Walk-On Warrior: Drive, Discipline, and the Will to Win

by John Willkom

A basketball journey like no other. The incredible first-hand account of a college season at Marquette, a summer with Hall of Fame coach, Rick Majerus, and a court-side seat with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.Small town. Undersized. Not enough talent. John Willkom heard it all as a young basketball player growing up in rural Wisconsin. Despite the odds, John dedicated his life to the game, an arduous journey that challenged the very core of even the most disciplined. As John's hard work lands him amongst basketball's elite, it is the workouts, the people, and the behind-the-scenes interactions that not only change his skill set but how he lives his life. Both heartfelt and funny, Walk-On Warrior takes you into the mind of an athlete from John's perspective. Take a journey that will reignite your passion for life, challenge your perspectives on toughness and fear, and ultimately, inspire you to maximize your talent.*A must read for sports fans and youth that aspire to play college basketball.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Basketball, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2018

About the author

John Willkom is a former Division 1 basketball player at Marquette University, who later earned his MBA from Loyola University Chicago. The co-founder of Playmakers Basketball, John implemented collegiate-level workouts into a basketball camp circuit and AAU program aimed to provide better opportunities to kids in the Midwest. Prior to his current role as an ecommerce executive, John worked with high school and collegiate athletic programs on the importance of proper nutrition and the development of fueling stations to enhance athletic performance. Widely recognized for his basketball passion, you can still find John coaching youth teams and playing pick-up games at a local gym. John, his wife, Allison, and their daughter, Avery, currently reside in Portland, OR, where John serves on the board of Portland State University’s Center for Retail Leadership.

Reviews

[Mark Lieberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to be honest and tell you that I had no clue who John Willkom was. Just within the past few weeks, I started to follow somebody else on Twitter as he reviews sports books (@SprtBookReviews), and in one of his Tweets, John Willkom (@JohnWillkom) was mentioned as he also reviews sports books. So, I started to follow John and learned that he has published two books; with this one being one and No Fear In The Arena about former NBA player, Travis Diener.

On a personal note, I enjoy reading basketball books over any other sport.

Do you want to know all the hard work it takes to walk-on to the basketball team at Marquette University? John will tell you all about the conditioning, the drills, and the practices, in addition to a lot of grit and determination and a no quitting work ethic. Even though he made the team, he ended up stepping away to pursue business and coaching opportunities, which he did very successfully.

I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading his other book shortly.

[Tom Anstett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific book for aspiring players, especially for fringe players or more who dream - or think - of playing college basketball. John William lived through the challenges of trying to walk-on, and if accepted, the immense challenges of staying on the team. Walk-ons must love the game or find something else to do - it's that simple. Willkom even accomplished making the team at a Division-I basketball power (Marquette University); eventually he walked away after having enough of the competition. Willkom captures the physical and emotional agonies of earning a spot on the team. All hoopsters and coaches would benefit from reading this book.

[Chris Ruggeri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't really hold together as a book, but made me think a lot about my relationships with basketball and hard work. A lot of the things Willkom aspired to are things I have aspired to at different points in my life--playing college basketball, getting a job in sports marketing, writing a book--so on paper, this book should've been a great fit. Instead, it just led me question these priorities, where they ultimately led, and what I would do over again if I had the chance.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. While I don't play basketball or know how to play the game or the rules, this was so much more than basketball. I admired John's work ethic and his passion for basketball and teaching others. It is a fun quick read for anyone who enjoys sports and someone's passion for life and hard work.

[danward82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This book immediately grabbed my attention and held it throughout. As a basketball loving kid who grew up in a small Midwestern town, I could relate to so much of it. For anyone who is into sports, or just a positive message, this book won't let you down!

[Quinn Banyai · Rating 4 out of 5]

If from Wisconsin and you like basketball, it will keep your interest. Kinda a Rudy story,however, he never played.

[Sarah Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid book

A quick read with a great story. I would definitely recommend to any basketball fans or anyone looking for a story on perseverance

[Charlie Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walk On Warrior by John Willkom is an inspiring book that taught many lessons about how hard work can lead to success in life. Walk On Warrior is a biography about the author John Willkom. Willkom retells his life and love for the game of basketball. Willkom grew up in Marshfield, Wisconsin where he always active doing some sport. Throughout the book Willkom, being 5’9 and 160, would explain all the challenges he faced playing such a tall sport. He would go through all of his workouts that he would do. This work would take him to the next level of basketball as he received the opportunity to walk-on at the University of Marquette. The fascinating thing about this book is Willkom would be able to make connections all throughout his life. For example Willkom would be able to track down some kid he raced against in track (when he was 8 years old) to the NFL, and another example is he would walk into a bar with a friend and leave that night becoming friends with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Willkom has portrayed an uplifting novel that will inspire the reader to want to do more with their life.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Chase your dreams, believe in yourself, and enjoy the journey.”

“As simple as this sounds, having people around you that are better than you is the best way to improve.”

“That was my experience at Marquette in a nutshell: every day was a battle to be won or lost, and most of the time I would lose to bigger, stronger, and faster athletes. Yet, it was that constant quest to maximize my ability that kept me going.”

As a huge basketball fan, I love reading books like these. It brings me back to my middle and high school days of playing basketball, knowing I would never be good enough for the next level but always enjoying the competition and camaraderie. What makes this book special is all the small details that John Willkom focuses on that lets you get a glimpse into the daily life of a college basketball player. It didn’t matter that he was a walk on at Marquette; he was still an integral part of the team. While the book never has any of those wow moments a la Rudy, it still does a great job getting across the message of discipline, work ethic, and devotion to a dream. My only complaints in the book are that Willkom often seems to toot his own horn about how much harder he worked than everyone (he did that by showing, didn’t need to also constantly tell us) and he name dropped a lot (which was often cool when you knew who it was while other times I was like, who?). I also liked the various faith aspects in the book. All in all, though, a great book for people who are striving to accomplish beyond their talents.