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St. Francis’s Player on the Rise: Nigel Walls

By Rebecca Jackson, St. Francis Episcopal School, School Buzz Reporter | January 24, 2022

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Walls dunking during the Emery Weiner game.

There aren’t many private schools in Houston with seven-foot freshmen on their varsity basketball team, but St. Francis freshman Nigel H. Walls towers over his team at 6’9'', and he is still growing.

Walls has been playing basketball since the second grade. At first, it was a way to exercise and get gym credits, but by fifth grade, he realized that basketball was his future. Walls plays for SFES Varsity Wolves under the direction of coaches Harold “H” Baber and Jacob Trauber.

Walls has attended small schools his entire life, so he felt right at home at SFES during his first campus visit. Thanks to him, this has been the Wolves’ best basketball season to date. The varsity men won their first game against Salt and Light Homeschool 77-39, and the wins just kept rolling in: Westside High School, Emery Weiner, HCYA, John Cooper, HHA, Wisdom High School, CHSA, John Cooper, St. Johns XXIII, Texas Christian, St. Thomas Episcopal, Frisco Legacy Christian School, and Kinkaid. At home games, the bleachers are always crowded with cheering fans, buzzing with excitement to see what moves Walls will pull on the opposing team.

Outside of school, Walls plays for JL3 Elite, an Amateur Athletes Union (AAU) team, where he pushes himself to reach his full potential. And it’s paying off. Walls already received an offer from LSU, and he hopes to receive more D1 offers and gain more exposure for his basketball career as he continues high school. He has even been ranked by SW Elite Scouting in Texas Top Rankings C/O 2025 Centers. Even though this ranking changes over time, it was still an accomplishment.

“He’s a great person to play with,” says his teammate Corey Syon, “I’m glad to be his teammate.”

Walls will continue to chase his dream of becoming a professional player one day and knowing that he has the capability to make it to the big leagues keeps Walls motivated. “When I watch highlights of Kevin Durant or Magic Johnson, it inspires me,” says Walls.

With his skill and mindset, the St. Francis' community is sure that Walls will achieve his goal to greatness. Until then, students will cheer him on as he continues to reach for the stars.