It takes two

As far as renowned duos go, the list is endless. In music circles, there’s Sonny and Cher. Abbott and Costello take the cake comedically.
Middle Village has their own favorite pair - Ryan and Erv.
That is Ryan Pearson and Erving Walker, Christ the King’s Division I-bound seniors. No two players, Bob Oliva, the coach at CK the last 30 years, can remember as such a powerful inside-out 1-2 punch.
Only the Omar Cook-Zach Williams duo, circa 2000, that went on to attend St. John’s and Ohio State, respectively, could compare.
Walker, the guard headed for Florida, is the floor general, controlling the game’s tempo and swinging momentum into his team’s favor with his 3-point rainbows. Pearson, meanwhile, patrols the paint. A 6-foot-6 forward with long arms that seemingly add inches to his already tall frame, the George Mason recruit added a 3-point shot and silky baby jumper to his already varied arsenal.
Together, they lifted the Royals into the CHSAA Class AA semifinals, combining for 60 points in an 81-70 win over St. Raymond. They are averaging 39 points per game.
Their partnership began as freshmen, when the two led the Royals’ ninth-grade team to a city crown. The next year, Walker was the only sophomore on a stacked varsity until Pearson received a late call-up. Their bond grew as the two underclassmen found their niche in a sea of seniors.
“We wanted to team up and kill them in practice,” Walker said.
The next winter, they blossomed, playing supporting roles in CK’s run to an unlikely city championship, their first since 1995.
When this season started, some questioned the Royals’ depth - a valid query - and whether Pearson and Walker could handle such a load. Neither had been the go-to guy.
Walker was moving back to point guard, his natural position, after Malik Boothe graduated. And Pearson was the only experienced big man returning.
“We knew we were going to be the keys,” Pearson said. “We knew we would have to have a connection to have a successful season.”
The two answered the bell loudly in the Royals’ league opener, scoring 64 against St. Ray’s, 40 by Pearson.
The Far Rockaway native went on to enjoy a blazing-hot start. High-level Division I coaches were calling Oliva, making sure he had signed with George Mason. At one game, Rutgers Coach Fred Hill congratulated Pearson on his season and told him he wished his recruitment were still open.
Eventually, when Pearson cooled off somewhat, Walker took the throttle. He wasn’t struggling but his running mate was producing at such a high level, he was forgotten.
The Brooklyn native put together a memorable performance at the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions, a holiday tournament in January. Leading the Royals to the championship, he earned MVP honors, including his 33-point performance in the semifinal win over Kickapoo (Springfield, Missouri) that included seven 3-pointers, his specialty, to erase a 12-point deficit.
“Erving put on one of the greatest shows anyone has ever seen in high school basketball,” Oliva said at the time.
Their relationship is a contrast in personalities. The vocal and emotional Pearson and the quiet Walker, a silent assassin. They have rubbed off on each other. Walker tends to talk more because of Pearson and Pearson has toned down his act, too, a nod to Walker.
“That’s great balance,” Walker said. “It’s like a husband and wife, one that’s spending all the money and one that’s too cheap.” Walker said he would be the one to save the dough. With a basketball in their hands, Pearson said, they are extremely similar.
“We have the same aggression on the court,” he said.