How Caleb Walker went from last addition to TBT star for Wichita State’s AfterShocks

When it was time for the AfterShocks to submit their roster for The Basketball Tournament, head coach Zach Bush was confident he had the right 10 players.

Then he heard there was a Hutchinson native living in Wichita and back for the summer after playing in France’s top professional league. After checking his stats and watching some film, Caleb Walker seemed legit.

“We had a lot of talks about whether or not to go with 11 guys,” Bush said. “It wasn’t necessarily I wanted to go with 11, but I felt like we had a gap and Caleb fit the mold perfectly of what we needed.”

The final addition to the AfterShocks’ roster has worked out better than anyone could have imagined.

Initially brought on as a depth piece, Walker has emerged as arguably the best player through the AfterShocks’ latest run through the TBT bracket following the team’s 63-59 win over Team Arkansas in Sunday’s regional championship game.

Walker scored a game-high 14 points, including a critical 3-pointer at the start of the Elam Ending, and leads the team in scoring (37 points) on efficient 54% shooting through three games.

“It’s special for me because I’m from this area and I’ve played here before, but not like this,” said Walker, who was born in Kansas City but grew up in Hutchinson. “To try to bring a championship home for this city, it’s beautiful man. It really is.”

Walker was a football and basketball star at Hutchinson High, playing linebacker for the Salthawks and winning a state football title all four years while also being named an all-state basketball player his senior year.

That led him to Butler Community College, where he continued to play both sports before deciding to focus on basketball. He blossomed into one of the best junior-college basketball players in the country, even being recruited by Wichita State in the 2010 recruiting class.

But with the Shockers bringing in Joe Ragland and Toure’ Murry and David Kyles both returning at guard, Walker never seriously considered WSU. He instead signed with Nebraska, where he was a two-year starter and actually played against the Shockers at Koch Arena in their first game during their run to the 2011 NIT championship.

That kicked off a lengthy professional career, where Walker has steadily produced and climbed in prestige. He is coming off arguably his best season yet, averaging 14.1 points in France’s Pro A — the same league that No. 1 NBA pick Victor Wembanyama and current AfterShocks’ teammate Markis McDuffie played in.

“He didn’t play for a great team, but he stood out when we played them,” McDuffie said. “It was like, ‘Oh (shoot), who is this?’ He was good, real good. So when Zach told me that we got him, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s nice.’”

Walker’s experience as a 33-year-old is what teammates believe has led to his immediate success this summer with the AfterShocks.

“Me and him are the two oldest guys on the team and I think that helps because we have a lot of experience,” Tyrus McGee said. “We know how to play the game of basketball. It’s about doing your job, staying poised, controlling things on the floor. I think both of us have done a good job of that so far.”

Walker, a 6-foot-4 guard, has been a steadying presence on the floor for the AfterShocks. He has consistently made the right decision and in a tournament where the team has struggled beyond the arc, Walker showed his poise in Sunday’s game by not settling for outside jumpers and constantly attacking the rim.

He has quickly earned the respect of his teammates and the trust of Bush and the coaching staff.

“I can’t say enough good things about Caleb,” Bush said. “He comes to work on time every day. He communicates well. He’s a true professional and just a great guy. He’s exactly what we thought he would be for us. We needed a secondary guard who could help Conner (Frankamp) and Ty (McGee) out with ball handling and some of the scoring load. He can get downhill, create for others and make good decisions.”

The former Wichita State players have always been welcoming to non-Shockers joining the squad each summer, but few have made an immediate impact like Walker.

Walker said it hasn’t been difficult finding his place as a non-alum on an alumni team.

“With this group, it’s been pretty easy for us,” Walker said. “If you’re a pro and mature and handle your business, it’s easy to fit in with these guys.”

Walker has been coming off the bench for the AfterShocks, but has been a regular on the court during the game’s most important moments during the Elam Ending.

He has scored in all three games during the Elam Ending, none bigger than his step-back 3-pointer over the out-stretched hands of Team Arkansas center Hunter Mickelson to break a 55-55 tie early in Sunday’s Elam Ending.

“It was tough because nobody has really making shots these three games so far,” Walker said. “It’s been really tough for everyone. I think in that moment, I just said, ‘Forget it, somebody has got to make one.’ I’m very confident in my game, so I just took it.”

Playing overseas in countries like Denmark, France, Belgium, Portugal and Israel, it’s difficult for his family to watch him play the game he loves.

That’s what has made this past week playing for the AfterShocks so special. His wife and children have been able to attend every game and watch the Wichita State fan base grow to love watching him play, cheering him on.

Walker has made sure to include his oldest son, Caymen, in activities this past week with the AfterShocks. The soon-to-be 11-year-old has tagged along to practices, gone back in the locker room for post-game celebrations and watched as his father has become a hero for the hometown team.

A cut of the $1 million prize (the AfterShocks are three wins away entering Tuesday’s 8 p.m. quarterfinal showdown against Heartfire at Koch Arena) would be nice, but the experience with his family has truly been once-in-a-lifetime type stuff for Walker. And there’s no amount of prize money that can match that.

“He wants to be a basketball player just like me, so that’s why I make sure to bring him around for moments like this,” Walker said. “He can see up close what it takes. Having him around and feeling that energy from the crowd, the vibrations you get, the chills, there’s nothing like it, man.”