LEXINGTON, Ky. – Elite point guard Jada Walker, who averaged over 26 points and five steals per game last season as a junior at Henrico High School in Richmond, Virginia, has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Kentucky women's basketball program for the 2021-22 season, UK head coach Matthew Mitchell announced Wednesday.
"I cannot imagine a player that's a better fit for our program than Jada Walker," Mitchell said. "We are over the moon excited that she has decided to be a Kentucky Wildcat. The first time I saw her play, I immediately fell in love with how hard she plays and how aggressive she is on both ends of the floor. She loves to play up-tempo, which will make her a valuable asset to our program. Jada emulates all of the qualities that we look for in a point guard. She is confident, has a high basketball IQ and is a leader on the floor. Our staff cannot wait to get her on campus next year and officially begin her career at Kentucky."
Walker, a four-star guard by ESPN.com which ranks her the 18th best point guard and 87th overall player in the 2021 class, has received universal praise for her strong play. ESPN.com evaluated the 5-foot-7 guard at the Nike Nationals in 2019 as a "confident game manager that executes in half-court game; left-handed playmaker knocks down jumpers with range to the arc; elusive off the dribble, penetrates and finds a way to the rim, takes contact and finishes plays, gets to the stripe; brings consistency, toughness to the back court; clock manager, basketball IQ."
"I cannot imagine a player that's a better fit for our program than Jada Walker," Mitchell said. "We are over the moon excited that she has decided to be a Kentucky Wildcat. The first time I saw her play, I immediately fell in love with how hard she plays and how aggressive she is on both ends of the floor. She loves to play up-tempo, which will make her a valuable asset to our program. Jada emulates all of the qualities that we look for in a point guard. She is confident, has a high basketball IQ and is a leader on the floor. Our staff cannot wait to get her on campus next year and officially begin her career at Kentucky."
Walker, a four-star guard by ESPN.com which ranks her the 18th best point guard and 87th overall player in the 2021 class, has received universal praise for her strong play. ESPN.com evaluated the 5-foot-7 guard at the Nike Nationals in 2019 as a "confident game manager that executes in half-court game; left-handed playmaker knocks down jumpers with range to the arc; elusive off the dribble, penetrates and finds a way to the rim, takes contact and finishes plays, gets to the stripe; brings consistency, toughness to the back court; clock manager, basketball IQ."
