Since Candice Walker finished her high school career by leading Towson Catholic to one of its best seasons in recent memory last year,the guard doesn?t see why she can?t make her freshman season at Loyola just as memorable.
“It?s my hometown and why not bring more fans and more attention to Baltimore?” Walker said. “Loyola hasn?t been recognized that much in women?s basketball and I want to help bring in more in-state and out-of state talent. Don?t just worry about Maryland, worry about Loyola, too.”
But Walker elected to play just a few miles away from her high school so her family and friends could attend the majority of her games at Loyola, which she looks to lead to its first NCAA tournament berth in 12 years.
Last year at Towson Catholic, Walker averaged 15 points, 8 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game, guiding her team to a 21-6 record ? its best mark in 21 years.
But it took her just one practice with the Greyhounds to realize the major difference between high school and college basketball: the speed of the game.
It is imperative Walker makes a smooth transition if the Greyhounds are going to improve upon last season?s record of 18-12 overall and third-place finish in the MAAC with a mark of 12-6.
“Coming in as a freshman she?s got a lot to learn and she?s just been spectacular in our opinion,” Loyola coach Joe Logan said. “She?s very mature. By the end of the season we need her to be playing like a sophomore or a junior.”
But Walker is surrounded by talented teammates. Loyola is led by senior Vika Sholokhova, a 6-foot-3 center who transferred from Pitt two years ago. After becoming eligible to play last December, Sholokhova came off the bench in 17 of the final 19 games, averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds ? a major reason why she was named the conference?s Sixth Woman of the Year.
Sholokhova will be complemented by 5-foot-11 forward Meghan Wood, who started all 29 games last year and averaged 8.8 points and 6.6 rebounds, and forward Kaitlin Grant, who started 15 games and averaged 4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds.
“Winning a Championship and making it to the NCAA tournament,” Walker said. “I?ve always dreamed about it.”
