Few college basketball players have brought as many extended family members onto the court for their senior night ceremony as Colorado State guard Marcus Walker did Saturday before the Rams’ 81-79, double-overtime loss to New Mexico at Moby Arena. Parents, stepparents, a grandmother, siblings and friends all were there to watch Walker light up the Lobos for a season-high 33 points.
It has been something of a frustrating senior season for Walker after he led the Mountain West Conference in scoring for much of his junior year. He has had more scoring support this season, but he lost some playing time early in the MWC schedule because of academic issues.
The former Kansas City, Mo., prep sensation came to CSU after playing as a freshman at Nebraska, followed by a year of junior college in Iowa. Walker took a few moments Saturday to chat with The Denver Post’s Natalie Meisler.
Q: What was it like having all your family in Fort Collins, especially your grandmother?
A: It’s the first time she got to see me this year. It was good to have her here. That’s the first time she has ever seen me play in college.
Q: Your thoughts on senior night?
A: It hasn’t hit me that this was my last game in Moby, but every good thing comes to an end.
Q: CSU had a five-point lead with 13 seconds left. What does that say for what this team can do?
A: We’re guaranteed two more games (at San Diego State on Wednesday and the play-in game of the MWC Tournament vs. Air Force). We can go as far as our energy takes us. I think anytime we come out and play like we did tonight or against Utah (an overtime loss to the MWC leader) or Air Force (the Rams’ first MWC road win in more than two years), we can play with just about anyone in the league. They say it’s two games, but I’m trying to stretch it as long as we can. I just want to keep my career going.
Q: All the New Mexico players and coaches are paying you a lot of respect.
A: Not only me. I think a lot of people have more respect for CSU now than they did last year. You can just tell by the way fans cheer for us.
Q: What are your basketball plans beyond CSU?
A: I’m thinking about our last few games we have because the better we do, the better my opportunities will be. I’m not trying to think what I’m going to be doing when I leave here. I’m just trying to maximize my time here. That will better my chances for when I do have to say my farewells.
Q: Are you still majoring in fashion design?
A: Right now, I know I have some academic issues. I know when it’s all said and done, I’m going to go back to school. That’s something I want to do. Right now, with going to practice and traveling and going to games, it’s a lot harder to concentrate.
Q: A year ago, you talked about your dream of starting your own men’s clothing line and naming it for a rec center where you grew up in Kansas City. Is that still a goal?
A: Nothing has changed.
Q: How much more work do you need to do to graduate?
A: Two classes this summer and I’ll get my liberal arts degree. First one in my family to graduate from college.
Q: What does that mean to you?
A: For me, when a family stays in a certain social class, it’s up to one person to break out of that. That’s what God put me here for, to take my family out of that situation, not necessarily worry about me but just to try to change their lives. My life has already been good. I have a support group that’s been there for me since Day One. Just to pay them back, I’ll do whatever it takes to have them have a better life.
Top five reasons . . .
Walker enjoys being a Ram:
1. Being able to come to CSU
2. Meeting the people I’ve been able to come in contact with
3. Being able to play in Moby Arena
4. The mountains
5. Just having an opportunity to be at such a beautiful place and doing something that I love
