Recruiting

Derrick Walton leads Michigan Mustangs to Adidas Super 64 title

2013 Michigan commitment Derrick Walton finished three rebounds shy of a triple-double on his way to MVP honors in the Adidas Super 64 Championship in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Walton scored 16 points to go along with 13 assists and seven rebounds in 39 minutes, leading the Michigan Mustangs to an 84-71 victory over New Heights (New York) in the 17U final.

The 6-foot point guard, who was named the tournament MVP, was unstoppable in transition in the finals, guiding the Mustangs to their first Las Vegas tournament title in over 12 years. Walton played an extremely smart game, earning his 16 assists, while committing just one turnover.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 12-point halftime lead in the game televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. Seemingly in cruise control, the Mustangs led by as many 16 points in the second half. New Heights, which also lost in the championship game of the Adidas Invitational two weeks ago in Indianapolis, didn’t make it easy for the Mustangs, going on a 12-0 run midway through the second half to cut the deficit to just two points.

But after the Mustangs lost their composure, Walton commanded the basketball, and helped jumpstart a 7-1 Mustangs run to put the game away.

Walton, who scored 20 points in his team’s semifinal victory, got to the rim at will, scoring most of his points right around basket. He struggled with his jump shot, going scoreless from beyond the arc, but was the most dangerous player on the floor, setting up his teammates for easy hoops.

Walton is aggressively moving up the 2013 recruiting ranks, and continued to impress coaches and recruiting gurus with his performance this week in Las Vegas. Before the game, Dave Telep, ESPN.com’s top recruiting analyst, tweeted that Walton is being considered as a McDonald’s All-American after his strong performance.

The Mustangs, who boast four Division 1-bound players, cruised through the tournament going 9-0, outscoring opponents by 17 points per game in super pool play. Walton’s team dominated defending Adidas Invitational champions, Florida Elite and top point guard prospect Kasey Hill, in the quarterfinals, and advanced to the championship game with a one-point victory in the semifinals.

While the win was Walton’s last in a Michigan Mustangs uniform, he won’t be sitting around to dwell on the final triumph of his AAU career. Next weekend, Walton is scheduled to participate in the Adidas Nations event in Los Angeles, competing against some of the top prospects internationally.

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