Marcedes Walker Invited to USA Basketball National Team Trials
5/12/2005
The Panther sophomore averaged 13.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as a freshman in 2004-05.
PITTSBURGH—
Pitt women’s basketball player Marcedes Walker was invited to participate in the 2005 National Team Trials, to be held May 19-22, 2005, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Walker was invited to try out for the 2005 FIBA U-19 World Championship Team but will be unable to attend after offseason shoulder surgery.
Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) was a Big East All-Rookie Team honoree and an Honorable Mention All-Big East selection as a freshman in 2004-05. She led the Panthers in scoring (13.3 points per game) and in rebounding (9.1 avg.) and improved her numbers in conference play, averaging 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per Big East contest. In addition to leading the conference in rebounding, Walker was among the Big East leaders in field goal percentage with a 48.9 clip.
"This is a wonderful honor for Marcedes and our program," Pitt women’s basketball coach Agnus Berenato said. "It’s unfortunate that she will be unable to participate in the trials but that takes nothing away from what she has accomplished here in a short period of time."
The Panther center scored in double figures in 18 of 26 games and posted nine double-doubles in her debut campaign. Walker missed the final two games of the season after sustaining a shoulder injury in a Feb. 25 contest vs. nationally ranked Rutgers. She helped the Panthers to 13 victories, the team’s highest win total in five years.
The National Team Trials participants were selected by USA Basketball and the women’s Collegiate Committee. The FIBA U-19 World Championship Team will play in Tunis, Tunisia, from July 15-24.
