The best-backcourt-in-the-state debate usually centers around Hillcrest’s Jerel McNeal and Maurice Acker, St. Joseph’s Tony Freeman and Jonathon Peoples and Proviso East’s Phillip Perry and Jeremiah Wise.
Close behind that collection of Division I talent is the Bolingbrook tandem of Will Walker and Andre Lyles.
The 6-foot-1-inch Walker, averaging 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and 2.5 steals, is considered the No. 3 junior in the state behind Glenbrook North’s Jon Scheyer and Crane’s Sherron Collins.
Top-ranked Illinois is targeting Walker, Collins and Mike Conley of Indianapolis as its point guard of the future, hoping to land one from that trio and also sign Scheyer and Farragut’s Chris Singletary. They would eventually replace Dee Brown, Deron Williams and Luther Head.
The gravity-defying, 5-11 Lyles is averaging 21 points and seven rebounds. The senior is a slasher who’s often on the receiving end of a Walker assist.
The duo sparked a school-record 14-game winning streak that was halted Tuesday by an 86-85 loss at Plainfield Central despite Walker’s 23 points, eight assists and seven steals.
Walker was the main man at Romeoville for two years before an eligibility rule change allowed him to transfer into Bolingbrook. Sharing the spotlight never was an issue, because these two had been dominating pickup games at the Bolingbrook Recreation & Aquatic Center the last two years.
“People would tell us we should be on the same team,” Walker said. “After we both lost in the regionals last year, Andre had his head down. I told him I was coming to Bolingbrook and this wouldn’t happen next season.”
Lyles couldn’t wait to team with Walker.
“I was happy when I heard he was coming here,” Lyles said. “I’ve seen Freeman and Peoples and also McNeal and Acker. I think we’re right there with them. It’s just that Bolingbrook (16-3) doesn’t have the same basketball tradition like St. Joseph or Hillcrest.”
If Lyles was happy with Walker’s transfer, imagine the reaction of Bolingbrook coach Calvin Saunders. “When I heard Will was coming here, I said: `Thank you, Lord,”‘ Saunders said. “As a freshman, Will beat us with a three-pointer with 10 seconds left.”
At the East Aurora Holiday Tournament, Walker hit a buzzer-beater to knock off the host Tomcats. The next night he hit a three-pointer with three seconds left to beat Nicolet (Wis.).
“They’re not jealous of each other or in competition with one another,” Saunders said of Walker and Lyles. “And in crunch time, they’re both ready to step up their games.
“Will is equally effective passing or shooting it, and Andre likes to attack the basket because he can break you down with that very quick first step.”
When Neuqua Valley focused on stopping Walker, Lyles went off for 38 points. Andrew tried the opposite approach, and Walker scored 32 points.
“There isn’t a defense that can stop both of us at once,” said Walker, who is being recruited by Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Northwestern, Ohio State and Miami. “That’s because we’re both unselfish and play well together.”
