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Marquise Walker, featured in Outside the Lines, is the 8-year basketball prodigy and YouTube sensation who can already handle the basketball and shoot the basketball way above his age level :
I'm not going to make any judgements on whether Marquise's dad is doing a good job raising his child. That is not my job; and besides, Marquise and his dad Chikosi seem to be enjoying their time on the basketball court together.
But I will say this : Marquise's development will come down to how his head develops, both in terms of understanding the game and handling the emotional pressures of growing up.
From what I've seen of Marquise, he has very advanced levels of ball-handling and shooting. He can do all types of crossovers with the dribble and shoot threes and pullup jumpshots, for crying out loud. At the same time, he does a lot of one-on-one, playground stuff. Marquise is a child, and it's okay for a child to have fun. But too much of the showy stuff could lead to Marquise developing some bad habits, like overdribbling.
In my opinion, the failure of many a New York City point guard to live up to the hype lies in these bad habits. Sure, they can dribble, create and dish, but too many of them that I've seen in the NBA aren't pass-oriented. Too many of them pass only as a last resort, and don't move that well when they don't have the ball. Stephon Marbury, Rod Strickland, Kenny Anderson, Jamaal Tinsley...I can go on and on about how many talented and entertaining NYC point guards there have been in the League who have never been winners. In fact, the most successful of all of the NYC point guards in recent years, Mark Jackson, is a guy who is known more as a passer than penetrator.
If there is a common thread that runs through all championship or near-championship players, it is that they are usually excellent passers and defenders. If they aren't especially talented in one of those two areas, possibly due to physical limitations, then they are at least passable, or have another skill to make up for their overall effectiveness. Remember, basketball is a team game, and defense wins championships, so if you want to win, pass the ball and play defense.
The latest point guard prodigy, Ricky Rubio, soon to be 18, is an example of a player who has learned how to play the game right at a young age. He is a smart player who knows how to apply his skills and physical gifts at the right moments. Many people liken him to Pete Maravich for his flair, but to me, he is like a young John Stockton, with better size, wingspan and burst. I love the way he puts defenses under his mercy by timing his passes and shots expertly, and his knack for wreaking havoc on defense.
Watch these Ricky Rubio highlights set to "Born to Be Wild"
and tell me if I'm wrong :Remember, it's never too late to be a bust. Until you have been successful for at least five years in the NBA, you can always be replaced by a younger, hungrier player. For example, Stephon Marbury and Kenny Anderson were considered pure point guards and team saviors coming out of college. You can develop all the flashy skills you want, but if you don't develop the understanding of the game, then you will always be just a prodigy.
If Marquise Walker wants to become a true young star by the time he gets to high school and beyond, then he must work not only on his fundamental individual skills, but his team game as well.
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