Walker Signs with Chippewas

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University men's basketball coach Jay Smith announced the signing of Drew Walker (Port Clinton, Ohio) to a national letter-of-intent.

Drew Walker, a 7-1, 262-pound center, will join the Chippewas next season.

"We had a chance to see Drew compete against other Division I-bound players at our big man's camp this past summer," Smith said. "We are very excited about his upside.

"Drew has nice hands and a good shooting touch and he will give us a post presence on both ends of the floor. He knows he needs to work on developing his body in the weight room."

Walker averaged 8.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game last season at Port Clinton High School. His top game was a 20-point, 14-rebound, 7-block performance against Edison High. The center shot 60 percent from the floor and 71 percent from the line. A three-year starter on varsity, the seven-footer enters his final season with 145 career blocked shots.

Walker was named honorable mention all-district and all-league each of the past two seasons. Under head coach Greg Hedden, Port Clinton won the Sandusky Bay Conference the past two seasons.

"We feel Drew has the skills and natural ability to be a great college player," Smith said. "With the graduation of senior post players Gerrit Brigitha and Adam Dentlinger, we will have a definite need in the paint. Drew is someone who could step in right away and make some solid contributions for us. We are excited about having him join our basketball family."

CMU has sent four former centers to the NBA since 1975, including Chris Kaman, the No. 6 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. The other centers include Dan Roundfield, Ben Poquette and Nate Huffman.

Smith also has experience as an assistant coach at Michigan working with several post players who went on to the NBA, including Juwan Howard and Chris Webber.