By
Keith Carmona
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Sophomore forward leads Wildcats with 16 points against EA Sports California West All-Stars
For at least one night, sophomore forward Luke Walton exchanged his pass-first mentality for an outside stroke.
Walton, who averaged 5.7 points per game last season and is constantly encouraged by his coaches to shoot the ball more, heeded their advice last Sunday. In the Wildcats' 104-66 victory against the EA Sports California West All Stars, Walton scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting.
"The California All Stars were showing some good defenses, but I was getting really good looks," Walton said. "The guys were getting me the ball and my shot was on. What can I say, it was a good night."
Playing on the wing last season, Walton actually collected more assists than field goals attempted. His 131 assists was second only to sophomore point guard Jason Gardner, who had 162 on the year.
Walton said that while he enjoys perfecting the art of passing, Arizona fans can expect to see his scoring numbers significantly increase this year.
"I need to start shooting more because that's how people have started defending me," Walton said. "I guess I've developed the reputation for dishing the ball, so teams have just been guarding the pass, instead of the shot."
It's not that he's lacked confidence in his own ability to score. Walton said that with senior center Loren Woods and junior forward Michael Wright in the low post, Arizona can dominate teams with its big men.
Woods, who is often at the receiving end of Walton's passes said he appreciates the pass-first mentality of his teammate, but was excited about the notion of Walton becoming a scoring threat.
"We already know that Luke can push the ball inside, but tonight showed that he's got a great shot in his arsenal too," Woods said after Sunday's game. "Don't be surprised by the numbers he put up because he's got just as much ability to score as anyone on this team. I guess Luke just decided to bring it out tonight and he was feeling it."
When he was recruited to Arizona from University High School in San Diego, Calif., Walton was a lethal scorer. In his senior season, he averaged 20 points per game but is just waiting for the proper moment to renew himself as a scoring threat.
"Luke's a natural shooter and tonight showed that fact," senior forward Eugene Edgerson said after Sunday's game. "This season he is going to show that on occasion and the other team is going to be like, 'Where did this come from?"
Walton's outing was just a preview of future attractions, but still emphasized the importance of sharing the wealth with his teammates, he said.
"I like passing because we have so many weapons that no matter whose hands it's in, I know we'll get points on the board," Walton said. "But if the team needs me to shoot the ball, that's what I'll do."
Arizona's even distribution of scoring was certainly evident last Sunday when six Wildcats finished in double figures. However, more impressive were the 24 assists Arizona notched.
Perhaps it's the Walton-effect.
Call it what you will, but the Wildcats' knack for precision passing leaves them with their sights set on increasing the 15.7 assists per game mark from last season.
"Maybe I've rubbed off on them a little because in the locker room now, if you throw a good pass, we talk about it as much as you had a nice reverse lay-up or dunk," Walton said. "Our whole team likes each other, so it's fun to pass the ball and see what each other can do with it. It really showed on Sunday how well this team can share the basketball."
To his game-high 16 points on Sunday, Walton added eight rebounds and four assists.
This all coming from a guy playing off the bench?
He likes it that way, though.
"So much has been said about Loren, Jason, (junior forward) Richard (Jefferson) and all those guys, that it's fun to see the look on other team's faces when our second five comes in and keeps dominating them," Walton said. "We aren't too much of a secret weapon anymore, though.
"Teams know that we use 10 guys and try to prepare for that - but it's hard because there's just too many of us."
