Kentucky WBB PG Jada Walker named SEC Freshman of the Week

On3 image — Photo by Eddie Justice | UK Athletics

After helping lead Kentucky Women’s Basketball to three wins in five days, Jada Walker is being recognized for her production.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Wildcats’ starting guard was tabbed as the SEC’s Freshman of the Week after putting up averages of 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 7-12 from 3-point range. Walker’s most impressive outing was a 17-point showing in Kentucky’s historic 16-point comeback against Mississippi State. This marks the first individual award for Walker this season.

The first @SEC weekly award for @jadawalkr11, but definitely not the last! 😼

Jada Walker totals 35 points, 11 rebounds and five steals in last week's three games to win SEC Freshman of the week!#CommitToIt pic.twitter.com/PxIXsNVIG6
— Kentucky WBB (@KentuckyWBB) February 22, 2022

Walker has been a pleasant and necessary surprise for head coach Kyra Elzy this season. The rookie out of Richmond, VA wasted no time making her presence felt early, pouring in double-digit scoring games in six of her first eight appearances. Eventually, she was named a full-time starter in the backcourt and has provided a big scoring boost for the ‘Cats in key moments. It took her a few games to adapt to the physicality and speed of playing against SEC competition, but she’s adjusted quite nicely as of late.

For the season, Walker is averaging 10.3 points (third-most on the team), 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per outing on an above-average shooting split of 40.7./37.7/69.8. She ranks third on the team in minutes played behind reigning SEC Player of the Year Rhyne Howard and senior guard Jazmine Massengill. Walker already has 13 double-figure scoring games this season.

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Walker joins a list of familiar Wildcats who have won the Freshman of the Week award. She’s the 11th in program history to earn the honors, which includes the likes of Howard (who did it a league-high eight times in 2018-19), Victora Dunlap, Amber Smith, A’dia Mathies, and several others.

Something tells me this won’t be the last time Walker has her name recognized by the SEC league office.