NBA guard and former Reading star Lonnie Walker

Lonnie Walker IV has always remembered where he came from.  The former Reading High star returned to the city for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday.  The new Lonnie Walker Foundation basketball court was unveiled at Baer Park.  "This is something that I dreamed of since I came out of the womb. I used to come here every single day. Baer Park was my sanctuary," said Walker.  The 6'4 shooting guard grew up on Schuylkill Avenue, a few minutes away from the park.  Walker emphasized, "This is probably one of the most important things to me because this is where I'm from. This is what raised me. This is what made me, me."  He led Reading to its first state championship in 2017.  Walker had 22 points and eight rebounds in a thrilling 64-60 victory over Pine-Richland at the Giant Center.  The three-time all-state selection averaged 18 points, seven boards, and three steals as a senior.  He was named a McDonald's All-American.  After scoring 1,828 career points for the Red Knights, Walker spent one season at the University of Miami.  He was the 18th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Spurs.  The 24-year-old spent four years in San Antonio before joining the Lakers.  He averaged nearly 12 points this season and shot a career-high 45% from the field.  Walker made national headlines in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.  He erupted for 15 points in the fourth quarter of a 104-101 win against the Warriors.  Young basketball players lined up at Baer Park on a rainy afternoon to get Walker's autograph.  "I just want to continue to pass it on to the next [generation] to show every single kid that it's possible," he stated.  Walker was thrilled with how the red, black, and grey court turned out.  He passed along some advice for the kids who were in attendance.  "Continue to reach for the stars. Every single day is a new opportunity to be your best self," said Walker.