Bruce Pearl, Rodney Garner zero in on elite Georgia athlete
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ByKEITH NIEBUHR 7 hours ago
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Auburn appears to have ramped up its recruitment of
Travon Walker. In two sports.
Walker, a 6-feet-5.5, 275-pounder from Thomaston (Ga.) Upson-Lee, is an elite athlete. In football, he is a 5-star defensive tackle. But he’s also a standout power-forward on the basketball court who averaged a double-double last year.
Auburn’s message to Walker: The Tigers want him in both sports.
According to Walker, who participated in a basketball team camp over the weekend at Auburn, Tigers basketball coach
Bruce Pearlwas impressed and let him know he’d take him.
“He said he knows I love football and play basketball too, but said I really have potential in basketball," Walker said. "He said I’m one of those big guys, that if I develop and learn how to dribble I could be a
Charles Barkley type of guy. He said I’m that athletic and if I come there, I could play both. He said if I didn’t already have a football offer he would give me that. He said I didn’t really need one (from him) since I already have one. He’s been watching me since the team camp last year. He saw me have a good game against (Kentucky signee and former Auburn commit) E.J. Montgomery.”
Auburn football coaches also have told Walker he could play both sports, Walker said. The two staffs seem to be working together to land Walker, the No. 28 overall football recruit in the industry generated 247Sports Composite.
Playing both sports in college “would be something I would look into,” Walker said. “It’s something that I'd have to consider if it was too much to do. It’s not easy to do.”
Walker said if he played both sports in college, it might just be few a couple seasons. At that point, he would determine with the coaching staffs which one gave him the best long-term future.
Lately, Auburn’s football staff has increased its communication with Walker, he said. Defensive line coach
Rodney Garner was by his school in the spring and the two have talked more of late.
“I like Auburn — and have really been liking Auburn,” Walker said. “It’s just I really haven’t had much of a relationship like we should have had. That’s something that's coming along. They’re starting to get in contact with me more.”
The 247Sports Crystal Ball has 10 projections for Walker — all to Georgia. Walker said he has no leader but noted that Georgia, Clemson and South Carolina are the programs to watch.
As for Auburn?
“This past spring, I wasn’t thinking anything about Auburn,” Walker said. “But now they’re continuing to fight for me and continue to try to get me on campus.”
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According to Walker, Garner and Co. would like him to visit in late July.
“I think it’s July 28,” Walker said. “Me and my family are going to talk about it.”
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