In 2005, the next LeBron James was supposed to be Demetrius Walker.
Remember him? Ever heard of him?
No?
Well, I don't blame you. Because unless you remember an article from Sports Illustrated back in 2005 or you follow the Pac-10 pretty closely, the name Demetrius Walker probably means nothing to you.
As a 14 year old, Walker was widely considered the best eighth-grader in the country. He was bigger than everyone else, he was stronger than most high school seniors, and he was athletic enough that 360 dunks were easy. He was taken under the wing of Joe Keller, an AAU coach out in Southern California that was looking to ride the gravy train of the next Kobe Bryant.
Demetrius Walker will finish his collegiate career at New Mexico.(photo credit: ASU.edu)
But Walker never hit the growth spurt. the 6'3", 175 lb eighth grader headed to Arizona State as a 6'3", 195 lb freshman. Now, a scholarship to play in the Pac-10 is nothing to shake a stick at. If your ability to play a sport means that you can get a free education, than you are pretty darn good at that sport.
Walker wasn't just supposed to play the sport, however. He was supposed to be a star. He was supposed to be one of the kids that uses college as a layover to the NBA. He wasn't supposed to see time in just 23 games, to only start a single game, and to average just four points for a team that was in the middle of the pack in a bad Pac-10. He wasn't supposed to be the kid that was forced to transfer because he couldn't crack the rotation and was being recruited over.
Why do I bring this up now?
George Dohrmann, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, has spent eight years getting to know Walker and Keller. And on October 5th, his book -- Play Their Hearts Out -- chronicling those eight years will be released. This week's SI will feature an excerpt from the book.
Five years after the nation's preeminent sports magazine crowned him the heir to the basketball throne, Walker will be returning to SI in an excerpt from a book that chronicled his fall from superstardom. The book's release and the publication of this week's SI also happen to correspond to the year that Walker is sitting out at New Mexico as a redshirt.
Ironic, ain't it?
This is why I have always been against the recruitment and analysis of kids before they reach high school. Why? Because they are still kids. They are children. Very few 14 year old males have hit puberty, or hit their growth spurt. The ones that have -- the kids that develop early and get their strength, their athleticism, their size, and their five o'clock shadow while still in middle school -- tend to be the ones that dominate at the level.
Demetrius Walker in just one example.
How about Taylor King? The one time UCLA commit and former Duke Blue Devil and Villanova Wildcat is now playing at an NAIA school now. Or maybe Derrick Caracter? Once considered the best prospect in the country, Caracter loafed his way out of Louisville, needing to resurrect his career at UTEP for the right to fight for a roster spot at the end of the Laker's bench.
Walker is a tremendous athlete that will become a college graduate for free while competing at one of the highest levels of the sport. He is far from a failure.
But I wonder how many people few him that way?
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30 comments:
If anything the book made me a fan of Demetrius. He is a survivor and I credit him with that. Many people would have just crumpled but he hung in there. He was wronged and he deserves to have some fans. I'm one.
Read the book ... you won't be able to put it down. It is an indictment of the system, and more specifically, one greedy, slefish, misguided coach.
I read the book and I realize that Walker is a success. He will make it in this world.
There are others in the book, such as Aaron and Rome who may not.
And what about some of the parents of these kidss who also use them. The coaches are not the only predators.
Anyone who watches any sport at any level knows that there will always be vultures looking to profit from the talents of others. Dohrmann has likewise exploited the tragedy of Demetrius' hobbled basketball career. He participated in the destruction of a child's life and this book is forcing him to keep reliving it. As a mother, my heart aches for this boy.
If I could say one thing to Demetrius it would be this:
Demetrius Walker, you are a talented, resilient individual. What was done to you is unforgiveable. Everyone around you lied and schemed to get a piece of your rising star, no matter the cost. You have your whole life ahead of you. Do not measure yourself against a book. Throw it in the trash. Stop allowing people to force your gaze to the rearview mirror. Forget about them. Just go.
