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Wayne Drehs

  (3:03 PM)

Hey everybody ... Wayne Drehs here. We'll be getting going with Chikosi in just a second.

Mario (Toledo, OH)

I too have a son (7) who is very good at basketball for his age. Its obvious Marquise is skilled but it seems the focus has been on the marketing as opposed to skills. Does he just play with kinds his age or is he in tougher leagues?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:05 PM)

The marketing is about 20 percent of it and the skill work is about 80 percent of it. We spend a lot of time working hard. Before the marketing plan, we were in the gym working hard playing basketball. Furthermore, he's played up since he's started playing basketball, usually two to three years ahead and he's still doing that right now.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Who is his fav. nba player and team?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:06 PM)

He really likes LeBron James and the Cavs. I think he likes LeBron because LeBron is not only a great player but he shares the ball with his teammates. As good as he is, he always gives the ball up. I told Marquise will people like him if he shares the ball as well.

Ken(Princeton, NJ)

I think it is great that a father is involved in his son's future or dream, whatever it may be. But i'm not a fan of producing this video and let the world of pressure on this kid's shoulder. My question is, what does he tell his son about education?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:08 PM)

The first thing I tell him is, "Do you remember when I was taking you to college classes with me when you were a baby." I show him my college degree and my wife shows him her college degree. We come from a family that's education so he knows that school is a priority. If he misses his homework assignments, I deem him unable to play. I'm like the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Adam: Pasadena, CA

How many hours does Marquise practice out of the day and do you think he might possibly get tired of the game by a certain age with so much media around him?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:09 PM)

He usually practices probably 1 1/2 to 2 hours three or four days a week. Two of those other three days he probably has a game. I worry since he started that he may burn out, but I really think he loves the game. All we can do is take it one day at a time and enjoy the ride for what it is today. We'll always have the memories to look back on that he and I did this together, no matter what happens.

Darrell, Riverside California

How do you, as the parent and moral/ethical guide in the relationship, decide where your dreams for your son end, and your son's dreams for himself begin? That is, how can you reconcile your own vision for your son's future with him wanting to support his father's happiness?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:11 PM)

That's a good question ... I feel like what Marquise does is a combination of both of us. I had a good feeling he was going to play basketball, but I didn't know if he could take to it and how I might train him. This is all new to us. I'm able to let it go. If he lets it go, I can let it go. If he wants to keep riding it, I'm going to keep riding it. It's not going to change us or anything in this household whether he continues to play or not.

David Fairborn, OH

Does Marquise have time to just go and play backyard games with his friends? I remember enjoying tag and playing ditch when I was his age.

Chikosi Walker

  (3:12 PM)

Absolutely ... Marquise is going to Wisconsin Dells Friday for the whole weekend. He won't touch a basketball. So yeah, he's just like any other kid with a little bit of basketball talent.

Darrell (Round Rock, Tx)

Is seems there has been alot of attention placed on basketball and your sons marketing...but what if its all for not? Do you discuss other options with your son besides basketball?Doctor, lawyer, business owner and community provider...

Chikosi Walker

  (3:13 PM)

It will never be all for naught because what he's been able to do so far he can tell to his children. Make it or not, he can say I was on this TV show or newspaper or ESPN. He's making history in his family. I talk to Marquise like every other father about responsibility, being accountable for your actions, how tough the real world is. He always wants to go with me when I do accounting work because he says he wants to make money like the money I make doing people's taxes.

Andy (Gainesville, FL)

Chikosi,How were you able to arrange meetings with NBA and college basketball stars?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:15 PM)

Being in the right place at the right team. We have a summer pro league in Chicago. You can see a lot of the Chicago guys who made it to the NBA and they are pretty accessible in those settings. Being friends with Jamaal Tinsley, I was able to get passes to games and the tunnel. They are never going to say no to Marquise. So I don't approach them, I have Marquise approach them. They just think he wants an ice cream cone or a dollar. They aren't intimidated by kids, they're intimidated by adults.

Daniel (Seoul, Korea)

I understand this dream that Marquise has, but he is obviously influenced by his dad right. But is going to college his primary focus? Using basketball to go to college is a great idea, but it does not seem to be his focus. Shouldn't he also be focusing on school and his studies as well. It seems weird to say this to a kindergartener, but at the same time it seems he is spending a lot of time in the gym as well. Also, this is a great deal of pressure on a kid who, if fails, could be devastated and lead to depression or many other negative outcomes. Don't you think that this is too much pressure on this kid who loves to just play the game?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:18 PM)

I don't think it's too much pressure at this point because I make him immune to that pressure. I take the heat, I answer the questions, he just gets out there and plays basketball. The focus for me is to get a free education. When kids look at TV, they see the NBA, that's why they say they want to go to the NBA. They don't relate to the college players as much as the NBA players who are on TV selling shoes and soft drinks. It's normal to say they want to go to the NBA. They know that's the pinnacle. But I just want him to get a free education.

Fahed (Sterling Heights, MI

I think it is a great idea what you are doing. How far will you take it to make sure your son get into college?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:19 PM)

That's a good question. I think the best thing to say is the foundation is put down where he is out there and differentiated himself from the pack. The main thing he has to do is maintain. They'll always be saying that's Marquise. That's going to get the scouts in the gym right there. The groundwork is laid. I don't have to do much more than groom him and make sure the attention doesn't go to his head.

