From Calhoun to Jordan: Speakers Have Nothing But Praise for Kemba Walker, Who Talks About His Future

National basketball champion, former UConn Huskies top point guard and NBA rookie Kemba  Walker joined Coach Jim Calhoun in front of a packed house Tuesday at the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Cromwell.

Some 600 people gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel to hear the newly drafted Charlotte Bobcats player receive the Chamber role model of the year award, speak about playing for UConn and adjusting to a new “boss” — basketball great Michael Jordan.

Walker credited his parents for his strong work ethic and indomitable spirit on and off the court.

“Without my parents, I’m nobody. My parents raised me with some great morals and values. They just taught me so many things. My parents are such hard workers, they got up every morning, they went to work — rain, sleet, hail, sick, anything — they went to work and tried to do their best for me and my siblings,” Walker said.

Citizens Bank president Chandler J. Howard addressed the young people in the audience, many Middletown and Cromwell Parks and Recreation summer participants.

“To the kids that are here, there’s an awful lot to be learned from Kemba Walker, not just as a basketball player but as a young man. He came to the University of Connecticut and I think everyone would agree he was a good player with a chance to be great. He made himself great,” Howard said.

“Nobody gives you great …. He did the same thing in the classroom.”

Coach Calhoun, who flew in especially for the event, had nothing but praise for his former top player.

“Last year, we struggled a little bit, but Kemba was always Kemba. The moment the season ended — this is what kind of person he is — he called every freshman, all seven, ‘you’ve got to come here, we’ve got to start to work now,’” Calhoun said.

Assistant Coach Kevin Ollie said he was humbled to be among so many Connecticut fans.

“I feel y’all passion, that y’all push us to want to win and we want to just continue to do that on a day-to-day basis,” Ollie said.

“It’s my privilege to introduce one of the greatest persons I’ve ever met in my life. …

It’s a privilege to have on your team the hardest worker and the best player,” Ollie said. “Just look at Kemba, he exudes the emotion each and every day, how he takes care of all the small things and that leads to the big things.”

Audience members asked questions of Walker, including what number he’ll wear for the Bobcats. His response was met with cheers and applause. “Number one,” he said proudly.

When asked what it was like moving from a coach like Calhoun to his new “boss,” basketball legend Jordan, Walker said he was honored to discover Jordan specifically requested him for his team.

“The only thing is I wish he hooked me up with a Nike contract,” Walker said, to gales of laughter.

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