
“I was trying to ask my coaches if I could just stay in Little Rock until we played the game, but I couldn’t miss practice,” Walton said with a laugh. “It’s very exciting to be playing a game here. I really can’t wait.
“My team is ready, I’m ready, my family is ready. I hope everybody in the city is ready.”
Walton said he has been hitting up teammates to get “as many tickets as I can” for the game. Earlier this week he’d been able to round up 16 tickets, but he said he expects more than 100 family members and friends to be in the arena.
“I’ve had people tell me, ‘I’m going to be there with my Baylor shirt, right behind the bench cheering you on,’ ” Walton said. “It makes you feel good.”
Walton, who celebrated his 19th birthday Monday, is averaging 4.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 20.8 minutes for the Bears (9-1). He has a team-high 16 steals.
“A.J.’s got a very bright future,” Baylor Coach Scott Drew said. “He’s somebody we expect a lot out of. God’s given him a lot of talent, so we hope he reaches his full potential. That’s what our goal is, to help him do that.”
Walton started the first four games, when senior guard Tweety Carter was suspended for disciplinary reasons.
With Carter, averaging team highs of 17.6 points and 6.2 assists, back in the lineup, Walton has played off the bench the past six games.
Walton averaged 32.8 minutes as a starter and played all 40 minutes in the Bears’ 71-69 victory over Hartford in his second game. He’s averaging 12.8 minutes as a reserve.
“It’s been fun and tough, everything that college basketball is,” Walton said of his freshman season. “I was sort of thrown into the fire starting the first four games, but I’m loving it.
“It has been kind of tough mentally coming off the bench, because I’m not used to that, but I’m learning to deal with it.”
Walton’s season highs are nine points against Southern University of Baton Rouge and Texas-Arlington; eight assists against Hardin-Simmons; six rebounds against Southern and Hardin-Simmons and five steals against Southern.
“I thought he did a very good job when we started him,” Drew said. “He ran the team well, defended very well and showed a great deal of poise. He’s a natural leader and somebody that doesn’t back away from a challenge.
“Since Tweety came back, A.J.’s minutes have been reduced, but he’s done well when he’s played.”
Walton led Hall to the Class 6A state championship and was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Mr. Basketball as a junior. He again made the All-Arkansas team last season, when the Warriors lost in the state title game to Jacksonville, 62-61.
Arkansas was among Walton’s final college choices along with Baylor and Kentucky. He said it was “real tough” to turn down a scholarship offer from Razorbacks Coach John Pelphrey.
“I grew up in Arkansas as a Razorback fan, and there were a whole bunch of people that were trying to influence me to go to the Hill, and it’s hard to disappoint someone,” Walton said. “But I feel like I made theright decision for myself. Baylor is the best place for me.
“My relationship with the coaches was great from the start, and it felt like home when I went down there.”
Pelphrey said he recruited Walton hard.
“I love A.J.’s toughness,” Pelphrey said. “I think he’s a respectful kid. I enjoyed getting to know him and his family during the recruiting process.
“He’s a winner. He’ll do well at Baylor.”
Drew said Walton’s early season starting experience accelerated his adjustment to the college game.
“I think A.J. got confidence in himself, and his teammates got confidence in him from how he played in those first four games,” Drew said. “When he’s come in off the bench since then, I think things have been a little bit easier for him.”
Sports, Pages 23 on 12/30/2009