Guard Cierra Walker will transfer from Vanderbilt to Gonzaga
Gonzaga’s outside shooting game is going to get more help, though perhaps not until the fall of 2020.
Former Vanderbilt guard Cierra Walker, one of the top perimeter shooters in the Southeastern Conference this past season, announced via social media on Monday afternoon that she’s transferring to GU.
“My new home,” tweeted Walker, whose post included an undated photo of herself in the McCarthey Athletic Center, wearing a No. 13 GU jersey.
Also in the post was a photo of Walker with Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier and assistants Jordan Green, Craig Fortier and Stacy Clinesmith.
Walker visited GU on April 30.
Gonzaga officials did not confirm the signing. However, late Monday afternoon Lisa Fortier re-tweeted Walker’s post.
The 5-foot-8 Walker, an all-state performer at Oregon City, Oregon, is coming off her junior year at Vanderbilt.
Unless she has enough credits to graduate and become a graduate transfer, Walker will need to sit out the upcoming season.
She announced on March 28 that she was transferring from Vandy, which has seen six players with eligibility remaining leave coach Stephanie White’s program.
Last year, the Commodores finished 7-23 overall and 2-14 in the SEC. Walker started all 29 games and averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.
She shot 42% from the field, and almost that well – 70-for-178, or 39.3% - from 3-point range.
As a sophomore, Walker averaged 8.7 points and 2.6 rebounds while scoring 9.9 points in SEC play.
Assuming Jill Townsend recovers from a severe leg injury suffered in the West Coast Conference tournament in March, the Zags will return their top two 3-point shooters.
Katie Campbell is coming off a junior season that saw her among the national leaders in 3-point shooting at 45% (63-for-140.)
Townsend shot 44% (23-for-52) and at 9.9 ppg was the Zags’ second-leading scorer behind senior Zykera Rice.
At Oregon City, Walker was a first-team all-tournament selection in the state’s largest classification and was ranked in the top 25 in the nation among shooting guards.