The gym is nearly empty when Francis Lewis junior Jonathan Walker begins his morning routine. Before most students arrive, he is lifting, running drills, and putting up shots. That relentless work ethic has helped make Walker one of the top point guards and a captain of the Francis Lewis boys basketball team.
Whether it is during the school year or the summer, Walker never seems to stop working on his game. He has been playing basketball since he was young, competing for his school team and also playing Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball. No matter where he is, Walker finds a way to stay in the gym.
“I’ve been in the gym 24-7, from day to night,” Walker said. “Whether it’s me lifting, doing push-ups at home, or getting shots up at the park.”
Walker comes from a basketball family. His older brothers also played the sport, which inspired him to start playing at a young age. Since then, he has worked on improving every part of his game, staying after practice to shoot, playing at his local park, and lifting to get stronger.
Walker was one of only two freshmen to make the varsity team during his first year. As a freshman, he averaged 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Even then, his coaches noticed something different about him.
“I remember his first tryout,” said head coach Coach Cairleglio. “He was one of the only players, even including seniors and juniors, who played with poise and was under control. He understood situational basketball right away.”
Now in his third year on the team, Walker’s growth goes beyond his skills. His coaches say his leadership has developed just as much as his game. He has become more vocal, more confident, and more aware of how to motivate his teammates.
“As a leader, he’s way more vocal than last year,” Coach Cairleglio said. “His body language is positive, he knows the right words to say, and he leads by example. His teammates respect him because they see his skill and his attitude.”
Senior teammate Richard Richmond sees that leadership every day in practice and games.
“He’s very talkative and very positive,” Richmond said. “He gets everyone stretched, keeps us motivated, and tells us we’re going to go on runs and win the game.”
With one year left in his high school career after this season, Walker is beginning to draw attention from college programs. He hopes to play at the Division I or Division II level and believes his talent can take him there.
“I’ll take what I can get, but I’m looking forward to going Division I,” Walker said. “I think my talents could bring me there.”
Coach Cairleglio agrees that Walker has the ability to play at the next level, but he also emphasizes that basketball is only part of the equation.
“The most important thing is the classroom,” Cairleglio said. “College coaches always ask about grades first. His skills are there, but he has to keep pushing academically as well.”
For Walker, basketball is more than a sport. It has become an outlet and a source of stability during difficult times.
“The will to live,” Walker said when asked what motivates him on hard days. “Without basketball, I don’t know where my mind would be. It’s brought me away from a lot of trauma and obstacles in my life.”
