Ja鈥橩obe Walter craves playing in the big games for Baylor
BRANSON, Mo. (BVM) — Ja鈥橩obe Walter stars at Link Academy, one of the nation鈥檚 premier prep schools. Despite a roster littered with Division I talent, there is a different feel every time the 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard touches the ball.
A native of McKinney, Texas, Walter is one of the country鈥檚 very best. According to , he is the No. 17 player in the 2023 class.
Five-Star Baylor commit Ja'Kobe Walter馃敟
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife)
Growing up, his love of the game developed through his father. A regular at his dad鈥檚 men鈥檚 league games, he started to revolve his life around basketball, just as the elder Walter did.
鈥淛ust being around him and being around basketball all the time, I just kind of grew into it,鈥� Walter said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 remember a time I didn鈥檛 play.鈥�
As Walter grew older, his passion for the game grew stronger.聽
He joined the AAU circuit and traveled all across the country to become the best player he could be. Walter helped lead his team twice to championship appearances, but both resulted in losses.聽
Despite the result, Walter was hooked on the big-game atmosphere. The coming and going nerves, the bigger crowds, the enhanced pressure on every possession. It was something that Walter was built for.
鈥淛ust playing in that type of environment at that young of an age really solidified basketball for me,鈥� Walter said.聽
Years later, it looks like there will be many more big games in his future.
On June 22, he committed to Baylor University.
100% Committed!!!!!馃惢馃挌馃挍All Glory To God! Waco let鈥檚 work!
— Ja鈥橩obe Walter (@JaKobeWalter1)
With Walter and the coaching staff sharing the same ideologies on and off the court, it made all the sense in the world to take his college ball back to Texas.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e big believers in God and me and my family are too, so that was a big factor,鈥� Walter said. 鈥淎nd with the way they use guards and produce them, I think I fit very well in the way they play offense and defense.鈥�
For Walter, being able to sign with a college program was a bit of a surreal moment.聽
鈥淚 remember when I didn鈥檛 have any offers, me and my dad would just talk and he would always tell me that I鈥檓 good, to keep working and that I could do it,鈥� Walter said. 鈥淛ust knowing that my parents won鈥檛 have to pay for me to go to college is really special to me.鈥�
Not only is Walter planning on developing more as a player in Waco, but he is also looking to build on his avid reading habits.
A fan of sports books and just books that he can learn from in general, Walter tries to set time aside despite his busy schedule.
鈥淲hen I get into reading mode, I can read for a good minute,鈥� Walter joked.
Similarly to his desire to read, Walter wanted to continue his improvement in basketball. He became very meticulous about his schedule, set time aside to do what he needed to do, and is now set up for long-term success.
鈥淚 just have to get in every day,鈥� Walter said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking to get better each and every day.鈥�
As Walter takes his daily approach towards his goals, he is doing everything he can in the gym to accomplish his goals of a national championship at Link and becoming a McDonald鈥檚 All-American before he gets to Baylor.