FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ashley Ginascol (312-729-3622)
CHICAGO (March 8, 2012) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced
Courtney Walker of
Edmond Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.) as its 2011-12 Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Walker is the first Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Edmond Santa Fe High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Walker as Oklahoma's best high school girls basketball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award announced in March, Walker joins an elite alumni association of past state girls basketball award-winners, including Candace Parker (2003-04, 2002-03, & 2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Diana Taurasi (1998-99 & 1999-00, Don Antonio Lugo HS, Calif.), Maya Moore (2005-06 Collins Hill HS, Ga.), Rashanda McCants (2004-05, Asheville HS, N.C.), Shyra Ely (1999-00, Ben Davis HS, Ind.) and Lisa Leslie (1988-89, Morningside HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-8 senior guard led the Lady Bombers to a 25-0 record and a berth in the Class 6A regional semifinals, scheduled for March 8. Walker averaged 17.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.6 assists through 25 games. A two-time First Team All-State selection, she is ranked the nation's No. 33 recruit by the Hoopgurlz ESPNU 100.
Walker has maintained a 3.91 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as a peer tutor and as a youth basketball coach and camp counselor.
"In my observation, Courtney Walker is Oklahoma's most athletic and prolific female basketball player," said Karlie Free, head coach at Edmonds North High. "She is the number one issue that coaches must address on their scouting report. Her intense play has helped Edmond Santa Fe become the top high school girls basketball program in the state the past two years."
Walker has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on an athletic scholarship at Texas A&M University this fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Walker joins recent Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Players of the Year Ashley Clark (2010-11, Midwest City High School), Richa Jackson (2009-10, Midwest City), Kevi Luper (2008-09, Adair), Alyssia Brewer (2007-08, Sapulpa), Angel Goodrich (2006 – 07, Sequoyah), and Stephanie McGhee (2003-04 & 2002-03, Howe) among the state's list of former award winners.
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.
