Six months ago, Trevor Walker was a football player without a future in football.

He had been a tough, bruising fullback for Hunter High, opening holes for Wolverine backs to scoot through. But there were no Division I scholarship offers for Walker. There was, however, a mountain of uncertainty.

A year ago, Terrance Cardon was a baseball player without a team at Pleasant Grove High. In his words, politics played a role in him not being on the team. His athletic career seemed to be coming to an inglorious end, without so much as a final year to look back upon.

On Friday afternoon at the Salt Palace, the two are on a pace to someday play in the Olympics. Not in football. Not in baseball. But in handball, where they showed their skills off at the National Handball Tournament, in the first of what will be a three-day event.

Walker is currently captaining the U.S. 19-and-under national team, while Cardon is an integral part. When people speak of them, they speak of their potential, of their talent, and of how far the two can go in a sport that's one of the fastest growing in America.

"They are the future," said Jeff Utz, the President of the Salt Lake Handball Club. "They are two of our best young players. Both are great athletes, and both have picked up the sport in a short amount of time."

In a sport that's proven to be fast paced, prone to physical play and big hits, the two have fit right in. Walker said he was able to draw on his football experience, and that his introduction to handball has proven to be a fortunate twist in the direction of his life.

He's developed into a defensive stopper. He's explosive on offense and he's taken on a leadership role almost immediately. Still, him being thought of as a future professional player and possible olympian comes as a bit of a foreign thought.

"If you had asked me six months ago whether I thought I'd be doing this, the answer would've been no," Walker said. "But I love that this is a sport that I've picked up. It's physical and you have to be strong and tough to excel in it." That was evident on Friday. Although Salt Lake lost twice in pool play, Walker was all over the place defensively. Offensively, the part of his game that needs work, he more than contributed, scoring and setting up goals.

Cardon is a bit different than Walker. He's much taller, and he uses that length to score goals and to set teammates up.

"I've grown to love this game," Cardon said. "It lets you get out and use your athleticism, and it's just a fun sport to be involved in."

tjones@sltrib.com Twitter: @tonyaggieville —

A closer look

Name • Trevor Walker

• Captains the USA 19-and-under national team

• Played football at Hunter High

• Wants to play in the Olympics

Name • Terrance Cardon

• Went to Pleasant Grove High

• Has played the sport for less than a year

• Is on the U.S. 19-and-under team