Staff photo by Robin Rudd / UTC’s Jamaal Walker looks to pass during a game against College of Charleston on Nov. 27 at McKenzie Arena.During the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team’s recent loss to Belmont in Nashville, a heckler yelled at UTC freshman forward Jamaal Walker: “Are you old enough to be here?”
One day, Walker’s baby face will catch up to the rest of his body.
“I’m trying to grow some facial hair,” he said this past week. “I mean, that’s my Christmas dream right there.”
Aside from that, Walker’s body – and his game – have had no problems maturing.
He has ideal size for his position – 6-foot-5, 194 pounds is perfect for a wing – and the former East Hamilton standout has quickly worked his way back into the rotation for the Mocs after a preseason injury caused him to miss the first five contests. In his six games prior to Saturday’s 87-76 loss to Murray State in Kentucky, Walker was averaging 5.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in just less than 17 minutes per game.