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Kentucky WBB makes Top 4 for '23 forward Janae Walker

Zack Geogheganby:Zack Geoghegan04/28/23

ZGeogheganKSR

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Photo by Elliot Hess | UK Athletics

Kentucky women’s basketball is in serious contention for one of the nation’s top uncommitted prospects.

On Friday afternoon, 6-foot-4 class of 2023 forward Janae Walker announced that she is down to just four college finalists: Kentucky, Southern California, Syracuse, and Wisconsin. Walker, who is coming off an impressive senior season at Sandy Creek (GA) High School, was previously committed to Gardner-Webb but backed off that decision on April 10 to reopen her recruitment. She averaged 20.3 points, 14.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.3 blocks per outing this past season.

Walker was in Lexington over the weekend for an official visit, sources tell KSR. She announced through Instagram that a final decision is set for Sunday, May 7.

Walker is very much an under-the-radar prospect, even though she was tabbed as Georgia’s Region 5 Class AAA Player of the Year as a senior. Walker is a versatile forward who can stretch the floor to the 3-point arc and is also capable of defending multiple positions on the other end of the floor. She posted 17 consecutive double-doubles during her senior season and finished her high school career with over 1,000 points. One writer over at Prep Hoops wrote that Walker “could be a major steal.”

Looking at the rest of Walker’s Top 4, Kentucky certainly has some competition to beat out.

Southern California is the most notable, coming off a 21-10 season (11-7 Pac-12) under second-year head coach Lindsey Gottlieb that saw the Trojans make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. USC has already signed the top-ranked recruit from the entire 2023 class in five-star guard Judea Watkins out of Sierra Canyon (CA), along with four-star guard Malia Samuels. Gottlieb is losing three of her top four scorers, but USC is still a projected Top 25 program for next season, according to ESPN. Walker could help fill that void.

That being said, Kentucky is in a great spot to ultimately secure Walker’s commitment. We’ll know for sure in less than two weeks.

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