Recruiting Report: Kerwin Walton (2020)
This weekend while on an unofficial visit from Minnesota, Hopkins shooting guard Kerwin Walton became the fifth player from the local class of 2020 talent to receive a Golden Gopher scholarship offer.
Kerwin is a 6-foot-5/6-foot-6 dead-eye shooter that made headlines this summer when he helped D1 Minnesota to a top ten 16 and Under team ranking nationally while picking up his first offer from Purdue. Since that point Kansas State, Baylor, Creighton, and now Minnesota have extended Walton scholarship opportunity from the high major level.
As a sophomore Kerwin averaged 11.2 points per game playing with Wisconsin signed Joseph Hedstrom, top 25-30 level national recruit Zeke Nnaji, and several other talented players at Hopkins High School. With Hedstrom graduated, Blaise Beauchamp at Findlay Prep, and Anthony Davis at junior college the responsibility of Walton will be bigger this year and he can handle it.
As one of the hardest workers in the state Walton is a constant at Hopkins workouts and open gyms plus he’s a Lifetime workout regular. His skills and frame have all shown big improvements and along the way college interest continues to accumulate.
Walton’s most recent visit was to Minnesota and the trip impressed Kerwin.
“Coach Richard Pitino seams relatable,” Walton said after the visit. “That may be due to how young he is as a Division 1 coach. I was impressed with how he ran his practice. It was high energy and detail oriented.
“The whole staff appeared to be attentive to the execution of the drills and making sure they were getting best effort from each player. I also noticed that Daniel (Oturu), Gabe (Kalschuer), and Jarvis (Omersa) have already improved as players. As well as Amir (Coffey).
“Rather that’s a testament to Coach Pitino and the program or personal development away from the team. I notice it. So my thoughts on coach and the program after my first visit was good.”
After the visit Kerwin received a scholarship offer from Minnesota. Kerwin joins top 100 talents Jalen Suggs, Ben Carlson, Dawson Garcia, and Dain Dainja from Minnesota with Gopher offers. It was an exciting moment for Walton.
“It felt great to receive an offer from Minnesota,” Walton said. “I appreciate the staff being able to take the time to see me.”
Walton has worked closely with D1 Minnesota 16 and Under head coach Al Harris. Harris has coached many talented Minnesota kids over the years including Jericho Sims, McKinley Wright, Matthew Hurt, Marcus Marshall, and of course this entire 16u team of D1 Minnesota talent. Harris told us why Kerwin is such a talented player.
“Kerwin Walton Jr is a coaches model of a complete student athlete,” Harris explained. “The young man has little distractions in life, respects the game of basketball on and off the court, and represents his family, himself and programs he competes for at the highest level of appreciation for opportunity.
“I enjoy coaching him as he’s an excellent student, works very hard on his craft & is a ferocious competitor, while keeping emotions always balanced. Any program that receives his talent in the future will be very lucky and grateful.”
Next up for Walton is another pair of visits.
“I plan on visit Purdue and Baylor. There may be some other visits, but those two are for certain,” Walton said.