New York Youngster Turning Heads

Ron Bailey, Publisher

January 15, 2008 – Normally, the pages of i95Ballerz.com only contains features on players high school age and above, extending through college and occasionally into the professional ranks: We shun covering middle school aged young people, as too much attention, too early, is known to sidetrack.

But despite being previously adhered to rather robustly, that rule is not unbreakable, as sometimes kids are encountered that can take the attention with no ill-effects. LaBrent Walker is that type of young guy.

LaBrent Walker has a hunger for the game rare in 8th graders. i95Ballerz.com is the first to feature him.

Hailing from Queens, NY, the 6’1”, 165 pound Walker, capable of playing guard or swingman has already received a boatload of attention, as he’s not only made an impact nationally at youth basketball events, but given his status as an M.S. 226 8th grader, is the focus of an intense high school recruiting battle. To date, such standout Metro Area programs as Christ the King, St. Benedicts, Wings Academy, St. Raymonds, Holy Cross, Lincoln, and Cardozo, amongst other schools, are being considered for enrollment.

Being a humble 14 year older, LaBrent shared of the attention he receives, “It’s been hard…When it first started I didn’t get a lot of attention and didn’t know how it felt. Now I do, and it’s kind of different. Everybody has something to say”.

Helping shield the precocious Walker is J.R. Rembert, an established AAU/youth basketball coach who, given LaBrent’s tumultuous early home life, is functioning as the young guy’s guardian. Rembert’s work with Walker extends past basketball; he’s a mentor, family member and friend, who is also trying to help repair LaBrent’s previous family life.

“His mother and him are making strides in rebuilding there relationship after her release from prison just before Christmas” shared Rembert of a process he deems necessary.

“J.R.’s helped me out with a lot of things” said Walker of Rembert, including “school and understanding basketball”.

A player that established his favorite position as “probably forward or shooting guard” though “I can play point guard when needed”, Walker is starting to value the mental side of hoops, a facet of the game Rembert has stressed.

“Right now, in the open floor, he’s a phenom in the fact he’s left handed and very athletic” opined Rembert of LaBrent. “Right now, his biggest challenge is making the mental transition”, while maintaining his high level of competitiveness.

To that end, LaBrent, a kid who previously loved to play hoops but didn’t necessarily study it, is starting to embrace the later, witnessed by his statement “I’m watching college ball lately”, in an effort to learn. Players such as Mike Beasley (Kansas State), Kevin Love (UCLA), and O.J. Mayo (USC) are targets of his study, as is Afam Muojeke, a player at Wyoming who is currently redshirting. “They don’t come on T.V., but I talk to him a lot” said Walker of Muojeke, another player Rembert mentored and is also functioning as a resource and brother to Walker.

With all the talk of mental understanding, don’t think for a second Walker has slacked on his skill development, for he revealed when not “doing my homework” or resting, “I go to the park to work on my handle, jump shot and conditioning”.

That work ethic is impressive for such a young guy, who, given the attention he’s receiving, could rest on his laurels and not grind. But LaBrent Walker, with the help of his mentor Rembert will not let that happen.

Resultantly, he could become another great one out of the Big Apple. A great and humble one.