Kyree Walker
{{Short description|American basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Kyree Walker
| image =
| caption =
| position = Small forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 220
| league = The League
| team = Nalaikh Bison
| number = 6
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|11|20}}
| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| high_school =
- Moreau Catholic
(Hayward, California) - Hillcrest Prep Academy
(Phoenix, Arizona)
| draft_year = 2021
| career_start = 2021
| years1 = 2021–2022
| team1 = Capital City Go-Go
| years2 = 2022–2023
| team2 = Aias Evosmou
| years3 = 2023
| team3 = Scarborough Shooting Stars
| years4 = 2024
| team4 = IHC Apes
| years5 = 2024
| team5 = Scarborough Shooting Stars
| years6 = 2024
| team6 = Ottawa BlackJacks
| years7 = 2024–present
| team7 = Nalaikh Bison
| highlights =
}}
Kyree Walker (born November 20, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Nalaikh Bison of The League. At the high school level, he played for Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California before transferring to Hillcrest Prep Academy. A former MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year, Walker was a five-star recruit.
Early life
In eighth grade, Walker drew national attention for his slam dunks in highlight videos.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Cam |title=Kyree Walker can already jump out of the gym, in eighth grade |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2016/video-kyree-walker-can-already-jump-out-of-the-gym-in-eighth-grade |website=USA Today High School Sports |accessdate=August 15, 2019 |date=May 17, 2016}} He often faced older competition, including high school seniors, in middle school with his Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team Oakland Soldiers.{{cite web |last1=Cronin |first1=Courtney |title=Meet Kyree Walker, the Bay Area hoops prodigy you don't know but should |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/30/watch-meet-kyree-walker-the-bay-areas-next-high-school-basketball-phenom/ |website=The Mercury News |accessdate=August 15, 2019 |date=March 30, 2017}} As a high school freshman, Walker played basketball for Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California, averaging 21.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists per game.{{cite web |last1=Sabedra |first1=Darren |title=Moreau Catholic's Kyree Walker transferring to Arizona school |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/22/moreau-catholics-kyree-walker-transferring-to-arizona-school/ |website=The Mercury News |accessdate=August 15, 2019 |date=May 22, 2017}} After leading his team to a California Interscholastic Federation Division II runner-up finish, he was named MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.{{cite web |title=2016–17 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/EVB78NqOWEaYDifF0xyXpg/2016-17-maxpreps-boys-basketball-freshman-all-american-team.htm |publisher=MaxPreps |accessdate=August 15, 2019 |date=April 18, 2017}} Entering his sophomore season, Walker transferred to Hillcrest Prep, a basketball program in Phoenix, Arizona, with his father, Khari, joining the coaching staff.{{cite web |last1=Obert |first1=Richard |title=Could Arizona State commit Kyree Walker, father be next to take national basketball center stage? |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/07/11/arizona-state-commit-kyree-walker-credits-dad-national-rise/454063001/ |website=The Arizona Republic |accessdate=August 15, 2019 |date=July 11, 2017}} On October 25, 2019, during his senior year, he left Hillcrest Prep, intending to move to the college or professional level.{{cite web |last1=Obert |first1=Richard |title=Top basketball recruit Kyree Walker leaves Hillcrest Prep, weighing options |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/10/25/kyree-walker-leaves-hillcrest-prep-weighing-pro-college-options/2455515001/ |website=The Arizona Republic |accessdate=November 23, 2019 |date=October 25, 2019}} In December 2019, Walker graduated from high school but did not play high school basketball while weighing his options.{{cite web |last1=Zagoria |first1=Adam |title=Top High School Basketball Prospect Kyree Walker Says He Will Skip College To Prepare For 2021 NBA Draft |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2020/04/20/top-high-school-basketball-prospect-kyree-walker-says-he-will-skip-college-to-prepare-for-2021-nba-draft/#14d13c8739b3 |website=Forbes |accessdate=April 20, 2020 |date=April 20, 2020}}
On June 30, 2017, Walker committed to play college basketball for Arizona State over several other NCAA Division I offers. At the time, he was considered a five-star recruit and a top five player in the 2020 class by major recruiting services.{{cite web |last1=Obert |first1=Richard |title=Kyree Walker, National Freshman of the Year, commits to ASU |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu-recruiting/2017/06/30/kyree-walker-national-freshman-year-commits-asu/445023001/ |website=The Arizona Republic |accessdate=August 15, 2019 |date=June 30, 2017}} On October 21, 2018, Walker decommitted from Arizona State.{{cite web |last1=Borzello |first1=Jeff |title=No. 14 recruit Kyree Walker decommits from Arizona State, sources say |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/story/_/id/25049754/kyree-walker-five-star-forward-decommits-arizona-state |publisher=ESPN |accessdate=August 15, 2019 |date=October 21, 2018}} On April 20, 2020, as a four-star recruit, he announced that he would forego college basketball.
