American basketball player Henry Walker most recently competed with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
The athlete, formerly known as Bill Walker, was taken by the Washington Wizards with the 47th overall choice out of Kansas State University in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft.
The small forward/shooting guard was able to carve out his own niche despite playing second fiddle to Mayo, setting milestones as one of the greatest high school players ever. He chose Kansas State and was ranked as a top-10 prospect by Rivals.com in 2007.
Walker, who had a leaping ability that earned him parallels to Vince Carter, even attended college as one of the country’s top 10 high school recruits.
In the midst of Linsanity, Walker, a starter for the New York Knicks, once posted a double-digit NBA career scoring average, but he also had multiple injuries, anger-management problems, and a bad reputation. Let’s cover more about him.
Henry Walker: Quick Facts
| Full Name | William Henry Walker |
| Known as | William Walker |
| Nickname | Billy |
| Birth Date | October 9, 1987 |
| Birth Place | Huntington, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Residence | Not Available |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Education | Rose Hill Christian (Ashland, Kentucky) North College Hill (North College Hill, Ohio) Kansas State (2006–2008) |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Father’s Name | Not Available |
| Mother’s Name | Nancy |
| Siblings | 1, sister |
| Age | 36 years old |
| Height | 6 feet 6 inches |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Profession | Basketball Player |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Girlfriend | Not Available |
| Children | Milan Skye Walker (daughter) |
| Active since | 2008– present |
| Teams | Boston Celtics Utah Flash New York Knicks Miami Heat |
| Endorsements | Not Available |
| Net Worth | $1- $5 million |
| NBA Draft Pick | 2008 / Round: 2 / Pick: 47th overall |
| Position | Small Forward and Shooting Guard |
| League | NBA |
| Merch | Basketball Card |
| Social Media | |
| Last Update | September 2024 |
Early Life & Family
Henry is from Huntington, West Virginia, which is notorious for having tough neighborhoods. The region is not-so-much of an ideal growing-up setting for aspiring talents.
Either people put in a lot of effort for nothing, or they take the wrong paths in an attempt to alter their circumstances.
Thus, being a young adult without his father was difficult. He was surrounded by a lot of death. ‘There’s always a better way than what you see, Henry’s mother, Nancy, would reassure him while staying by his side’. She would remark, “You have to see beyond this”.
When Walker was a little child, his father abandoned the family. He resided in an abandoned house that his mother repaired with his sister and mother in a drug-filled neighborhood.
His mother supported her two children as well as, briefly, two relatives who moved in after Walker’s aunt passed away from AIDS by working two jobs—one at Wendy’s and the other at Marshall’s.
The shooting guard basically just grew up in Sioux Falls. The Heineman family, owners of the Skyforce, and Phil Weber, the team’s former head coach, were both essential to his success.
To get there, you occasionally have to face hardship.
He and Coach Weber spoke extensively about growing up and taking responsibility for mistakes.
Amateur Career
Walker was a three-year player at North College Hill High School in North College Hill, Ohio, where he was a teammate of O. J. Mayo, a future NBA lottery pick and a unanimous Top 10 high school prospect.
Walker was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 State Tournament while assisting North College Hill to win back-to-back Ohio Division III state championships as a sophomore and junior in 2005 and 2006.
Walker averaged 21.7 points, and 10.1 rebounds per game as North College Hill came third in the US Today Super 25 High School rankings in 2006. On March 27, 2006, he was chosen as USA Today’s National Player of the Week.
After it was decided that he had used up all of his high school athletic eligibility the year before, Walker graduated early in the fall of 2006.
He enrolled at Kansas State University as a part-time student to be eligible to play on December 16, 2006, the first day of the second semester.
Walker declared on April 14, 2008, that he would forgo his final three years of eligibility and join the 2008 NBA draft.
Professional Career
Walker stayed in the 2008 NBA Draft despite being injured, and the Washington Wizards picked him with the 47th overall choice on June 26, 2008.
However, Walker was then dealt with the Boston Celtics for monetary considerations after visiting the Celtics three days earlier.
The shooting guard was sent to the Utah Flash, an NBA Development League team affiliated with the Boston Celtics, in November 2008 and was recalled on January 8, 2009.
