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Published on: 12/3/2001
Last Visited: 12/3/2001
Washburn point guard Carlo Walton, left, threaded a pass around Baker's Luke Harris during the Ichabods' 96-64 victory on Tuesday. PHILIP CARLSON/The Capital-Journal
Carlo Walton had a nice life in Des Moines, Iowa.He had a job he enjoyed and two young daughters he adores.
There was something missing, though: A college degree and closure to his basketball career.
Five years had passed since Walton attended college at Iowa State and played basketball for the Cyclones.Those incomplete aspects of his life gnawed at him, so he finally acted.With an assist from his former coaches at Seward County Community College, Walton landed at Washburn and is filling the void in his academic and athletic careers.
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"I had thought about going back to school and when I had the opportunity to come back and play basketball and receive a degree, that was all the motivation I needed," said Walton, who is starting at point guard for the Ichabods while pursuing his degree in criminal justice.
Walton's journey to Topeka took many twists and turns.It began in Newark, N.J., where he grew up the youngest of 13 children.
"I had both parents but dad was kind of into his own thing," said Walton, who has 10 brothers and two sisters."He was home, but not really at home.I did have a father-figure, someone who would discipline me, but mom was pretty much the backbone of the family.We were poor, but having a good life and good family values is what helped us get through."
Sports also kept Walton on course, starring on the football, basketball and baseball teams at East Side High.Baseball may have been his best sport.Walton was good enough to be drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1991.He signed and played three years as a catcher in the minor leagues.
Travelin' man
WU's point guard has been around
• 1992-94 played at Seward County CC
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Walton was released by the Dodgers and turned his attention to basketball, where a New Jersey connection directed him to Seward County.He went to Liberal and played two years with his brother, Shelby.Carlo was named MVP of the Jayhawk Conference West Division as a sophomore.
The Walton brothers next journeyed to Iowa State where they helped the Cyclones win the final Big Eight Conference postseason tournament in the 1995-96 season.Iowa State, however, wasn't the right fit for either of the Waltons.Carlo quit school and moved from Ames to Des Moines and Shelby joined the U.S. Army (he now lives in Liberal).
Carlo settled into a comfortable life, getting a job as education director at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa.It was a satisfying position for someone who had a rough upbringing in Newark.
"It involved counseling and mentoring, trying to be a father-figure to kids," he said."Most of them were inner-city kids with a mom at home but no dad, and a mom that's hardly there.You had to be multiple things: A parent, a counselor, a friend, a big brother.
"The kids weren't coming so much to play games but to be around somebody positive.I really enjoyed my job because it was a good learning process for me."
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During that time, Walton became a father.While he never married, Walton remains close to daughters Sierra, 4, and Olivia, 2. They live in Des Moines with their mother, but the girls make weekend visits to Topeka.
"I want to provide my girls what I didn't have and make sure they don't have the same struggles I had to go through," Walton said.
That forced him to act upon his thoughts of returning to college.Conversations with former Seward County coach Dale Reed and current Saints coach Dave Brown, an assistant during Walton's two years in Liberal, got the ball rolling.
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"I wasn't interested in going out to Kentucky," Walton said."Coach Brown called Washburn, and having some Kansas ties from my time at Seward got me here."
Bob Chipman certainly remembered Walton from his juco All-America career, but the Ichabods' coach had been burned in recent years by a couple of Division I senior transfers.One conversation with Walton eased Chipman's fears.
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At age 28, Walton is the elder statesman on the Ichabod squad.
"They call me Pops, Gramps, Old Man ... anything associated with being old," he said."It's fun because I get a chance to be a mentor to some of the freshmen.I try to help as much as I can, being an experienced, older guy.I like what I'm able to do here."
Walton remained involved in sports while living in Des Moines.He played pick-up basketball, was a member of slow-pitch softball teams that traveled the nation and last year he had a tryout with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League.
Resuming his life as a student-athlete has been an adjustment, particularly the student aspect.
"I think school has been tougher with the classes and studying again after about six years," Walton said."Basketball is easier after playing pick-up ball, but being in a normal system again has been the toughest transition."
In two games for the No. 7 Ichabods, who play at Rockhurst on Tuesday, Walton scored 20 points with 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 6 turnovers.Admittedly not yet in great physical condition, Walton played only 39 minutes in two blowout victories.
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Defensively, when he does get in shape, is where you'll be impressed with Carlo.He can be a one-man press."
Following a five-year hiatus, Walton is attacking his second go-round in college with excitement, dedication and gratitude.
"Basketball is so much fun, and I'm only a couple of semesters away from getting my degree," Walton said."I don't know what I'll do then, but I still have some time to figure that out.I'm just trying to enjoy all this right now.
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