Two More Top 2018s Off the Board
Another week, another set of commitments from two of Kentucky’s top players in the 2018 class. Jake Walter popped for Xavier and the following week Trevon Faulkner gave his verbal pledge to Northern Kentucky University. While Faulkner has been a known commodity for several years, Walter emerged over his 16u AAU season and into his Junior season at Covington Catholic. I had the opportunity to talk to both guys about their recent commitments.
Jake Walter is a 7 foot center who is very highly skilled. An excellent passer who has transformed his body over the last couple of years, Walter saw the draw of playing close to home as a main factor in his decision to commit to the Musketeers. “Xavier’s close to home so my family will be able to come to the games! I grew up watching Xavier play so it’s going to be great to be a local kid playing for them.” Xavier coach Chris Mack loves to push the pace offensively and Jake thinks he can fit right in to the system, “I’m a big body and I like to be physical but I’m also quick for my size so I can be a rim runner and not afraid of contact.”
As I discussed with Jake, when I first laid eyes on him as a freshman, he was very slow but obviously skilled. At that time, he didn’t even see himself playing Division I basketball, especially not committing to a Big East school before his senior season. Per Walter, “I didn’t think I would even be a D1 player. But God has a plan for me and I have to follow. It’s all part of his plan.” Jake physically resembles former Xavier big men like Matt Stainbrook and Kenny Frease and can fill that role by the end of his college career. Jake will join fellow Kentuckian Quentin Goodin on the Xavier roster next season.
Trevon Faulkner is a 6’4″ shooting guard from Harrodsburg. As a varsity starter since the 8th grade, Faulkner has been known across the state for several years. His recruitment was a quiet one. Faulkner had several options to choose from, including Middle Tennessee State, Western Kentucky and Louisiana Lafayette. In the end, his recruitment ended with the release of a video on Twitter. Trevon had pledged his services to the Norse of Northern Kentucky. NKU’s biggest appeal to Faulkner was his relationship with the coach and team, “I liked the school and Coach Brannen and the players that I will play with. It was a trust worthy place and I could see myself playing there.” When Trevon arrives on campus, he expects to compete for playing time. “I am going to compete for my spot and work hard and get a starting spot” Faulkner informed PHKY. Faulkner’s commitment continues to build momentum for NKU as an in state powerhouse.
Trevon will join a roster loaded with homegrown talents like Carson Williams, Mason Faulkner, Drew MacDonald, Lavonne Holland and Tyler Sharpe. Faulkner saw the appeal of staying close to home, “It means a lot for me to stay in state and have all my family and friends come and watch me play there. NKU is close to home and I really will like playing close to home so people can come and watch us play.” Admittedly, I have a personal relationship with Trevon. I was on the staff at Mercer County when he was starting varsity as a 13 year old 8th grader. On a winter afternoon, I took Trevon on his first ever unofficial visit, to see the NKU Norse play. Over the last 4 years, Trevon and the NKU program have both grown substantially and made major strides. Now his recruiting has come full circle with a commitment to play for the first college campus he ever visited.