LOS ANGELES – Nine years ago, Kyree Walker went viral.
Thirteen million people have watched the video of him at the famed MSHTV Camp in 2016 — then the No. 1 freshman in the country — dueling fellow young internet hooper sensation Julian Newman in front of a packed gym of peers. Walker already looked grown for a 15-year-old: nearly 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, playing like a man among boys.
And he knew it.
He taunted defenders, played to the crowd, and barked at anyone who spoke. At one point, he brought the ball up the floor, beckoning his man to step up — then blew by him, carried him to the rim and dunked through him. The crowd stormed the floor, stopping play. Walker roared in celebration and promptly left midway through the third quarter with 40 points. The rest wasn’t worth his time.
The man who dropped 23 for B.P.E., in a 86-81 failed comeback attempt to Can’t Buy Respect, in week six at the Drew League on Sunday, looked nothing like that kid.
Walker took hits all game — little calls. Frustration showed in his face, but he said nothing, just jogged back on defense.
Down 13-3 early, he buried two threes to spark a run. When they took the lead in the third, his teammates celebrated going into a timeout. He just walked to the huddle, grabbed water, and got ready to go again.
Opponents tried to bait him and taunt him. He didn’t bite. There was no more jawing with defenders, nor smirks for the crowd.
This Kyree Walker, now 24, has been mellowed by the years away from the spotlight.
And his new family.
“I’m a dad,” Walker said. “I have a daughter now, so my calmness is on a different level. I don’t do all that extra talking anymore. I have a new perspective.”
At the time of that video, Walker was one of the most promising prospects in the country. The world at his fingertips. He was a national sensation as a freshman at Moreau Catholic High near Oakland, CA., averaging 21.3 points and earning MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year honors.
He then transferred to Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, where his father joined the coaching staff, and in 2017, he was a five-star recruit and consensus top-five player in the 2020 class, committed to Arizona State.
Walker never made it to college.
By 2018, he had decommitted from the Sun Devils, and by his graduation in 2020 — after leaving Hillcrest ahead of his senior season — he decided to forgo NCAA basketball.
Then came a 12-month competitive basketball hiatus in the Chameleon BX pro training program. During this time, Walker largely faded from the public eye. G-League stints with the Washington Wizards’ and Houston Rockets’ affiliates followed, never making an NBA appearance.
So, Walker began his world tour. There have been stops in professional leagues in Greece, Canada, and most recently Mongolia with the Nalaikh Bison, where he averaged 17.7 points per game in his 15 games since joining in December. In total, five teams in three years.
“I’m making my rounds across the world,” Walker said. “Scratching off my passport. It’s been a blessing.”
Now he’s back home in California for the summer, playing in the Drew, his new family in tow.
Years away from the country, in which he made his name through internet clicks, has dimmed his on-court hubris.
This isn’t the same kid who millions watched walk out those gym doors early at MSHTV eight years ago.
The man here today is different.
Notes
• Allen “Ace” Green from Love Island attended games on Sunday.
• Demar Derozen hosted a kids’ camp Saturday morning and attended games on Sunday, but did not play.
• Undisputed Legends came back from 77-68 down with under four minutes left to win 92-90 against Elevate.
• UCLA junior guard Skyy Clark (24) and former Indiana Mad Ants G-League veteran Steph Hicks (33) combined for 57 points for the Reapers in a 101-77 blowout win over Redemption. Hicks holds the
• Mad Ants franchise records for wins and games played.
Scores from the weekend
JIM 112, I-CAN All Stars 88
DAWG Pound 90, Cititeam Blazers 82
Undisputed Legends 92, Elevate 90
JEDI 73, What Now 60
Problems 72, All in Elite 71
Can’t Buy Respect 86, B.P.E. 81
Cheaters 85, Hometown Favorites 64
Reapers 101, Redemption 77
Women’s Drew League
What Now (W) 65, TNSS (W) 48
Gage (W) 73, Lady JEDI (W) 41
Undisputed Legends (W) 84, LightsOut (W) 79
Remix (W) 73, Pasadena Elite (W) 55