Wilkes was the incoming student body president and an All-CIF basketball star at Ventura High School in 1969 when his father became pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Santa Barbara, and the family moved there prior to his senior year.
Wilkes adalah presiden mahasiswa yang baru masuk dan bintang basket All-CIF di Ventura High School pada tahun 1969 ketika ayahnya menjadi pendeta Gereja Baptis Kedua di Santa Barbara, dan keluarganya pindah ke sana sebelum tahun seniornya.