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2016 Purdue Basketball Recruiting: C.J. Walker Commits

Purdue gets a point guard for its first commit of 2016.

By BoilerTMill
Andy Lyons

While Coach Painter is trying to nail down the 2015 class still with at least one open spot still he got a nice surprise today in the first commit of the 2016 class. C.J. Walker, the point guard for defending class 4A state champion Indianapolis Tech, agreed to become a Boiler today.

Here is how he affects the scholarship grid:

Player ('14-'15) ('15-'16) ('16-'17) ('17-'18) ('18-'19) ('19-20)
Jon Octeus Graduate
Neal Beshears Senior
Stephen Toyra Junior
Rapheal Davis Junior Senior
A.J. Hammons Junior Senior
Bryson Scott Sophomore Junior Senior
Basil Smotherman Sophomore Junior Senior
Kendall Stephens Sophomore Junior Senior
Vince Edwards Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Dakota Mathias Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Isaac Haas Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Jacquil Taylor Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
P.J. Thompson Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Ryan Cline Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Grant Weatherford Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
C.J. Walker Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Scholarships Used 13 12 11 8 3 1
Scholarships Left 0 1 2 5 10 12
Beshears is very likely on scholarship since Purdue had an extra one and he is a senior walk-on. Toyra is confirmed on scholarship for 2014-15, but may not be in 2015-16.

Walker is a 5'10" 160 point guard rated as a 3-star according to Rivals and is unrated according to ESPN. Last season he was the starting point guard an an absolutely loaded Indy Tech team that won its first ever state championship. The Titans were a perennial bridesmaid when they were an original member of the NCC, but they had not been out of the sectional since 1978 before they went 27-2 on their way to the title.

One of the biggest reasons they were so successful was 2014 Mr. Basketball Trey Lyles, who is now at Kentucky and was one of the top players in the nation in the 2014 class. Walker was still the point guard, however, and he averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 assists, and a steal per game. According to his listed MaxPreps stats. In the state title game he had 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists as Tech won 63-59 over Lake Central.

What I like about Walker is that he is already a proven winner that has played against a tough schedule. Along with Ryan Cline we have a player committed from the last three Class 4A champions in Indiana. Last season alone Walker played against Cathedral twice, LaPorte LaLumiere, Bowman Academy, Huntington Prep Academy, Marion, Lake Cetnral twice, Park Tudor, Hamilton Southeastern, Pike twice, and Ben Davis. That means he played against almost every top player in the state.

Walker was the maestro of a high octane offense that averaged 76.6 points per game over 32 minutes. Tech lost a lot due to graduation, but he will still play quite a schedule this season. The same is likely true next year when Walker is a senior.

Walker is likely point guard insurance. By the time he arrived P.J. Thompson will be a junior and Bryson Scott, who may be more of a shooting guard anyway, will be a senior. With two years still to develop he could be one of the better players in the country in 2016 when all is said and done.

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