Husker Basketball Team Signs Sixth Recruit

Lincoln -- The Nebraska men’s basketball team added another talented newcomer for the 2005-06 campaign when B.J. Walker signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Nebraska and play basketball for the Huskers next season.

 

A standout sophomore at Garden City (Kan.) Community College, Walker is the sixth scholarship signee for the Huskers' 2005 recruiting class that was already ranked in the top 30 in the nation by at least two recruiting services. Walker has two years of eligibility remaining to play with the Huskers.

 

“We are very excited to have B.J. join the Husker family,” Coach Barry Collier said. “B.J. fills a need for us in a key area, as he has shown the ability to be a force on both ends of the court. As a power forward, B.J. has the skills to play inside and out.  Like all of our players, he needs to continue to develop, and we are looking forward to helping him reach his potential academically as well as athletically.”

 

A 6-9, 245-pounder, Walker was an All-Jayhawk Conference first-team selection and earned NJCAA District VI first-team accolades in 2004-05. The Cincinnati, Ohio native averaged 16.2 points and tied for the team lead with 8.7 rebounds per game for the Broncbusters. Garden City ended the year with a 23-10 record and won its first-ever Jayhawk Conference West Division title. Walker helped GCCC to a 13-1 home record, including a perfect 8-0 mark in league play. The Broncbusters allowed opponents to hit just 40.6 percent from the floor while scoring only 53.9 points per game.

 

Garden City CC reached the semifinals of the regional championship tournament, where the Broncbusters fell by one point in overtime despite Walker's 21-point, 11-rebound effort. Walker hit 9-of-18 attempts from the field in the semifinal matchup, and finished the season second on the squad in field-goal percentage by hitting 50.8 percent (218-of-429). Walker, who also ranked second on the team with 15 blocked shots, was seventh in the Jayhawk Conference Western Division in scoring and was first in total rebounds and defensive rebounds.

 

Walker

finished his sophomore season with 13 double-doubles while adding 10 games with at least 20 points. He had a season-high 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting against Dodge CityCommunity College, while also pulling down a season-best 17 boards.

 

Walker

redshirted the 2003-04 campaign at Garden City CC after spending his freshman season at the University of Buffalo. Walker averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Bulls in 2002-03, including a season-high 22 points at Marshall. He added 21-point games against KentState and Eastern Michigan, while also pulling down a season-best 10 rebounds in each contest. Walker, who was the first Bulls' freshman to record a double-double in seven years, played in all 28 games for the Bulls, including 13 starts.

 

Before starting his collegiate career, Walker prepped at MountHealthyHigh School in Cincinnati where he averaged a double-double in each of his final two seasons. Walker was an All-Ohio District honorable mention selection and was selected to play in the Cincinnati-Cleveland All-Star Game following his senior season, when he recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds per contest.

 

Walker

chose to join the Huskers after receiving scholarship offers from OhioState, Auburn, Miami, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. He joins a Husker recruiting class that includes five highly touted players who signed in the fall 2004 early signing period: Chris Balham, Will Harris, Jamel White, Kyle Marks and Marcus Walker.