The Remarkable Student-Athletes of Morehouse & Colgate: James Walker
Introduction
My name is Joe Press IV, and I’m a high school Social Studies teacher, Morehouse alum (℅ 2015), and Colgate fan who runs Archer’s Raiders. Archer’s Raiders is an organization designed to connect politically progressive students and alumni of Colgate University and Morehouse College through passionate support of the basketball and football programs of both schools.
The namesake of this organization is Samuel “Big Boy” Archer Sr., one of the first Black football players to play for Colgate University and Morehouse College’s 5th President. President Archer was a phenomenal athlete, coach, and educator who proudly represented Colgate and Morehouse throughout his life. He is responsible for changing Morehouse’s school colors to the now iconic Maroon and White, as an homage to his alma mater, Colgate.
Along with the connection Colgate and Morehouse have via President Archer, our two schools share other important principles and values. Most notably, many of our most accomplished students and alumni have always had a commitment to racial justice, economic justice, and progressive politics.
Samuel Archer was one of several future presidents of Historically Black Colleges who graduated from Colgate at a time when few predominantly white institutions allowed Black students in their schools. For example, Matthew Gilbert graduated from Colgate in 1887 and was the president of Selma University. The great progressive congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. also graduated from Colgate in 1930.
Of course, Morehouse’s list of politically significant Black graduates is far too long to list here; but a couple include civil rights leader and SNCC co-founder Julian Bond and, perhaps the greatest man America has ever produced, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I sincerely hope that Archer’s Raiders can serve as a forum for robust progressive political discussion, sports fandom, and (above all) fellowship between the communities of Morehouse College and Colgate University.
What follows this introduction is the first of many interviews I plan to host that are designed to showcase the nuance and intellect of current and former Colgate and Morehouse student-athletes. People often have the misconception that athletes are one dimensional; lacking the range to speak on different important issues facing the country today. But the fact is that pro and college level athletes are often intimately connected to their communities and the challenges facing them. These athletes have a unique platform to speak on these challenges and raise awareness about a host of important political issues.
Through these interviews and profiles, you find that Colgate and Morehouse student athletes all have remarkable stories — and that each of them represent the aforementioned values that our schools stand for in their own unique ways. Hopefully, the Colgate and Morehouse communities enjoy reading the profiles and watching the interviews as much as I enjoy putting them together.
James Walker
James Walker attended Morehouse College and played basketball for the Maroon Tigers from 1986–1990. He graduated in the class of 1990 with a degree in Business Administration. Walker was our captain and second leading scorer in the 1989–90 season. That year, he helped lead the Maroon Tigers to the Division II Men’s basketball tournament Final Four. That was, inarguably, the greatest season in Morehouse Basketball history.
Walker was a 5 foot 11 inch lead guard who weighed 150 pounds from Jackson, Tennessee. Despite his small stature, Walker was responsible for spearheading Morehouse’s suffocating man-to-man defense and consistently setting up his teammates for easy scoring opportunities on offense. His huge impact on the game was evidenced by his ability to reliably stuff a stat sheet night after night. In his senior year at Morehouse he led the team in assists, steals, 3 point field goals made, 3 point shooting percentage, and free throw percentage.
Stylistically, Walker made use of his slight frame and quick first step to penetrate the heart of a defense and score tough, contested layups over larger defenders. He drew countless fouls with his ability to take hits and finish through contact. He also used his skill as a slasher to play-make for his teammates — laying off passes for his big-men to emphatically slam home, or kicking out to spot-up shooters after collapsing a shellshocked defense.
Walker’s prowess on the ball was matched by his impact off it. He was an adept spot-up shooter who supplemented Harold Ellis’ (Morehouse’s all-time leading scorer) physical inside game with timely 3 point shots. Walker was also a great movement shooter; running off screens or looking for open space to exploit in the mid-range and beyond the arc.
Walker was also a dogged defender with quick hands who applied great pressure on and off the ball. He could pick-pocket weak and strong ball-handlers alike; and was always active in the passing lanes when his mark was off-ball.
James Walker saved his best performances for the biggest games. In the Elite 8 of the 1990 DII NCAA Tournament, he scored over 25 points en route to a huge victory over Division II basketball powerhouse Gannon University. With the game on the line coming down the wire, Walker scored basket after basket; showcasing the 3-level scoring ability that made him a potent offensive weapon over the course of his career. Walker’s efforts in securing that victory will go down in Morehouse lore; and his overall contributions to the program over 4 phenomenal seasons will never be forgotten.
Upon graduating from Morehouse, Walker briefly tried his hand at professional basketball abroad, playing for 3 months in France. But he quickly realized that his true calling was working with young people and helping them reach their full potential. After earning a Masters in Coaching and Management from the U.S. Sports Academy, Walker became the Head Women’s basketball coach at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. This period also marked the beginning of his teaching career, as he taught in Spring Hill’s Physical Education department while coaching.
Following his time in Mobile, Walker went back to Jackson and continued coaching women’s basketball team for 2 years. He then returned to Morehouse for 1 year to work as an assistant under Head Coach Grady Brewer (this was Brewer’s 1st year as head coach after working as an assistant for many years under Morehouse’s all-time winningest coach, Arthur McAfee).
While the prospect of continuing to coach at his alma mater was enticing, Walker was unwilling to move his family to Atlanta; so he decided to return to Tennessee and begin a full-time career as an educator.
After teaching business education and coaching high school girls basketball for 4 years, Walker was worked as an Assistant Principal in Tipton county — a position he held for 6 years. Upon leaving Tipton, he served as an Assistant Principal at South Side HS in Jackson for two years. This led to Walker being appointed principal of Humboldt High, where he worked for 4 years. Today James Walker is still working in education, serving his community, as Principal of Jackson Career and Magnet Elementary School.
In our interview, Mr. Walker and I discuss a myriad of topics ranging from his journey from Jackson to Morehouse, to his take on several of the hot-button issues animating our country’s current political discourse. Enjoy!
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For the second profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University basketball player Jeff Woodward, click here.
For the third profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University basketball player Oliver-Lynch Daniels, click here.
For the fourth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Max Edelstein, click here.
For the fifth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Bobby Foose, click here.
For the sixth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Alejandro Coury, click here.
For the seventh profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Mason Pahule, click here.
For the eighth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University rower Noha Shahba, click here.
For the ninth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University rugby player Tommy McHale, click here.
For the tenth profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Cason Stafford, click here.
For the eleventh profile and interview of this series featuring Colgate University soccer player Rory Brookhart, click here.
