Recruiting Report: Kerwin Walton (2020)
Hopkins wing Kerwin Walton made nearly half of his threes as a Hopkins Royal and he is one of the state’s best defenders. Catch up with Kerwin today. Walton made 84 of 175 shots from the arc (48 percent) as…
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Continue ReadingHopkins wing Kerwin Walton made nearly half of his threes as a Hopkins Royal and he is one of the state’s best defenders. Catch up with Kerwin today.
Walton made 84 of 175 shots from the arc (48 percent) as a junior for the state champion Hopkins Royals in 2018-19. Walton is now focussed on his off-season work, recruiting, and keeping D1 Minnesota undefeated ranked number one in the nation. D1 Minnesota holds a 22-0 record making them the only undefeated shoe sponsored team in the country.
“Everybody on our team is doing great,” Kerwin said. “Everybody is getting new college looks from everywhere and everybody on our team has been able to showcase their skills especially with us going undefeated so college coaches are looking at us.
“We win because we play off each other really well. We have so many weapons that two or three guys can go off every game. This team has such a great supporting cast with great players coming off of the bench and buying into their roles. I think we are just a real balanced team.”
Walton has never been one to play outside of the team. His shot selection, ball movement, work ethic, and defensive efforts all fit perfectly within a good team concept.
“I play defense and shot the ball the from the three for this team, plus I can go to the rack when my shot isn’t falling,” Kerwin explained. “I am able to play with these guys because they are unselfish just like me.”
How has Walton become the shooter that he is today?
“It all starts in the gym,” Walton explained. “I get up thousands of shots, I’m in the gym every day. I look at my form on tape and when I see it go in I try and replicate that the next time I shoot.”
Walton is also one of the better defenders in the state of Minnesota. A practice that he’s put a lot of time and effort into. What makes Kerwin one of the top defenders in Minnesota? Work ethic and discipline is where it starts plus his footwork, stance, and defensive knowledge make up for the rest of his defensive stopping ability.
“I’ve become a better defender mostly through watching tapes. Watching people like Kawhi Leonard, Avery Bradley, and mostly being able to move my feet always getting low and wide. I also watched and learn to open up my hips more and be looser in my hips. I’ve also learned defensive techniques so I can stay in front of people.
“I often look at who I am guarding and make the decision if I need to go over the screen, trail the screen, or go under the screen. I try and stay attached to my player because Coach Novak taught me once you lose your attachment to your man that’s how they create separation. That separation creates an easier path to the basket so I always try to keep players in front and stay attached.”
Hopkins won the state title last year at 27-4 on the season. That said, Walton is the lone returning starter for the 2019-20 team.
Next year I think we are going to be more of a gritty team,” Kerwin said. “Last year we were more talented and poised but this year we have a bunch of players that will be new to big minutes on varsity. We just have to buckle down and play hard defense. There are going to be gritty games with a lot of scrappy stuff.”
Another thing that Walton does to separate himself is his daily workouts. Kerwin hasn’t just grown vertically, he’s also become stronger and looks more agile. Walton is well known for his Lifetime Fitness series of workouts.
“We do all kinds of stuff,” Kerwin said. “I grab heavy basketballs and shoot different types of lay-ups with them. We even measure the angles with how we shoot them. I grab medicine balls for and do ball handling drills. There is just a lot of different things we do each day to work out.”
Walton has earned scholarship offers from Minnesota, Nebraska, Creighton, Purdue, Baylor, Kansas State, Drake, Denver, and others.
“Right now I’d probably say I hear the most from Creighton,” Walton said. “Baylor also contacts me regularly, I’m hearing a little more from Nebraska, and Drake. I’m trying to schedule a visit with Drake but’s really tough because of the NCAA schedule and everything being different this year.”
Head Coaches from Creighton, Minnesota, and Drake were at the MBCA Showcase last weekend to see Walton as were coaches from Denver and Purdue.
Walton has suitors for his play. So what is he looking for in a school that will be the right fit for him?
“I’m mostly looking for how I would fit into things. How I would fit into the team. How I would be used. I figure at the next level if I bring my full effort on defense I will earn playing time as long as I keep giving 100 percent effort.”