{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2020}}
{{College Athlete Recruit Entry
| recruit = Kyree Walker
| position = SF
| hometown = Phoenix, AZ
| highschool = Hillcrest Prep (AZ)
| feet = 6
| inches = 5
| weight = 200
| 40 =
| commitdate = —
| scout stars =
| rivals stars = 4
| 247 stars = 4
| espn stars = 4
| espn grade = 81
}}
{{College Athlete Recruit End
| 40 =
| year = 2020
| rivals ref title =
| scout ref title =
| espn ref title =
| rivals school =
| scout s =
| espn schoolid =
| 247 overall = 35
| rivals overall =
| espn overall =
| accessdate = August 15, 2019
| bball = yes
}}
Professional career
Walker joined Chameleon BX to prepare for the 2021 NBA draft. For the 2021–22 season, he signed with the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League, joining the team after a successful tryout.{{cite web|title=Go-Go Announce Training Camp Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/go-go-announce-training-camp-roster/n-5758523|website=Our Sports Central|date=October 26, 2021|access-date=October 27, 2021}}
In December 2022, Walker joined the Aias Evosmou of the Greek A2 Basket League.{{cite web |title=Kyree Walker is a newcomer at Aias Evosmou |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Greece/news/784706/Kyree-Walker-is-a-newcomer-at-Aias-Evosmou |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=December 5, 2024 |date=December 22, 2022}}
In June 2023, Walker signed with the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.{{cite web|title=Scarborough Shooting Stars hope to stay streaking as they face Ottawa BlackJacks|url=https://www.scarboroughshootingstars.ca/scarborough-shooting-stars-hope-to-stay-streaking-as-they-face-ottawa-blackjacks|website=ScarboroughShootingStars.ca|date=June 20, 2023|access-date=June 25, 2023}}
On October 30, 2023, Walker joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers,{{cite web|title=Vipers Finalize Training Camp Roster |url=https://riograndevalley.gleague.nba.com/news/vipers-finalize-training-cambp-roster|website=NBA.com|date=October 30, 2023|access-date=November 27, 2023}} but was waived on November 8.{{cite web|title=Vipers Finalize 2023–24 Opening Night ROSTER|url=https://riograndevalley.gleague.nba.com/news/vipers-finalize-2023-24-opening-night-roster|website=NBA.com|date=November 9, 2023|access-date=November 27, 2023}}
In January 2024, Walker joined the IHC Apes of The League.{{cite web |title=Apes ink Kyree Walker, ex Scarborough |url=https://www.asia-basket.com/Mongolia/news/847838/Apes-ink-Kyree-Walker-ex-Scarborough |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=December 5, 2024 |date=January 14, 2024}}
In May 2024, Walker re-signed with the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.{{cite web|title=Scarborough Shooting Stars Re-Sign Kyree Walker|url=https://www.cebl.ca/scarborough-shooting-stars-re-sign-kyree-walker|website=cebl.ca|date=May 1, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2024}}
In June 2024, Walker signed with the Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.{{cite web |title=Ottawa BlackJacks Sign 2023 CEBL Champion Kyree Walker |url=https://www.cebl.ca/ottawa-blackjacks-sign-2023-cebl-champion-kyree-walker |website=Canadian Elite Basketball League |access-date=December 5, 2024 |date=June 25, 2024}}
On November 27, 2024, Walker joined the Nalaikh Bison of The League.{{cite Instagram|user=nalaikh_bison|title=WELCOME TO NALAIKH BISON KYREE WALKER! 🦬|postid=DC3uaOvPjfH|date=November 27, 2024|access-date=December 5, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Bison adds Walker to their roster, ex Ottawa |url=https://www.asia-basket.com/Mongolia/news/905272/Bison-adds-Walker-to-their-roster-ex-Ottawa |website=Eurobasket.com |access-date=December 5, 2024 |date=December 4, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{MaxPreps National Basketball Freshman of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Kyree}}
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mongolia
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:American Twitch (service) streamers
Category:Basketball players from Oakland, California
Category:Capital City Go-Go players
Category:Nalaikh Bison players
Category:Ottawa Blackjacks players