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Baxley Slam Dunks Another Honor
by Xavier Jordan
Top scorer for the All Star Team East
Moves that worked against the best
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Mars Hill's top-scoring basketball player has done it again. Walt Baxley has made his way to the top, earning himself several awards and gaining a lot of recognition. His average 28.1 points and 4.3 rebounds a game made him the leading scorer in the South Atlantic Conference and number two in the nation in Division II basketball.
Baxley was named South Atlantic player of the year, selected as a First Team Daktronics All-American, All-North Carolina First Team, and he had the opportunity to play in the first NCAA Division II / National Association of Basketball Coaches Men's All-Star Game. Teams representing East and West competed at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on March 24.
The 20 participants in the all-star game were chosen from a pool of 265 teams in Division II. Baxley started at the guard spot for the Team East in the game, wearing number 15, not the 42 that we all know him for. He made 19 points in 19 minutes and had two rebounds, a pair of assists and a block and a steal to add to his stats, although Team East lost 134-122.
The MVP for Team East was Tayron Thomas, a 6-2, 190 pound guard from Philadelphia University and the only player in Division II basketball to score more points than Baxley. Thomas only scored 18 points in the all star game but won the honor because of more rebounds and assists.
Thomas and Baxley became good friends and still communicate over Facebook. Walt wrote recently, "my friend always lookin out for others hahaha." And Tayron replied "Yea u welcome cuz U know I was going to 360 windmill that (bleep), instead I wanted you to get your points up."
"Walt is the truth to the game," says Walt's roommate Kenny Cheeks. His experience in the all-star game was a great experience, and he got a chance to play against some great guys.
Baxley said, "It gave me a chance to see where I measured against the best players in Division II." Teammate Joe Ayers added, "I think Baxley showed why he is the second leading scorer in the nation."
Baxley is now working out and playing basketball everyday in Chambers Gym to stay in shape. Along with other members of the basketball team they get games going at 3:30. His is still the leader of the team, even though he is finished with his college career, taking leadership by telling guys that they shouldn't be arguing because they are teammates.
He plans on playing somewhere professionally. He has camps coming up in the summer. "Hopefully I'll have some luck in that," he says.
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