In his senior year at Helix High School, Walton averaged 29 points and 25 rebounds in leading the team to a 33-0 season and its second straight championship. Almost every major college was offering him a scholarship.
Walton greatly respected Wooden and chose UCLA. Under the wizard's guidance,
Walton won three Player of the Year awards at UCLA.
Walton became the consummate center - rebounding, passing, blocking shots and scoring. Not only was he a three-time first-team All-American, he also was the Division I Player of the Year each season (1972-74).
UCLA went 30-0 in both of Walton's first two seasons. He scored 24 points and grabbed 20 rebounds as the Bruins defeated Florida State 81-76 in the 1972 NCAA championship game.
A year later, Walton put on perhaps the greatest display in an NCAA tournament game as he made 21-of-22 field-goal attempts in scoring a finals record 44 points in an 87-66 rout of Memphis State.
UCLA's winning streak reached 88 before it was snapped at Notre Dame 71-70 on Jan. 19, 1974. Counting back to high school, Walton's teams had won 129 consecutive games.
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