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Who Is Sakima Walker? Stats, NIL, and Everything You Need to Know About South Carolina’s No. 35

ByAbin Joseph

Oct 23, 2024 | 12:30 AM EDT

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Born in Columbus, Ohio, 6’5″ senior center Sakima Walker has made her mark at every level of basketball. Her career is defined by her resilience and ability to excel in high-pressure environments, culminating in her arrival at South Carolina, where she is chasing another national title with the Gamecocks.

However, Walker’s path to UConn was anything but typical. Starting at Africentric Early College in Ohio, she made her mark before moving on to Rutgers. It all began at Africentric Early College in Ohio, where she established herself as a force on the court by leading her team to back-to-back Division III Ohio State Championships in 2019 and 2020. During the 2018-19 season, she achieved a perfect 28-0 record, earning the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Division III Player of the Year title.

But her achievements didn’t stop there. Walker went on to become a three-time city, regional, and district champion and earned a nomination for the 2019 McDonald’s All-America Game. This impressive track record led to her being crowned the No. 7 post player in the class of 2020 by ESPN.

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But the best was yet to come, not without a few challenges, though.

Early College Career and NIL Presence

When Sakima Walker arrived at Rutgers, it seemed like the natural next step for a player of her caliber. But life off the court during COVID began to present challenges that tested her in ways basketball never had. Her mother, Nakia Johnson, remembers this time vividly. “It was tough,” she shared.

“I really didn’t know what was going on with her at the time. When she first went to college, I told them she was depressed because of COVID. I’d seen that it took a toll on her, and I let them know. But I guess because Sakima always wears that smile, they didn’t know, because she didn’t talk about it and she just always appeared to be happy.”

Her depression amplified Sakima’s struggles at Rutgers, so much so that it led to her ineligibility in her sophomore year. Her close family friend and basketball trainer, Tihon Johnson, would later reflect on this period of Sakima’s life and say “I think she just lacked a little bit of self-confidence. I think she had some self-doubt, I don’t know where from. Hey, we all have our setbacks, but it’s how you respond to those things that make you a champion.”

Walker, however, was no quitter as she fought it and showed flashes of brilliance at that dark time, by appearing in 32 games and averaging 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. She also went on to get a career-high performance against Wagner, scoring 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

However, her time at Rutgers was limited as a feeling for a fresh start, lead her to transfer to Northwest Florida State College for the 2022-23 season. It was here that she truly flourished, leading her team to an NJCAA National Championship. This primal achievement would allow Walker to be named the NJCAA Division I Player of the Year, averaging 16.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

She also went on to post 13 double-doubles and scored 20 or more points ten times throughout the season. In the national tournament, her game reached new heights, averaging 19.1 points and 8.7 rebounds, earning the MVP of the tournament. While reflecting on her time at Northwest Florida, Walker said, “It gave me a fresh start… I was able to get that family feel and the support I felt I needed.”

With her growing success on the court, Walker has also built a strong presence off the court. According to On3.com, she currently holds a College Women’s Basketball NIL Rank of #68. Walker has amassed a following of 27,000 across social media, with the majority of her audience being her Instagram followers which is 87 percent of her total followers. Her Twitter account, @SakimaWalker, has also got 3,400 followers.

However, despite her rising popularity, Walker remains focused on her goals. “I stay ready when my name is called,” she said, emphasizing her dedication to contributing in any way possible to her team’s success.

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Looking Ahead

At South Carolina, Walker played under the leadership of Coach of the Year Dawn Staley. Although she had a more limited role, averaging two points in 7.8 minutes per game, her presence added to the gamecocks depth on a frontcourt that included stars like Kamilla Cardoso, the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year, and Chloe Kitts. In fact, her teammate Chloe Kitts had stated, “She’s been to a championship area… She has knowledge, and we get that knowledge from her,” emphasizing Walker’s leadership and experience.

Walker’s added experience only made the Coach of the Year more excited about adding Sakima to the lineup. According to USA Today.com, she stated, “Kima brings with her championship experience by leading her team to the national JUCO title in March,” the coach further stated. “She scores, rebounds, and defends the rim”.

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With her Coach and teammates having her back, Sakima is all set to take on this season determined. In fact, with a mix of on-court success and off-court marketability, Walker’s story is one of perseverance and triumph, making her a standout not just as South Carolina’s No. 35, but as a player with a bright future ahead.