Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: University of Missouri Athletics
Men’s Hoops Adds Missouri Transfer K.J. Walton
May 10, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Former Brownsburg standout, Indiana All-Star returns to home state
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Former Indiana All-Star K.J. Walton is returning to his home state, signing scholarship papers with the Ball State men's basketball program after announcing his decision to transfer from the University of Missouri.
Walton, who starred at Brownsburg High School, will sit out the 2017-18 season and then have two years of eligibility remaining.
"With the addition of K.J., we welcome not only a very talented and accomplished player but also a guy we believe has the right competitive character," Ball State coach James Whitford said. "He's a terrific human being, a great teammate and a hard worker, and he brings many of the intangibles it takes to be successful in the game.
"K.J. is very hungry, and having a year to further develop his game will take him to an even higher level. We are really excited to work with him and to have him as part of the future of our program."
Walton, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wing, played in all 63 games and made 24 starts over his two years at Missouri. He started 17 games during his recently completed sophomore season, averaging 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He finished second on his team with 116 free throw attempts.
Walton was a 2015 Indiana All-Star alongside Ball State's Tahjai Teague. He becomes the seventh former Indiana All-Star on the Cardinals' roster next season, joining Tayler Persons (2014), Sean Sellers (2014), Jeremie Tyler (2014), Teague (2015), Kyle Mallers (2016) and Zach Gunn (2017). Before Whitford's arrival, Ball State had never had more than four All-Stars on its roster.
Walton led Brownsburg to back-to-back sectional championships during his high school career. He averaged 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game as a senior.
Walton will be the fourth new face on next year's Ball State roster, joining a trio of freshmen in Ishmael El-Amin (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins), Gunn (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) and Blake Huggins (Troy, Tenn./Obion County Central).
Walton, who starred at Brownsburg High School, will sit out the 2017-18 season and then have two years of eligibility remaining.
"With the addition of K.J., we welcome not only a very talented and accomplished player but also a guy we believe has the right competitive character," Ball State coach James Whitford said. "He's a terrific human being, a great teammate and a hard worker, and he brings many of the intangibles it takes to be successful in the game.
"K.J. is very hungry, and having a year to further develop his game will take him to an even higher level. We are really excited to work with him and to have him as part of the future of our program."
Walton, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wing, played in all 63 games and made 24 starts over his two years at Missouri. He started 17 games during his recently completed sophomore season, averaging 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. He finished second on his team with 116 free throw attempts.
Walton was a 2015 Indiana All-Star alongside Ball State's Tahjai Teague. He becomes the seventh former Indiana All-Star on the Cardinals' roster next season, joining Tayler Persons (2014), Sean Sellers (2014), Jeremie Tyler (2014), Teague (2015), Kyle Mallers (2016) and Zach Gunn (2017). Before Whitford's arrival, Ball State had never had more than four All-Stars on its roster.
Walton led Brownsburg to back-to-back sectional championships during his high school career. He averaged 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game as a senior.
Walton will be the fourth new face on next year's Ball State roster, joining a trio of freshmen in Ishmael El-Amin (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins), Gunn (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) and Blake Huggins (Troy, Tenn./Obion County Central).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball // Coach Capko Mic'd Up in Worthen Arena for the 1st time
Wednesday, April 01
Men's Basketball // Post press conference w/Coach Capko, President Mearns, Jeff Mitchell & David Eha
Thursday, March 26
Men's Basketball // Coach Capko 1st Day on Campus
Tuesday, March 24
Men's Basketball // Coach Capko has arrived! Walk and Talk upon arrival
Monday, March 23