Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Current Team: KK Ðakovo, Croatia
Former Team: The Willamette Valley Jaguars
After making his mark with the Willamette Valley Jaguars, Jon Walker is taking his talents overseas to play for KK Ðakovo in Croatia. We caught up with him to discuss how his time with the Jaguars prepared him for this new chapter, what motivates him daily, and the advice he has for young players chasing their dreams.
“Playing for the Jaguars helped me prepare by letting me go up against high-level competition in a growing league,” Jon shared. “It was the right environment to sharpen my skills and gave me confidence to take my game internationally.”
“My passion for the game and the enjoyment I get from being in the gym keeps me going,” Jon explained. “Every day is an opportunity to get better and enjoy the process.”
“The biggest difference has to be the play style and the language barrier,” he said. “The game feels different, and adjusting to the language and culture has been a big part of the experience, but it’s something that keeps things fresh and exciting.”
“The best advice I’d give is to stay self-motivated and never give up. Nothing worth having is easy to obtain, so when hard times come, you just have to keep faith and keep working.”
Jon wanted to send a special shoutout to his family back in Cleveland, including his mom, Carina, and his mentor, Donald Watts. “Thank you all for being there and supporting me every step of the way.”
“Jon is a great guy to be around because he moves at his own pace and lets the game take him where it needs to,” said the Jaguars’ Owner. “He came to us with a goal of getting overseas, and through his hard work and passion, he achieved it. I’m just glad we could be a part of his journey. Jon ‘Sky’ Walker, as our President of Game Day Operations Kelly R. Long nicknamed him, it was an honor and a pleasure to have you last season!”
As Jon’s journey continues abroad, the Jaguars will always be proud to call him one of our own.