Ahmad Walker established himself as one of the top players in the Jayhawk West during a terrific sophomore season. The coaches in the conference felt he was the best, selecting the Barton Community College guard as the Most Valuable Player in the conference this season.
Walker received the most points in the coaches’ ballots to earn that award as well as first team all Jayhawk West. Barton sophomores Kenny Enoch and Jalin Barnes were both recognized as well, earning honorable mention.
Walker is the second player under Craig Fletchall to earn the MVP, joining Nyika Williams during the 2008-09 season. Butler’s Mike Bargen was picked as the Coach of the Year, Bashir Ahmed of Hutchinson was voted the Freshman of the Year and Tyrell Springer of Garden City was selected the Defensive Player of the Year.
Walker, 6-4, transferred to the Cougars from Stony University (NY). He led the West in scoring this season with a 20.6 points per game average and also finished in the top five in both rebounds and assists. His 7.7 rebounds was good for fifth and his 5.5 assists good for second. He led Barton in all three categories.
Walker finished the season with a career-high 32 points and topped 30 points three different times. He scored 20 or more in 15 of the 27 games he played. Ten times this season Walker ended with a double-double.
Enoch was also a sophomore transfer for Cougars, coming to Barton from Trinity Valley Community College (Texas). The 6-0 guard was second on the team at 14.1 points per game and tied a school record with nine 3-pointers in the final regular season game of the year. The native of Indianapolis hit .443 from behind the 3-point line. He made a trey in 28 of 31 games.
Barnes came to Barton from Howard College (Texas). The Raleigh, NC native was third on the Cougars at 13.7 points per game. He scored in double figures 24 of 31 times this year with a career-high of 25.
All Jayhawk West
Coach of the Year – Mike Bargen, Butler
Most Valuable Player – Ahmad Walker, Barton
Freshman of the Year – Bashir Ahmed, Hutchinson
Defensive Player of the Year – Tyrell Springer, Garden City
First Team
Ahmad Walker, Barton
Bashir Ahmed, Hutchinson
Kyle Steward, Butler
Payton Pervier, Dodge City
Devon Thomas, Cloud County
Second Team
DeShawn Freeman, Hutchinson
Vladimir Brodziansky, Pratt
Secean Johnson, Seward County
Taylor Schieber, Pratt
Tyrell Springer, Garden City
Honorable Mention
Kenny Enoch, Barton
Jalin Barnes, Barton
Chris Howell, Butler
Lamar Woffard, Butler
Khyree Wooten, Colby
Kevin Sims, Seward County
Robert Davis, Pratt
Davon Anderson, Garden City
Ameer Jackson, Dodge City
Jacolby Harris, Butler