I don't think Dohrmann can be accused of exploiting a tragedy. He wrote a book that was honest. Without him we wouldn't know what really happened to Demetrius. No one who reads that book would conclude that Demetrius is a failure.
I just finished "Play Their Hearts Out" and although I live on the East Coast a lot of it hit home for me because I saw adults exploiting the same children in the same ways when my son played AAU ball. And of all the kids who seemed "Can't miss" at age 11 or 12, I think a few played major D-1 ball and only 1 or 2 are in the league now, so I guess the rest had their dreams crushed by adults who didn't have their best interests at heart, unfortunately, sometimes their own parents.
I read the book it was very interesting look into the world of AAU basketball, my son recently made a grassroots team and has been concentrating all of his energy into basketball, Im happy he has found something he loves but as a mother concerned I dont want him to be crushed if things dont necessarily work in his favor. There is no way I can totally shelter him from all the craziness but I can be his foundation and stay solid no matter what happens. Demetrius was one of the few where his natural ability was there even if his fundamentals were not but I commend never giving after everyone else wrote him off, after all that is what life is all about, picking yourself up after the world knocks you down. You can never be a failure if you get back up!!!
I'm in the middle of reading the book now hear me out coach Keller horrible coach but a very smart buisness man and Demetrius SHOULD have been a D-wade if he had a coach that was half way decent and new how to coach I feel so bad that coach Keller ruined his career and the rest of the team cals he again should have been so great. Andrew improved alot by his dad coaching with him four a couple weeks if. If the team had that they're be unstoppable. Demetrius did fight threw it though and ended up at a division 1 school and got a quality education so he didn't really lose he just didn't win
I'm in the middle of reading the book now hear me out coach Keller horrible coach but a very smart buisness man and Demetrius SHOULD have been a D-wade if he had a coach that was half way decent and new how to coach I feel so bad that coach Keller ruined his career and the rest of the team cals he again should have been so great. Andrew improved alot by his dad coaching with him four a couple weeks if. If the team had that they're be unstoppable. Demetrius did fight threw it though and ended up at a division 1 school and got a quality education so he didn't really lose he just didn't win
I just finished the book. After living in las vegas for almost 6 years during the time this book was written...it was very interesting to have dealt w/ many people mentioned in the book. My son attended Joe Keller's adidas phenom camp (never again), meeting dave taylor. coaching agains pat barrett, workin with mats in vegas amongst others. Dave Taylor is a class act. However, the same cannot be said for keller and barrett. Those team Cal kids should have been life long friends, instead they all hate each other because Keller always pitted them against each other. I've met the guy, he's a scumbag. Pat Barrett's even worse. keller used demetrius and the other team cal kids to get what he wanted, then when he didn't need them anymore he abandoned them, he didn't even show up for the 8th grade nationals. then wants to act like he is responsible for his success. bottom line, he wouldn't have his success without demetrius, aaron and the others. Keller and barrett almost ruined the kid, but thinks to his mom stepping in at the right moment, he was saved. He can still make the NBA if he works hard, I know i'm pulling for him. No kid should be used like that and discarded, and these shoe companies should be ashamed of themselves to have representatives working for them that treat kids, YES KIDS!!! like that. All to find the next LeBron so they can sell shoes. 'F' as many kids as you can, just so we can sell shoes!! that's what it's all about!!! SHOES!!!
It goes to show you without proper parenting and coaching what can happen - it is a shame the way this kid was expolited by coaches who care only about themselves and how much money they can make off these kids -
I read the book and it was great. I live in the UK, and don't know anything about grassroots basketball, but it seems to be over here just in football not basketball. I thing I feel bad about is the lost of childhood. I will be honest when I googled to find out if Walker had made it to the NBA, I was disappointed that he hadn't. But I was wrong. To get a collage education for free, is great. And maybe Demetrius can get a coaching job and make sure it doesn't happen to future basketball players.
