MUNCIE, Ind. — When Ball State men’s basketball coach James Whitford recruited K.J. Walton out of high school, Whitford targeted a prospect whom he considered a terrific athlete and person.
Walton, an Indianapolis native, enjoyed success both in high school at Brownsburg and on the AAU circuit. Walton earned recognition as an Indiana All-Star in 2015, the same year former BSU athlete Tahjai Teague did. But Whitford did not sign Walton ahead of the 2015-16 season, considering Walton initially chose to play collegiately at Missouri. Whitford instead added Walton ahead of the 2017-18 season as a transfer.
Years have passed since Walton, now a redshirt fifth-year guard with the Cardinals, made that decision.