Recruiting roundup: Walker to Syracuse basketball, pair of local football players Pac-12 bound
One of Washington state’s all-time prolific scorers is heading across the country to continue her academic and basketball career. Annie Wright’s Julianna Walker recently announced her commitment to play for Syracuse, choosing the Orange over several other Power Five offers from across the country.
“I felt it was right in my heart,” Walker said. “I believe it’s going to be the perfect fit.”
Walker, a first-team selection to The News Tribune’s 2020 All-Area girls basketball team, averaged 34.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists for the Gators and was named the Class 1A Nisqually League MVP during her junior season. She was also a state tournament first-team selection, leading Annie Wright to a fourth-place finish in the 1A state tournament. The junior is chasing Jennifer Stinson’s all-time state career scoring record of 2,881 points, which she set during her career at Davenport from 1992 to 1995. In three high school seasons, Walker has 2,214 points.
Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman first offered Walker after seeing her play last summer at a tournament in Atlanta.
“Coach Q is an amazing coach,” Walker said. “I’ve known that for a couple years. They’ve always had a pretty good program. I think I fit in perfectly. Coach Q is one of those coaches that’s going to let shooters shoot and let point guards be point guards. I think he’s going to let me do what I do.”
Walker, first and foremost, is a scorer. But she also prides herself on being a complete player.
“They liked how I was an all-around player on the court, not only a shooter and scorer,” Walker said. “I’ll ‘D-up,’ get steals, rebounds — my hustle and stuff. They liked my all-around game.”
It remains to be seen whether there will be a high school basketball season in 2020-21, with the COVID-19 pandemic not yet slowing down. The WIAA recently released plans for a modified four-season schedule for the upcoming school year. Basketball would begin in December, tentatively.
“We’re still preparing to have a season,” Walker said. “I am still getting ready. My goal coming into Annie Wright was to win a state championship. That’ll be my goal coming out. My second goal is to break the scoring record.”
YELM LINEMAN JEMTEGAARD PICKS CAL
Once Dylan Jemteegard, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman from Yelm High School received his first Pac-12 offer from Cal, he jumped on it, committing on the spot.
Actually, Jemtegaard’s pursuit of the school came before that.
“Honestly, it started with me emailing them,” Jemtegaard said. “I looked up the staff directory online and went from there. I finally got a couple calls back, started building the relationship. … I knew Cal was going to be a great university. I really wanted to reach out to them.”
When he received his official offer on a Zoom call, an emotional Jemtegaard committed on the spot.
“It was super exciting,” he said. “I was super emotional. They were super hyped up. They were hyped to see my commitment and emotion to the team. We’ve had that relationship for so long. The offer was really all I was waiting on. … It’s the biggest dream come true. Pac-12 football has been my dream since I started playing football. Getting that Cal education is unrivaled.”
Jemtegaard said he’s exciting to play for a program that he views as one the rise.
“Everything from Cal, they’ve been building that culture up like crazy, since (Cal head coach Justin) Wilcox has been there. They’re on an incline. That up and coming underdog mentality is what drives a lot of teams to be great. That’s something I want to be a part of.”
Jemtegaard, who plays left tackle for Yelm, could play a number of positions at the next level.
“They want me to be able to play every position,” Jemtegaard said. “My versatility is what they liked. … They liked my aggression and tenacity.”
Jemtegaard said he most likely plans to stick around for the potential spring high school football season in his senior year, rather than enrolling early at Cal. He said he owes a debt of gratitude to the Yelm coaching staff for his development, particularly head coach Jason Ronquillo.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC RECEIVER HEADED TO THE DESERT
Lonyatta ‘Junior’ Alexander, part of a star-studded Kennedy Catholic team, announced his commitment to Arizona State and Herm Edwards’ program in Tempe.
A big reason for the commitment? Everything that’s going on with the Black Lives Matter movement and people speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States.
“Because of what’s going on in today’s world, I like how diverse the coaching staff is,” Alexander said. “I just feel comfortable knowing that I’ll be taken care of, knowing they’ll have my back. I know Herm is going to put me in a position to be successful on and off the field.”
ASU offered Alexander during his junior season. Alexander, considered a four-star prospect by 247sports.com, was the top target for five-star quarterback and UW commit Sam Huard on a team full of explosive playmakers. He hauled in 67 catches for 1,328 yards and 24 touchdowns and was named to The News Tribune’s 2019 All-Area team.
“I didn’t just do it by myself,” Alexander said. “I have a coaching staff at Kennedy that really believed in me and pushed me to do my best. Having a great QB to be able to help me have a great season, it was a blessing being able to do what I did last year and hoping I could do it this spring.”
Alexander said the ASU coaching staff liked his ball skills during their evaluations.
“My ball tracking skills, being able to run under the ball, catch it over the shoulder, catch it in the middle,” Alexander said.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 10:15 AM.