Joe Keller is of many coaches who use players to make their life better. He doesn't care about his players, only for himself. Demetrius should be a star right now, but the the hype screwed him over. Joe drilled into Demetrius' mind that excuses can get you out of troubled times and that is what D did. I wish Demetrius the best because he still has the potential to be great.
i read the book and understan dwhy this happens. people are only interested in one thing: getting rich.
Coach Allford will help him shine again
You go, Demetrius! I just finished the book and in my opinion you're a successful young man! I'd be proud to call you my son and I'm proud to count myself as a fan! Enjoy the great game of basketball and forget about the past as much as possible. The users have to face themselves in the mirror every day.
Alford is as scummy as the rest. Why do you think he got run out of Iowa?
I just finished the book. It ended up making me a fan of D's. Keller, Barrett and the Pump bros are scum, using children and throwing them away. Moreover, it is the focus on rankings adn dunks (like Keller's bonehead Red Sea out of bounds play)that harms the game. I submit Coach Joe and his ilk don't know shit about basketball. I hope Alford is there for D unlike his other coaches. I think D is a fighter and will succeed in life. Get your degree, Demetrius.
This young man deserves a break. He has been used since he was a child. I admire that he found the strength and fight within to succeed after Keller tossed him aside.
Although I always understood on some level now I really understand why my father who was an athlete said he would not let his son play organized sports as a boy. My father had all daughters so it wasn't an issue but now I very much respect his thoughts.
Demetrius, I am a fan. Keeping working You have a great future ahead of you whether or not it involves basketball. You have an inner strength and fight that will take you far in life. Stay focused.
The "grassroots system" illustrates what is completely wrong with sports in this country. Poor Demetrius; watching such a special young man be taken advantage of by authority figures is truly sickening. I wish nothing but the best for him and his teammates, and scumbags like Keller should not be allowed near a youth basketball team for as long as they live. For every LeBron, Kobe, KG, and McGrady, there are hundreds of kids who don't pan out, despite being at the top of the world as ten year-olds. Let's just let kids be kids
I think people ride the boad when it comes to criticizing about. No one really knows Joe Keller, he was a target for AAU Basketball. He was an incredible coach. If he wasn't he would not have been targeted. Who would know this person. However many people know him. Why doesn't everyone really notice, how he was there for Demetruis. His mom was never there and his dad locked up. His coach was the one taking care of him out of his own pocket. Yes he did not have to spend money on this kid. That kid had every Jordan that came out, but yet not mentioned. His mom went out living her own life as she was single. Why not mention who paid for their trips and don;t emphasize on shoe companies, They did not exist back when the team started. No parent on this team paid coaches expenses or tournament fees. Oh but again Joe is the bad guy. Please people recognize when people do good. Coach Joe doesn't know how to coach, please tell me why all those parents stuck around if no coaching was being performed. Most of these kids ended up with scholarships to good schools, but it was cause of george dohrmann who just spend a few times a year with his notepad with the team. Couple times heard him say negative things about the kids and their parents. But he had better shut his mouth, because who really had a plan on making money off this team. What did he give these kids, but creating lies and creating a hate triangle when interviewing all the families, with his lies.
I went to middle skoo wit D and high school no disrespect to him but me evelio will shut him down I know stars when I c one he's not one Idk why u got so much hype I would c him play and he wasn't I c me now known if I worked hard I could of made it
I read the book last year when another dad from my son's team recommended it. Well written and interesting story, no doubt, but stories like this always reflect the views of the author and we are wise not to believe everything we read.
My son is currently a 6'2" 8th grader, and is being recruited by other clubs every tournament we attend. The attention is flattering, but we have remained committed to one team again this year, partly because of my trepidation after reading "Play Their Hearts Out." We do not live on either coast, and know that there is another level of basketball out there that we have not seen. My son will be exposed to that for the first time this year as we play tourneys in CA & Las Vegas.
The truth is that club basketball is necessary for player development if a kid hopes to play basketball in college. We play with a program now that teaches good fundamental TEAM play, something that is missing on some of the teams we see that are laden with star 8th graders. Will team play reduce his scoring stats? Yes. Will this sort of play be noticed by college recruiters? Who knows? Right now, having fun and getting better is what matters, and we will continue to try to help him have the right outlook. Whether my son plays in college depends a lot on him; whether he continues to work hard regardless of how good people tell him he is. Tim Collins had it right, "...good is the enemy of great..."
