Choosing Kentucky WBB was "a no-brainer" for new '23 signee Janae Walker

Janae Walker, Kentucky women’s basketball newest class of 2023 signee, didn’t start playing hoops until she was already 13 years old.

A self-described late-bloomer, the 6-foot-4 post player was actually a dancer from the time she was two years old all the way until she began to fully invest in basketball over a decade later. It wasn’t until her junior year at Sandy Creek (GA) High School that Walker began to blossom into an intriguing college prospect. Her rapid on-court development quickly began to shine on the biggest stages.

As a high school senior, Walker arrived as a legitimate Power 5 recruit. She averaged 20.3 points, 14.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.3 blocks per outing for Sandy Creek, at one point posting 17 straight double-doubles and finishing her career with over 1,000 points. She led the Patriots to a Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Region 5 Championship victory where she contributed 24 points in a 51-46 win.

Walker was later named the GHSA Class 3A Best Rebounder, GHSA Class 3A Region 5 Player of the Year, and Fayette County’s All-County Player of the Year for her impressive senior campaign. There’s a very good reason why she’s viewed as a potential diamond in the rough for head coach Kyra Elzy and company.

what’s up lexington?? 💙 pic.twitter.com/53LrZ7PHdi

— Janaé Walker (@janaewalkerr_) May 7, 2023

Walker announced her official commitment to the Wildcats on Sunday, joining an incoming freshman class for Elzy that includes four-star guard Jordy Griggs. Walker made the decision in front of her friends and family, choosing Kentucky over a list of finalists that included Southern California, Syracuse, and Wisconsin.

“It was awesome,” Walker told KSR on Monday about her commitment. “I got so much love from Big Blue Nation. It was just more than anything I could have imagined, to be quite honest.”

Walker has already signed her national letter of intent with UK and will join the team this summer in June. While the last month has been a whirlwind for the Tyrone, GA native, it’s only going to get crazier as the summer rolls around.

It wasn’t even a full month ago that Walker reopened her recruitment on April 10. Previously locked in with Gardner-Webb, which finished the 2022-23 season with a 29-5 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, a head coaching change opened up an opportunity for her to reevaluate her options. She quickly began to hear from several Power 5 schools and didn’t waste time scheduling an official visit to Kentucky in mid-April.

“It was actually super unique compared to my other visits,” Walker said of her trip to Lexington. “Because at the time there was a recruiting shutdown, so the team didn’t have any recruiting obligations to see people who were coming in for official visits. So I didn’t get the chance to meet any of the current players but I did get to meet with a grad student (Adebola Adeyeye), one of their post players.

“When I went, the connection was there,” Walker said. “Automatically. From the position coach up to Coach Elzy. Coach Jen (Hoover), supporting staff, everybody I just connected with them and it was an amazing feeling. As soon as I was there, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. It was kinda a no-brainer.”

Kentucky WBB associate head coach Niya Butts almost immediately reached out to Walker once the latter decommitted from Gardner-Webb. It was an easy connection for Walker, who said she’s familiar with the UK program from when Rhyne Howard was lighting up SEC opponents for 30-plus on any given night.

Living about 40 minutes outside of Atlanta even allowed Walker to watch Howard play for the WNBA’s Georgia-based franchise, the Dream, where Howard won the league’s Rookie of the Year and was named an All-Star in 2022. Walker has watched plenty of Kentucky games over the years and is also familiar with other former Wildcats such as Robyn Benton, Jada Walker, and Dre’Una Edwards.

A driving reason behind her decision to sign with Kentucky actually goes back to Howard’s senior season when she led the ‘Cats to the program’s first SEC Tournament title in 40 years.

“Location was really good. Another big thing was, just seeing a couple of years ago — two years ago actually — that they were SEC champions,” Walker added. “That success and seeing that it’s within the grasp, it’s there. I want to be a part of getting back up to the top. Getting Kentucky women’s basketball back on the map.

“Seeing that success, seeing the culture that is already built. I was eager to be a part of that.“

So what can Kentucky fans expect to see once Walker hits the floor for the 2023-24 season? Allow her to explain.

“I am extremely versatile for my size. I can take you off the dribble, I can shoot the midrange, I can stretch you all the way out to the three. As far as my AAU program, I was always guarding the point guards, shutting them down.

“I just think my footwork and my craftiness around the rim, being able to take on smaller defenders in the paint and then taking the bigger ones out and driving to the basket, I just think there is so much to my game. My ability to rebound, running the floor, transition is a big, big part of who I am. I’m gonna outsprint you every time down the floor. Competitive nature offensively and defensively.”

Music to a coach’s ears. Welcome to the Big Blue Nation, Janae.