Jada Walker remains loyal to Kentucky in midst of wild offseason
Jada Walker is a warrior.
The 5-foot-7 guard will be one of five players returning to Kentucky for the upcoming season. Moreover, Walker will be Kentucky’s leading-returning-scorer next year. In her freshman campaign, Walker averaged 10.4 points in 27.6 minutes per game.
Walker is more than a few impressive figures. Walker is a true Wildcat. As over 1,000 players entered the transfer portal this offseason, Walker remained loyal to Kentucky. Walker watched her teammates walk out the door, including Dre’una Edwards, Jazmine Massengill, Treasure Hunt and Olivia Owens. Rhyne Howard was drafted with the WNBA’s top pick. Alas, Walker remained.
Jada Walker’s father discusses his daughter’s loyalty
On Friday, Walker’s father, Jon Walker, expressed his pride in his daughter’s decision.
“In a world of the Portal! I’m so proud [of] my daughter Jada Walker for staying put at Kentucky! Nothing wrong with kids going in the portal but she made a choice to stay [at Kentucky] and see things thru! It showed her Character! Loyalty means something!” he tweeted.
Walker could have easily left Kentucky. As the most promising Kentucky freshman since Rhyne Howard, Walker would be welcome anywhere in the country. After all, Kentucky isn’t thin in the backcourt. The team added four freshmen guards and one backcourt transfer. Nonetheless, Walker decided she wants to win in blue and white.
Kyra Elzy on her up-and-coming star
Walker’s father isn’t the only one who’s proud of her. Head coach Kyra Elzy never missed an opportunity to brag on her rising star this season. Perhaps Elzy’s most poignant comments on Walker came after the freshman dropped 21 points in her debut SEC Tournament performance.
“She’s grown up, and I said all year Jada is a fearless competitor. She wants to win. She has that dog mentality, and I told her before we left Lexington, ‘You are no longer a freshman. You have played enough minutes to be a veteran point guard.’ So I’m proud of her,” Elzy said.
If Walker had any immaturity left after last season’s adversity, she must lose it before her sophomore year. With six incoming freshmen, Walker will be one of the team’s leaders. Luckily for Walker, Elzy believes she’s ready for any adversity.
“She’s been baptized by fire, but she has answered the challenge.”
If we learned anything from Walker’s first year at UK, she’ll answer any challenges her sophomore season throws at her.
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