Saturday, March 04, 2000
XU walk-on will walk away happy
BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Three times a week, Kyle Ballinger would play pick-up basketball at O'Connor Sports Center. Xavier coach Skip Prosser occasionally watched.
Early last fall, he approached Ballinger and asked if he had considered trying out for the Musketeers.
“I was flattered, of course,” Ballinger said. “Then I got to thinking, "Well, why not?'”
The Campbell County High School graduate, who made the team as a walk-on, will participate in Senior Day cere monies before Xavier's game Sunday against St.Joseph's. He will receive his degree in advertising in May.
“It's been amazing,” Ballinger said. “Because of the travel and everything else, it's been hectic at times, but the relationships with the guys — it's been a blast.”
He has played in nine XU games and totaled more minutes (26) than the other three walk-ons combined. He has four points — all on free throws — four rebounds, five assists and three turnovers. He is 0-of-7 from the field.
The highlight?
“Even though we got waxed, (it) was the Kansas game,” Ballinger said. “I got to play five minutes against Kansas. I threw an alley-oop to Brandon (McIntosh). It was hard not to kind of hot dog it running back. Looking at the guys on the bench, we were all down and stuff (because of the blowout), but there was still a little smile on some.”
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