The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Photo by: Brantley Bargerhuff
Walker Named Conference USA Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year
3/7/2022 2:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DALLAS – Jordan Walker was named the second Conference USA Player of the Year in UAB men's basketball history on Monday afternoon.
Walker, a junior guard from Port Washington, New York, became just the third Blazer to earn a conference Player of the Year honor, joining UAB legends Aaron Johnson (2010-11) and Oliver Robinson (1981-82) in the exclusive club.
The transfer guard was also named Conference USA's Newcomer of the Year, joining Robert Vaden (2007-08) and Chad Frazier (2013-14) as the three Blazers to earn C-USA Newcomer of the Year honors.
As announced by the league office earlier on Monday, Walker became UAB's first First Team All-Conference USA honoree since Robert Brown in 2015-16. The junior not only led UAB in points per game (19.3) and assists per game (5.1), but he also led Conference USA in points per game (21.6), assists per game (5.33) and 3-pointers made per game in league play (3.83).
Walker became the only player in UAB history to earn Conference USA Player of the Week honors three times in one season, winning the league's weekly award three of out four weeks from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7. He also broke a UAB single-game scoring record in a standout performance at home against Middle Tennessee, surpassing head coach Andy Kennedy and Robert Vaden's previous record of 41 points with 42 points on Feb. 5.
The junior dominated Conference USA play in 2021-22, scoring 17 points or more in 15 of his final 17 games to conclude the regular season. Walker also tallied 20 or more points in 12 of his final 15 games and reached double figures in 29 of his 30 appearances for the Green and Gold this season.
Walker also showed off his playmaking ability throughout his first season with the Blazers, recording five or more assists in 15 of his 30 games played. He set a career-high with 12 assists in UAB's win over Rice on Feb. 17, recording his first double-double as a Blazer with 10 points, 12 assists, two steals and one block.
After winning its final four games to conclude the regular season, the UAB men's basketball team will open postseason play Thursday night at the Conference USA Men's Basketball Championships in Frisco, Texas. UAB, who is the No. 2 seed in the C-USA's West Division, is scheduled to play at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at the Ford Center at The Star.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
2022-23 men's basketball season tickets are also now on sale and start for as low as $110 in Blaze's Corner. The public season-ticket price is set at $275, while employee and alumni season tickets are set at $245 per seat.
Player of the Year
Jordan Walker, UAB
Freshman of the Year
Aly Khalifa, Charlotte
Defensive Player of the Year
Jamarion Sharp, WKU
Newcomer of the Year
Jordan Walker, UAB
Sixth Player of the Year
Tylor Perry, North Texas
Coach of the Year
Nick McDevitt, Middle Tennessee
Walker, a junior guard from Port Washington, New York, became just the third Blazer to earn a conference Player of the Year honor, joining UAB legends Aaron Johnson (2010-11) and Oliver Robinson (1981-82) in the exclusive club.
The transfer guard was also named Conference USA's Newcomer of the Year, joining Robert Vaden (2007-08) and Chad Frazier (2013-14) as the three Blazers to earn C-USA Newcomer of the Year honors.
As announced by the league office earlier on Monday, Walker became UAB's first First Team All-Conference USA honoree since Robert Brown in 2015-16. The junior not only led UAB in points per game (19.3) and assists per game (5.1), but he also led Conference USA in points per game (21.6), assists per game (5.33) and 3-pointers made per game in league play (3.83).
Walker became the only player in UAB history to earn Conference USA Player of the Week honors three times in one season, winning the league's weekly award three of out four weeks from Jan. 17 to Feb. 7. He also broke a UAB single-game scoring record in a standout performance at home against Middle Tennessee, surpassing head coach Andy Kennedy and Robert Vaden's previous record of 41 points with 42 points on Feb. 5.
The junior dominated Conference USA play in 2021-22, scoring 17 points or more in 15 of his final 17 games to conclude the regular season. Walker also tallied 20 or more points in 12 of his final 15 games and reached double figures in 29 of his 30 appearances for the Green and Gold this season.
Walker also showed off his playmaking ability throughout his first season with the Blazers, recording five or more assists in 15 of his 30 games played. He set a career-high with 12 assists in UAB's win over Rice on Feb. 17, recording his first double-double as a Blazer with 10 points, 12 assists, two steals and one block.
After winning its final four games to conclude the regular season, the UAB men's basketball team will open postseason play Thursday night at the Conference USA Men's Basketball Championships in Frisco, Texas. UAB, who is the No. 2 seed in the C-USA's West Division, is scheduled to play at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at the Ford Center at The Star.
MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
UAB men's basketball single-game tickets start as low as $12 and can be purchased by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Discounted group tickets and fan experiences are available for a minimum purchase of 15 tickets to any home basketball game during the 2021-22 season. Groups are encouraged to complete the UAB Basketball Group Ticket Request Form or call the UAB Athletics Ticket Office for more information.
2022-23 men's basketball season tickets are also now on sale and start for as low as $110 in Blaze's Corner. The public season-ticket price is set at $275, while employee and alumni season tickets are set at $245 per seat.
Player of the Year
Jordan Walker, UAB
Freshman of the Year
Aly Khalifa, Charlotte
Defensive Player of the Year
Jamarion Sharp, WKU
Newcomer of the Year
Jordan Walker, UAB
Sixth Player of the Year
Tylor Perry, North Texas
Coach of the Year
Nick McDevitt, Middle Tennessee
Players Mentioned
Guard
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