Although I live out of state now, I still do whatever I can to watch games or keep abreast of what's going on. It's a world-class university that continues to invest in improving the student experience. What did their workouts look like? What were they doing that I wasn't? That passion for the program made me not just want to play college basketball, but specifically, play for Marquette.Īs I look back, I'm proud to say that I'm a Marquette alum. I grew up watching guys like Anthony Pieper and Chris Crawford, and while I admired what they could do on the basketball court, I really wanted to know what they did to get to that level. My dad was a student there during their one and only national championship in 1977, and needless to say, if Marquette was playing on TV growing up, my family was tuned in. OnMilwaukee: What does Marquette mean to you today? Team basketball offers countless lessons in leadership, strategy and life that can be used each and every day, so I reached out to Willkom via e-mail and asked him a few questions about his Milwaukee and Marquette days, his book, leadership and more.Įnjoy this edition of Milwaukee Talks with John Willkom. So, when I read Willkom's book, 'Walk-On Warrior: Drive, Discipline and the Will to Win,' last month I was impressed by his drive and the detail of the lessons he learned.

Obviously, very few go on to play in the NBA and many don't get to play at all in college. Quick math and an analysis of NCAA datashows that less than 6,000 young men play at this level. Let's be real: There are only 351 schools that have Division I men's basketball programs. But after one season, he transferred to Marquette and ended up walking onto the team.Īs a life-long basketball fan and MU fan, I'm always interested in how players extend their love of the game into life – especially when so few make it big.

But his story is a good one, and his latest book provides a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to play Division I basketball.Ī 2003 graduate of Marshfield High School, Willkom landed a Division II scholarship at Minnesota-Crookston.

John Willkom may not be a household name for Marquette basketball fans, where he was on the team for one season in 2004-05.

Walk-On Warrior by John Willkom