Dallas Walton pulls the trigger
Shortly after Tad Boyle and his staff landed in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening for their upcoming road games against USC and UCLA, they received a call from a familiar area code, and that call brought with it good news. Arvada (Colo.) West 7-foot big man Dallas Walton, a Class of 2016 recruit, called up the Buffaloes' coaches and verbally committed.
Walton has been going up to Boulder to participate in camps and tournaments since he was in middle school. He first developed a relationship with Buffs assistant coach Rodney Billups, and has since formed a bond with the rest of Colorado's staff.
"I knew it was a good program with good coaches," Walton said of his decision. "It is a staff I know that can help me develop. I'll be able to grow working with them."
After Colorado extended a scholarship offer on Feb. 1, Walton admits he had a strong feeling that he would end up joining the Buffaloes' commitment list in the near future.
"Just to receive that offer from CU was huge," he said. "It is a little bit of a relief for me now. I want to do as much as I can this season and bring my team as far as we can go in the tournament, but I am already looking forward to next year. I am very excited."
Walton also received offers from Brown, Denver, Middle Tennessee State and Wyoming. Nebraska and Purdue were the other major conference schools that showed interest.
Walton's commitment to the Buffs allowed him to reflect on the journey he has taken.
Walton first suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during his sophomore year. A second tear to the same ACL late during the rehab process sidelined him for his junior season. The road to recovery was long and painful. There were days Walton wondered if he still wanted to play basketball, but his perseverance has certainly paid off.
“Since I wasn't able to play last year, I lifted a lot of weights and gained some good weight (now 7-foot, 215-pounds),” he said. “After all that work I put in during the off-season and last year when I was sitting out, to now have all the attention from colleges, it is a surreal feeling right now. It is a blessing to be in the situation I am right now.”
Walton considers his agility, length and quick feet to be his best attributes on the court. Getting full strength back in his left leg and becoming more physical in the paint are his two main goals before continuing his basketball career in college.
Despite only feeling like he is back to 80-percent health, Walton is averaging 16.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game this season as a senior.
"I am a hard worker," he said when asked what Colorado fans can expect out of him in the future. "I give it my all every time I am out there. I am willing to provide a much needed big man presence in the future for Colorado fans."
Walton will make his commitment to the Buffs official during the late spring period, which begins on April 13.
