University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Sign Walker to National Letter of Intent
4/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Minnesota men's basketball program today announced the signing of Maurice Walker (Scarborough, Ontario) to a National Letter of Intent. Walker will be eligible to compete during the 2010-11 season, joining fall signees Elliott Eliason (Chadron, Neb.) and Austin Hollins (Memphis, Tenn.).
"We have been involved with Maurice for a couple of years now. He has really developed into an outstanding player which is evident by the success that his team has had at Brewster Academy under head coach Jason Smith," said Gopher Head Coach Tubby Smith. "Maurice is an outstanding player with a high basketball IQ and is a very skilled player. On top of that he is a great student and a fine young man. We are very excited to have him join the Golden Gopher basketball family."
Walker, a 6-10 senior center from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, averaged 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior in leading the Bobcats to a 35-5 record and both the Class A New England Prep School Athletic Council and National Prep School Invitational Championships. In doing so, Walker was named to the NEPSAC Honorable Mention Team.
Ranked as the 12th-best center in the class of 2010 by Rivals, Walker landed at Brewster Academy after attending Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough, Ontario. On the court he finished the season with averages of 20 points, 14 rebounds and four assists and was named 2009 Ontario Mr. Basketball.
Walker, a Canadian native, has been a three-time member of the Canadian Junior National Team and a two-time member of the Canadian Nike Global Team. He gained notoriety by leading Team Canada with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the semi-finals of the 2009 Nike Global Challenge against Senegal.
The Gophers wrapped up the 2009-10 with a loss to Xavier on Mar. 19 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This was the second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the Gophers and the 16th overall appearance for a Tubby Smith-led team.
The Gophers finished 21-14 on the season, the 17th-straight season a Tubby Smith-led team reached the 20-win plateau. It is the longest active streak in the nation and the third-longest streak in NCAA history. Minnesota reached 20 total wins for just the 10th time in school history.
