Bill Walton demonstrated a deep appreciation for his peers, deriving joy from their success and taking pride in assisting their teams to victory, rather than focusing solely on his own scoring prowess.
In 1964, Bill Center began his writing career as a part-time contributor for the San Diego Union, which ultimately led to his encounter with an awkward sophomore on the junior varsity basketball team at Helix High School in 1967. At the time, Walton was still growing into his body, experiencing the effects of a growth spurt that left his knees and ankles struggling to keep pace with his height. Reflecting on this period in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Center detailed how Walton’s playing time during his sophomore and junior years at Helix was restricted by medical orders. However, he was eventually promoted to the varsity team during the 1968 CIF playoffs and rapidly established himself as a dominant player in the 1968-69 season.
Upon joining the varsity squad, Walton’s trajectory soared, prompting Center to vividly recall the pivotal moment when he realized he was witnessing one of the finest high school basketball prodigies to grace the courts of California.
“It was on New Year’s Eve of 1969,” recounted Center in the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Helix was facing off against Pasadena in the championship game of the Covina Tournament. Pasadena was revered as California’s top-ranked team. Prior to the game, Nash (the head coach) instructed Walton, ‘I need you to take charge.'”
Walton responded with an awe-inspiring performance, tallying an impressive 50 points, securing 34 rebounds, and blocking nine shots. Helix emerged triumphant with a commanding score of 110-68.
Following his exceptional display, UCLA assistant coach Denny Crum was so astounded that he promptly relayed the news to John Wooden upon returning to Westwood, exclaiming, “I just witnessed the greatest high school player I’ve ever seen.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Walton’s illustrious career at UCLA and beyond has been meticulously documented, yet for Center, his fondest recollections stem from his time spent with a timid, hesitant high school basketball player who would ultimately ascend to become one of the sport’s most impactful figures.