For one, they are both associated with Jersey City; Walker, being a former all-time great at St. Anthony High School and Seton Hall; the other, Clark, being the current standout at St. Peter's College, who led the entire NCAA Division I college basketball in scoring a year ago.
But there's another association between the two.
You see, Clark currently wears No. 3 for the Peacocks, a number that was once worn by Walker's older brother, Jasper, who was a fine point guard at Harvard on the Boulevard, much like Clark is now.
"When Seton Hall played St. Peter's (in December at the Continental Airlines Arena), I told him that he shouldn't have that number," Walker said. "I told him that the number should have been retired for my brother."
However, if No. 3 ever hangs from Yanitelli Center now, it will be there for Clark, who is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the school - and he's only a junior.
But the two were put together again last Sunday, when the New Jersey Sportswriters' Association held its 69th annual Awards Luncheon at the Pines Manor in Edison. Clark was honored as the New Jersey College Basketball Player of the Year, while Walker was inducted in the association's Hall of Fame.
"I'm only 32," said Walker, who was a fine forward at Seton Hall and played professional basketball for six years in Europe. "But it was an absolute pleasure to be there with all those honorees who were all much older. I looked around, saw the plaque and said, 'I'm in the Hall of Fame.' It was a good feeling to be there in front of a lot of people. I'm proud to say that I'm from Jersey City."
It hasn't been the easiest of seasons for Clark, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring for a second straight year, holding a two-point per game lead over Taylor Coppenwrath of Vermont. Clark suffered through a slight shooting slump earlier in the season and the Peacocks have battled their way to a 9-10 year.
"I think in the beginning of the season, I was trying to force the issue too much," Clark said. "I wasn't letting the game come to me. I wasn't in rhythm. I was rushing everything and taking shots I shouldn't take. But I think recently, I've been getting into the groove early in the game and I'm back to what I did last year."
Clark is hot in pursuit of becoming the first player to repeat as national scoring champion since the immortal "Pistol" Pete Maravich of LSU in the late 1960s.
"It's not going to be easy," Clark said. "Once you're a marked man with a name, people want to make a name off you every night. People questioned me and asked if I'm the same player as I was last year. I think I am the same player with a little more. I play more defense now. I'm getting steals and rebounds. That was something I wasn't doing before."
Clark still thinks the Peacocks can rebound in time to make a run in the MAAC Tournament.
"If we play defense for 40 minutes, we can play with anyone in the league," Clark said. "At times, we've proven we can be a top contender."
As for winning another scoring title?
"It's tough," Clark said. "There's a lot of pressure. Every night, people have high expectations of you. It doesn't mean anything if we don't win."
And these two Jersey City basketball legends are certainly winners...
The 15th Annual Hudson County Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner will take place on Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Casino in the Park in Jersey City. Once again, the list of inductees is a special group, with a litany of excellent coaches and athletes.
Heading the list is former Jersey City State and Montclair State head coach Ollie Gelston, along with former St. Joseph of the Palisades and Notre Dame football standout and Hudson County Freeholder Tom Liggio, County Prep baseball coach Mike Zadroga, Marist girls' basketball coach Bill DeFazio, Secaucus track coach and athletic director Stan Fryczynski, former Union Hill basketball standout and current North Hudson Regional fire captain Eric Inauen.
Also, former Lincoln track standout Larry Ross, Hoboken football great Bob Lisa, former Weehawken three-sport great Pete Wisniewski, Bayonne High School swim coach Tom Wojslawowicz, former Queen of Peace football coach Ralph Borgess, Kearny track coach Jim Cifelli, Kearny runner Laura Wronski and the late Frank Cumiskey, who was perhaps the greatest gymnast to ever come out of New Jersey.
Long-time Lincoln Park Little League President Jerry Meyers has been selected as the Marty Seglio Memorial Community Service Award recipient.
Tickets are priced at $65 and can be purchased by calling the Hudson County Parks Department at (201) 915-1386. It should be a great night of nostalgia and memories. Make plans to attend....
Last week, we reported that new Bayonne head football coach Frank Blunda was going to have to step down because of family commitments. Apparently, that was not the case. Blunda will remain as the new head coach of the Bees. We regret any inconvenience that the report might have caused... -- Jim Hague
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