Walker was given to the NBA Development League’s Maine Red Claws by the Celtics on November 21, 2009. He was recalled from the Red Claws by the Celtics on December 23, 2009.
He agreed to a 10-day deal with the Miami Heat on February 21, 2015. On March 3 and 13, respectively, he signed a second 10-day deal and a season-long one with the Heat. The Heat released Walker on July 27, 2015.
Player Profile
Henry is certainly an NBA type with his 220 lb. weight and six ft. six in. height. He also makes excellent use of his muscle, driving into the paint before converting the move into a post-up to force his way to the basket.
He approaches the game with the mindset of trying to dunk the ball every time, which is definitely how you want to see a player with his tools do.
Walker demonstrates a nice ability to withstand contact as well as the power and quickness to finish strong while still being able to slam the ball in with some force.
The small forward/shooting guard has displayed admirable versatility on the defensive end with an attacking style, playing tough defense in the post and on the perimeter.
While using his length and athleticism to battle shots and not give anything away easily, he maintains his position well against bigger players down low.
Henry Walker: Injury
The NBA star player’s rookie season was abruptly cut short after he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his left knee early in a match against Texas A&M on January 6, 2007, necessitating surgery.
He had undergone surgery and rehabilitation for a similar ailment in his right knee in 2003, thus this was the second time he had experienced it.
‘Future injuries might affect his developing career’, which worried Walker and the scouts evaluating him. These worries came true when Walker tore his meniscus during a Warriors pre-draft practice before he even had the chance to play in an NBA game.
Walker was once more plagued by injuries after practicing and honing his craft in the D-League during his rookie season. Walker re-tore his meniscus before the start of his sophomore campaign, and a few months later, he was traded to the Knicks.
Henry Walker: Personal Life
Henry Walker values privacy in his personal life. The details of his current relationship are thus unknown. In regards to his love life, he has always maintained confidentiality.
In addition, the basketball player is the father of Milan Skye Walker, a girl. Her mother’s identity is a mystery, nevertheless.
When Milan Skye Walker was born in 2011, her father’s pro basketball career as a supporting player with the Knicks was just about to reach its pinnacle.
Walker aspires for his daughter to achieve greater success than he has. According to Henry, that is his main objective.
Henry Walker Had Anger Issues
The small forward/shooting guard was a volcano that was about to erupt. Walker’s injuries healed, but the stress of failure and rejection continued to affect him.
Neidich proposed anger management therapy after feeling frustrated and misunderstood (the first was paused in favor of a lavish job in Venezuela, where Walker registered 14.3 points per contest).
Walker frequently sought outside help as he prepared for the 2014–15 season, his second with the Skyforce. He needed assistance with improving his appearance and gaining self-control, even if it only meant having someone to talk to.
In order to let Walker know that his efforts and self-improvement had not gone unnoticed, Miami called him up on a 10-day deal.
Walker is one step closer to riding out into the distance with his bright pride after seizing the chance to revive his reputation and kick-start his life both on and off the hardwood.
Net Worth
Henry Walker’s net worth has been estimated to be between $1-$5 million. However, the figure is yet to be confirmed by a reliable source.
There are many ways for athletes, particularly NBA players, to increase their base salary. While extensions and endorsement deals are both effective at doing that, signing bonuses also allow them to make additional money.
Social Media Presence
Henry Walker can be found on Twitter. He hardly ever uses social media, though. But if you want to stay up to date with his life, you can follow him.
Follow him here:
Twitter– 5.6k followers
Awards & Achievements
- Croatian League champion (2016)
- Croatian Cup winner (2016)
- Second-team Parade All-American (2006)
- Third-team All-Big 12 (2008)
- All-USA High School Boys’ Basketball All-Junior Team, USA Today (2006)
- High School Boys’ Basketball 1st Team, EA Sports (2006)
- Cincinnati Enquirer All-State First Team
FAQs
Is Henry Walker Still in NBA?
Henry Walker doesn’t play for NBA in the present. Walker joined the Philippine Basketball Association’s Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in November 2021.
How Good Is Henry Walker?
Walker possesses the physical aptitude and aggressiveness to develop into a very competent and adaptable defender at the next level.
Walker has significantly increased his efforts this season in the paint, attacking hard on both ends of the court, both when he is close to the basket and when he needs to come from outside his normal position.
