Annie Wright’s Julianna Walker chasing state basketball records

It’s been basketball from the beginning for Julianna Walker.

Just about the time she learned to walk, Walker learned what it felt like to have a basketball in her hands.

“I started playing at 2 or 3 years old,” Walker said. “I’d be in the gym with my dad. It mostly was just the two of us.”

These days, there are a lot more people watching Walker in the gym. And they’re watching the 5-foot-6 Annie Wright guard dominate games unlike any girl has before in this state.

And yes, that includes Washington’s all-time leading high school scorer—Jennifer Stinson.

From 1992 to 1995, Stinson rewrote the Washington scoring record book.

Before she moved on to Washington State to play volleyball, the 6-footer from Class B Davenport poured in 2,881 total points. As a senior, Stinson set the record for scoring average at 31.1 points a game.

Her Gorillas made the state tournament all four years and won two Class B titles.

Walker’s arrival at Annie Wright three years ago had far different expectations attached.

Annie Wright had never been to a state tournament before Walker’s getting to high school, let alone won a title.

“I wanted to take this school to state,” Walker said. “That was the whole goal from the start.”

A year ago, as a sophomore, she and her teammates did just that. Then the Gators beat Zillah in the first round, 71-67, before losing to Cashmere in a quarterfinal.

Through two and a half seasons, Walker’s hyper-focus on winning games (Annie Wright made the playoffs in her freshman year and are off to an 8-5 start this season) has left her blissfully unaware of the individual accomplishments she regularly posts.

That includes her assault on Stinson’s records, the breaking of which has become almost inevitable barring something unfortunate.

Over her first two seasons, Walker scored 1,615 points for the Gators. She averaged nearly 34 points a game.

Over the first 10 games of this season, she went for 374 points, an average of 37 points a game to close in on the 2,000-point barrier at 1,989.

“It’s fun to watch,” Annie Wright coach Chris Spivey said. “And she’s done it against all competition.”

Spivey schedules his 1A team against bigger schools for non-league contests to better prepare them.

“Am I proud?” Spivey said. “Yes. She gets to reap the rewards.”

What Spivey said he is not is surprised. That’s because Walker’s rewards have come from the work she’s put in, both in high school and growing up.

Spivey first saw Walker’s potential years ago, when he happened into a YMCA gymnasium and saw a skilled third-grader playing with the boys, as well as her dad.

“She was a hooper,” Spivey said. “I saw a passion. She was relentless. When you put in the time, regardless of what it is, hopefully, you get a chance to see the results.”

Walker’s time started with dad Lonnie Walker. That evolved into playing AAU ball with boys teams coached by her dad, including one that got to travel as far as Florida to compete.

“I wanted to be tougher,” Walker said of why she wanted to play with the boys. “Jaden McDaniels was on the same team until I was in the fourth grade.”

Yes, that’s the same Jaden McDaniels who currently stars at the University of Washington and is being touted as a potential NBA lottery pick later this year.

Playing with the boys forced Walker to develop her skills. Those skills have helped as opponents have more regularly employed trick defenses, double- and triple-teams, in an attempt to contain Walker.

“I can shoot off the dribble really well,” Walker said. “I don’t just spot up for shots. It’s really hard to drive on those tall boys without getting your shot swatted so far.”

Walker found other ways to hone herself growing up, as well.

She played a little soccer as a child. Then in middle school, Walker turned to another sport mostly engendered by the boys - football.

Walker enjoyed her time as a defensive linebacker and offensive tight end.

“I was a pretty good blocker,” Walker said.

It all helped to accomplish the goals Walker has had so far. None of those goals have included becoming the state’s new all-time scoring champion, though. That individual accolade seemingly will come to her as a byproduct of her efforts.

“I could go for 40 in a game, but all I care about is the win,” said Walker, who also averages six assists, six steals and five rebounds a game. “I don’t keep track of points. Basketball is a team effort.

“But, I did want to help change the basketball culture here.”

Has that goal been accomplished?

“It’s close,” Walker said. “But we’re not there yet.”

Now that the Gators have a state tournament appearance on the resume, there still is another step to take—one that Stinson’s teams accomplished twice.

“A state title,” Walker said. “I think with this team we can do it.”