He understands that grades are the top priority. We will continue to support him as long as he has a love for the game and has fun playing the game. It is one of my dad duties to protect him from exploitation, and to help him think through decisions and potential consequences, good or bad. Maybe I'll write a book in four years, if he is lucky enough to earn a scholarship...
the person who posted a comment on july 27 is all wrong. of course keller is the bad guy, he only spent time with D because he didn't want some other coach to steal him. he used D to get what he wanted. keller was a coach who knew nothing about basketball which was pretty obvious in the book. George didn't cause any hate triangle with the team. he was doing his job of interviewing and wrote the book truthfully, the person who wrote a comment on july 27 obviously knows nothing about the book.
I think Joe Keller posted the July 27, 2011 comment. He's the only possible person who could have seen "Coach Joe" as an innocent victim.
I read the book and think that this is exactly what is wrong with, the college game and NBA game. These kids FILL IN-TITLED, from the 7th grade on. They want money, shoes, gear, everything in between. What happened to the little league, then school league, no contracts with companys, no commitments to anyone only the game and team mattered, now we make a kid go to college 1 year (which is a joke) then jump in the draft. What you have is a game at the college level that isn't as good. The NBA is TERRIBLE with a bunch of pampered KIDS, that make it threw ONE contract if lucky. The whole AAU should be ashamed they have ruined, what Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, made the most entertaining sport in the world. Lets let these kids go to the NBA if they want outta high school, if not make them commit 3 yrs to a school. Everyone wins, There are more jobs in the NBA for veterans, The College game would be CRAZY GOOD, and the league would be getting players ready to play after there time at a school and proper coaching and training, WITH AN EDUCATION. There is no One answer to fix it all, but one step in the right direction is better than doing nothing at all.
Great book I couldn't put it down but the ending made me mad joe Keller made it rich and Demetrius walker a player who had great potential got used and then thrown out. No one deserves that especially not someone who grew up like him in a bad hood of California with no dad.
I hope the best for Demetrius Walker. I've known him since 6th grade, well I've not seen him in years but I remember him as an extremely talented/friendly person. I hope he makes it, he really deserves it.
For the person who left this:
'I went to middle skoo wit D and high school no disrespect to him but me evelio will shut him down I know stars when I c one he's not one Idk why u got so much hype I would c him play and he wasn't I c me now known if I worked hard I could of made it'
^^If you were really the **** you would've made it to college for your skill but that is the thing. YOU DON't HAVE any so STFU. You're probably jealous and just another primitive minded kid from Fontana. This place/people suck. Glad to see that he is in another state, still trying to follow his dream rather than his spirit being broken completely after the BS that happened to him. I mean if he was noticed at a young age, that truly means SOMETHING...
'Idk why u got so much hype I would c him play and he wasn't I c me now known if I worked hard I could of made it'
That is you're problem. You did NOT work hard enough, you SAID IT YOURSELF. That is the difference between you and him, which is why he is where he is and I'm sure you are no where near his level... he has been willing to work as hard as possible to make it to where he is now, without giving up. People will only get better..
'no disrespect to him' ???
Seriously your comment towards him was nothing but disrespect/jealousy in my opinion.. but again when people are typing and saying stuff like 'I C' you'd kinda imagine it's just some dumb jealous fontana kid.
Good luck wherever you are D.
I really hope demetius gets a chance in the nba. He got screwed over by his coaches. If he had a coach who would work with him he would most likely be a gret player in the nba.
I loved the book and was pleased to see D graduate from New Mexico State. He is going to have a great year at Grand Canyon and Thunder Dan will use his contacts to ensure he at least gets a shot at the NBA in 2014. At the very least he will have a lucrative pro career overseas and return home to use his degree to get a position with a major bball program as an assistant. We have not seen the last of D Walker yet!
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