July 5, 2007

By Dave Link

Knoxville News-Sentinel

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-- Justin Walker and Cameron Sharp continue their prep course for college basketball tonight in the Pilot Rocky Top summer league at Bearden High School.

Walker and Sharp have signed with Division II Carson-Newman. Walker, a 6-foot-4 guard/forward, graduated from Austin-East High School this past spring, while Sharp, a 6-0 point guard, graduated from Halls.

If they needed a test against proven Division I players, they're getting it in the Rocky Top league.

"It's going to help me in the long run, really coming in to play Division I players, good players who have been across the country to play other good players," Walker said. "Me having an opportunity to play these guys is sure going to help me out in the long run."

Walker plays for Sun Trust Bank, which plays tonight at approximately 9 against Kingston Alley.

Sharp plays for Knoxville News Sentinel, which plays HT Group at 7:30.

"Playing against these guys who are going to be in the SEC and other Division I schools will do nothing but prepare me for Carson-Newman and get me better this summer," Sharp said. "That's what I'm looking for during this league."

Walker averaged 12.3 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one block last season for Austin-East, which went 31-8 and lost to Memphis Mitchell in the semifinals of the Class AA state tournament.

Sharp averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals and led Halls to a 26-6 record. He scored 25 in the season-ending loss to Bearden in the Region 2-AAA quarterfinals and ended his career as the school's scoring and assists leader.

Both were chosen to the News Sentinel's PrepXtra first team.

Sharp signed with Carson-Newman early in his senior season, while Walker signed with the Eagles this spring.

"I feel the coaching staff (at Carson-Newman), we had good bond," Walker said. "That's really what drew me to Carson-Newman. Me and the coaches, we really sat down and talked and I really felt like it was a family-type atmosphere."

Walker and Sharp played AAU ball together several years ago and played against each other a few times during summer camps, but they never faced off against each other while playing for their respective high schools.

"We had orientation (at Carson-Newman) and got back with each other talking again," Sharp said. "Justin and me are going to be real close these next four years."

Walker said, "It's always good to get a chance to play with a friend for four years and to know you'll have someone close to you to make that journey with."

For now, though, they will continue their college prep course in the Rocky Top league. Both seem to hold their own against former and current college players.

Walker scored 16 in Sun Trust's 124-111 victory over HT Group on Monday night.

"He played a great floor game," said Sun Trust coach Kevin Feltner, a former Carson-Newman player. "He even played a little point guard."

Sharp scored 15 in the News-Sentinel's 128-122 victory over First Tennessee on Monday.

During one sequence, Sharp scored on a reverse layup, was fouled, and converted a three-point play, scored seconds later on the fast break, and not long after that threw an alley-oop pass to Tennessee transfer Tyler Smith for a dunk.

"I'm the underdog (in the league), so to speak," Sharp said. "I like going up against the big dogs. That's how it's been my whole life. I enjoy going out and competing and just playing hard against these guys."