Florida State University Athletics
Basketball Dreams Come True At ACC Tip Off
10/10/2025 5:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – As he joyously took in his surroundings in the lobby of the Uptown Marriott on Wednesday, hotel guests might have thought one certain visitor was warming up to play in his first ACC basketball game. With the colors and logos of each of the 18 ACC teams filling the lavish foyer that welcomed the ACC Tip Off to the Queen City, he very well could have been in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Dean E. Smith Center, or the Donald L. Tucker Center on Florida State's campus in Tallahassee.
It didn't really matter where Walter was, because he was among his ACC heroes.
Walter was a guest of Commissioner Jim Phillips and the Dream On 3 Foundation at the league's annual media event. The three-day gathering brings together the top players and the elite coaches from each conference school to tell their best stories to the attending national and local media.
But on this day Walter, a player on Charlotte's wheelchair basketball teams – the Rollin' Hornets – was there to celebrate with his fellow athletes.
Walter was born with Distal Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare neuromuscular condition that affects his muscles, spine, legs, and feet, along with a vocal cord and heart condition and a digestive condition called EoE.
And on this day, none of the medical conditions mattered.
"Today was awesome," said Walter. "I got to meet the commissioner. I met all the coaches and I took pictures with all the players. And then I got a basketball signed by everybody."
One of Walter's first stops was the print media room where he conducted interviews just as his heroes were doing throughout the event.
"I got to go to the media room where they interviewed me," said Walter. "There is a little couch, and in one corner, it looks like a little family room. There are two chairs with microphones, and the outside of that corner is video stuff. We talked about wheelchair basketball."
Following his personal interview session, Walter spent a few minutes with Florida State's Kobe MaGee and Chauncey Wiggins, the Seminoles' representatives at the event.
"Meeting Walter was the highlight of the day for me," said MaGee. "Hearing his story gave me so much hope and made me feel blessed. Walter's ability to stay positive each and every day is an inspiration. His desire to lift people up, as he did today, shows that there is greatness in the world."
Wiggins echoed MaGee's sentiments.
"I have to admit that I was pretty emotional when I first met Walter," said Wiggins. "I was very happy to meet him. Meeting him put a smile on my face that I was able to keep with me for the entire day."
When asked who his favorite ACC team was Walter quickly and resoundingly responded: "Florida State"
"I like all the teams because I bet they all play really good basketball."
One of the more meaningful introductions of the day came when Walter and his family met Seminole head coach Luke Loucks.
It was Loucks who was certainly moved by his meeting with Walter.
"It was great meeting Walter today," said Lucks. " A lot of times it's to brighten Walters' day, but honestly that brightened our day. It puts things in perspective; we think we have challenges and issues and in reality our life is pretty good. It was a pleasure and an honor to meet Walter and it brightened our day."
Walter's affinity for Florida State runs deep within his family's roots.
"I grew up in Florida," said Walter's mom, Isabella. "Several family members attended Florida State. One even coached for the FSU football team."
The ACC works with Dream on 3 to bring kids and young adults with life-altering conditions to large-scale events, such as ACC Tip Off and ACC championship games, and offer Dreamers a personalized behind-the-scenes experience, allowing them to meet the conference's student-athletes and coaches.
"Dream On 3 is an inspiration, and it is a privilege to have them be a part of our ACC events and championships," said Phillips. "The Dreamers and their families are truly incredible, and there is nothing better than having our student-athletes, coaches, staff and attendees create unforgettable moments together."
It didn't really matter where Walter was, because he was among his ACC heroes.
Walter was a guest of Commissioner Jim Phillips and the Dream On 3 Foundation at the league's annual media event. The three-day gathering brings together the top players and the elite coaches from each conference school to tell their best stories to the attending national and local media.
But on this day Walter, a player on Charlotte's wheelchair basketball teams – the Rollin' Hornets – was there to celebrate with his fellow athletes.
Walter was born with Distal Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare neuromuscular condition that affects his muscles, spine, legs, and feet, along with a vocal cord and heart condition and a digestive condition called EoE.
And on this day, none of the medical conditions mattered.
"Today was awesome," said Walter. "I got to meet the commissioner. I met all the coaches and I took pictures with all the players. And then I got a basketball signed by everybody."
One of Walter's first stops was the print media room where he conducted interviews just as his heroes were doing throughout the event.
"I got to go to the media room where they interviewed me," said Walter. "There is a little couch, and in one corner, it looks like a little family room. There are two chairs with microphones, and the outside of that corner is video stuff. We talked about wheelchair basketball."
Following his personal interview session, Walter spent a few minutes with Florida State's Kobe MaGee and Chauncey Wiggins, the Seminoles' representatives at the event.
"Meeting Walter was the highlight of the day for me," said MaGee. "Hearing his story gave me so much hope and made me feel blessed. Walter's ability to stay positive each and every day is an inspiration. His desire to lift people up, as he did today, shows that there is greatness in the world."
Wiggins echoed MaGee's sentiments.
"I have to admit that I was pretty emotional when I first met Walter," said Wiggins. "I was very happy to meet him. Meeting him put a smile on my face that I was able to keep with me for the entire day."
When asked who his favorite ACC team was Walter quickly and resoundingly responded: "Florida State"
"I like all the teams because I bet they all play really good basketball."
One of the more meaningful introductions of the day came when Walter and his family met Seminole head coach Luke Loucks.
It was Loucks who was certainly moved by his meeting with Walter.
"It was great meeting Walter today," said Lucks. " A lot of times it's to brighten Walters' day, but honestly that brightened our day. It puts things in perspective; we think we have challenges and issues and in reality our life is pretty good. It was a pleasure and an honor to meet Walter and it brightened our day."
Walter's affinity for Florida State runs deep within his family's roots.
"I grew up in Florida," said Walter's mom, Isabella. "Several family members attended Florida State. One even coached for the FSU football team."
The ACC works with Dream on 3 to bring kids and young adults with life-altering conditions to large-scale events, such as ACC Tip Off and ACC championship games, and offer Dreamers a personalized behind-the-scenes experience, allowing them to meet the conference's student-athletes and coaches.
"Dream On 3 is an inspiration, and it is a privilege to have them be a part of our ACC events and championships," said Phillips. "The Dreamers and their families are truly incredible, and there is nothing better than having our student-athletes, coaches, staff and attendees create unforgettable moments together."
Players Mentioned
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