John (Dallas)

I wish my parents had done the same thing you are doing for your son. Do people ever accuse you of you doing this for selfish purposes though?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:20 PM)

People have been accusing me of doing it for selfish purposes when he was two years old. My own family told me I was crazy. But when people don't understand what you're doing, they say something's wrong. They fear what they don't understand. You have to have a happiness with what you're doing in your own life to block all that out.

coach vic from henderson, nevada

i think this is an incredible story and wish marquise all the luck in the world! i commend his father for wanting nothing but the best for his son and giving his son a chance for a better future. there will always be criticism along the way but see it as a compliment for you Chikosi for making an effort. keep marquise focused and grounded. god bless.

Chikosi Walker

  (3:22 PM)

I appreciate the support and the compliment. It's very encouraging and it keeps me humbled to see so much of the positive feedback on here.

Fahed (Sterling Heights)

Does he play any street basketball or is it all organized Ball.

Chikosi Walker

  (3:24 PM)

He plays all organized. I have a real disdain for street basketball. I don't think it teaches kids to play on a team, it teaches them to be selfish and one-dimensional and teaches a lot of clown stuff you don't see in an organized game. The mentality is me first and team second and I don't want that for Marquise. In his highlight reels, there are as many passes as shots. He's not some ball hog so I don't let him play the street ball.

Marc (Chesapeake, VA)

I think what you are doing to help your son succeed is great Mr. Walker. What is the hardest thing you think Marquise is going to have to learn if he really wants to have a successful high school, college, and NBA career?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:25 PM)

I think the hardest thing he's going to have to learn would be staying focused and staying humble and staying on task. Not letting the distractions get to him. With or without hype, the distractions will be there. The streets, the girls, the peer pressure and the natural rebellion of a teenager. But if he can stay focused, I don't have a doubt in my mind that he will get a free ride to college.

Darrell (Ausitn, Texas)

Are there times during your workouts that you have a quarrel? Do you worry about fall outs affecting your father-son relationship

Chikosi Walker

  (3:27 PM)

There are times where he might not agree with what I'm telling him. He might not like what we're working on. The particular skill might not be fun. But at the end of the day, I will never tell you nothing wrong. Everything I'm doing is to help him. And I always tell him there's a separation. In the gym, I'm his coach. Outside the gym, I'm his father. It's the coach that gets mad because he sees something in you that he wants to bring out in you. But it's not the Dad getting mad.

David Fairborn, OH

Do you think you'll know when to "let go"? I mean, I guess I'm asking if you know when you'll be able to say "You're a man now, I have faith that you can take it from here"?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:28 PM)

I don't think a parent ever feels like they want to let go. They're always holding on in some kind of way. I'd like to say I'd no when to let go, but I don't. I'm always going to be Dad. I'm always going to want to protect him and help him get through life.

Tyler (Michigan)

I have son, age six, who is very talented at golf and often wonder how i should proceed with him. How did you decide to do this marketing campaign? Do you worry about the effect it will have on him? Do you expose him to other sports or just let him decide what to do?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:32 PM)

The marketing thing I guess I decided it when he started playing. I asked how do you tip the scales? The first way is to work hard and the second way was to differentiate yourself by marketing with the NBA guys on YouTube. Nobody had done that before so I knew it would create a buzz. And yeah, at the end of the day, I think it's going to have a positive affect. I hope he thinks someday that his Dad busted his behind to help him go to school for free, but of course I do worry a little bit that he'll burn out. Lastly, he's going to play football next year. He plays a little baseball now. So he's trying other sports as well.

Tomer

Chikosi-While it seems honorable that you're "making your sons dreams come true," I can't seem to overlook the fact that he's just your meal ticket, someone that will make you a lot of money. You're marketing him all over the internet like he's a piece of china. I think people who idolize this are misguided. Can you defend yourself?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:33 PM)

Absolutely ... I don't think there's anything wrong if you're proud of your son. He's not my meal ticket because I already pay all the bills. I'm gainfully employed. We're homeowners, we're college educated. We drive nice cars. How can he be my meal ticket when I'm already living comfortably?

Darrell (Round Rock, Tx)

As a father/coach myself I find it hard to sometimes when my sons are approached by other coaches. When will you find yourself able to let your son experience another coaches techniques and knowledge base?

Chikosi Walker

  (3:35 PM)

He doesn't play under me right now. I'm not coaching him at all this season. In fact, I welcome the opportunity for him to play under other coaches. My basketball knowledge is limited. Everyone has something to bring to the table that is new and refreshing and a positive, new voice is a great thing to have. I'm always open to new coaches and new people in the right situation. Always.

Chikosi Walker

  (3:35 PM)

I want to thank everyone for the comments, the opinions, the dialogue and enlightening me on their views. I appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions.

Wayne Drehs

  (3:36 PM)

OK, everybody. Thanks for joining us here today. Hope you enjoyed the story. Please send it to your friends and make sure to share your opinions on the conversation page.