The Villages Charter School Basketball Player Sam Walters Named ITG Next Florida Male Athlete of the Month for January 2023
The Villages Charter senior basketball player Sam Walters has been voted the ITG Next Florida January 2023 Male Athlete of the Month, stemming from his on-court play during December. Walters received 35.58% of the possible votes from a list that included three additional finalists.
After a junior season in which he averaged 24.6 PPG and 9.9 RPG for The Villages Charter, all eyes were on Walters entering the 2022-23 campaign, and rightfully so. He was considered one of the state’s top returning basketball players based not only on his previous production, but also on the fact that he is one of Florida’s top recruits, a four-star prospect who is currently signed with Alabama.
In 17 games this season, the forward is averaging a double-double at 23 PPG and 11.2 RPG, along with 2.5 APG and 1.8 BPG. Walters is also shooting a noteworthy 55% from the field, as well as 39% from three-point range. He recently became the all-time leader in rebounds at The Villages Charter, is the all-time leader in blocks, and is No. 2 in points behind Tre Mann.
“It can’t be put into words,” The Villages Charter head basketball coach Colt McDowell said of Walters’ impact so far this season. “Not only statistically, but growth, maturity, and leadership-wise in helping the younger guys on our team. Aside from him, we didn’t have a lot of guys with varsity experience coming into this year, and he’s helped lead by example to set a standard those guys need to follow.”
In December Walters posted a double-double in seven of 11 games for the Buffalo and averaged 22.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG, and 2.4 APG for the month. He had seven games with 20+ points during that span, and three with more than 30, which came against Belleview, Oak Ridge, and Lowndes (GA).
Perhaps Walters’ best game of the season to date came on December 6 in an 86-76 loss to Oak Ridge. Against the Pioneers, Walters posted a season-high 37 points while knocking down 12-of-16 shots from the field, plus 16 rebounds.
A unique prospect at 6 feet, 9 inches, Walters has continued to rise up recruiting rankings in the last calendar year, and some of these performances are a big reason why. His success hasn’t taken McDowell by surprise – it’s been a long time coming, thanks to his work ethic.
“Obviously he’s 6-foot-9 and has the ability to really shoot it,” McDowell said. “He’s shot over 45 percent from three [point range] for his high school career here at The Villages. That’s the thing that jumps off the page at you, but what people don’t know is how hard he works. I know you hear that a lot about the four and five stars, but his work ethic is absolutely ridiculous.
“I never thought that I would have anybody that out-worked Tre Mann, and I don’t know if he’s out-worked Tre, but they’re very, very similar,” McDowell added. “They’re both dudes who have spent nights in the gym and worked really, really hard. I think what’s going to help Sam is that he’s constantly trying to figure out how he can get better, what he needs to do, and then he’ll put the work in to do it.”
Congratulations to The Villages Charter basketball player Sam Walters, the ITG Next Florida January 2023 Male Athlete of the Month.
