Maurice Walker joins the Guelph Nighthawks following five years of play overseas in several top-tier European professional leagues. At 6’10” and 255 lbs, this power forward brings size and strength as he will be a significant presence both in the paint and on defense.
Walker attended University of Minnesota where he played for the Golden Gophers for five seasons, however, was redshirted his sophomore year due to a knee injury. In his senior year, Walker played in all 33 games where he started all but two, averaged 24 minutes of play, almost 12 points and seven rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 26 points against Penn State in one of his last games as a Golden Gopher. Following his collegiate career, Walker joined the Orlando Magic in the NBA Summer League before heading overseas to continue his professional career.
In his five-plus years overseas, Walker has played in many high-level leagues including stops in Italy, Latvia, France, and England. During his time in the British Basketball League (B-BBL)with the Worcester Wolves, Walker averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists per game. Most recently, Walker joined the Leicester Riders of the B-BBL averaging nearly seven points and four assists helping the team to place third in the league.
Notables:
- All-Big Ten Honourable Mention (2015)
- In his senior year, led the team in rebounds (220) and blocks (44)
- Scored a career-high 26 points vs. Penn State on March 3, 2015
- Played in the 2015 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
- Two-time member of the Canadian Junior National Team (2007-08); received a Bronze medal in the 2008 U18 Americas Championship
- Three-time member of the Canadian Nike Global Team (2007-09)
The Nighthawks start their CEBL 2021 season on June 28. All games are available on CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem App via Android or iOS devices. The CEBL led the NHL, NBA and later the CPL in returning to play in Canada after the coronavirus shut down the sports world in March of 2020. The CEBL Summer Series put professional basketball on the television and digital screens of millions of viewers across Canada and around the world, establishing the league as the top Canadian-based global team sports brand. The 2021 season set to start on June 24, will build on that momentum with an expanded viewing audience around the world, and locally through an innovative approach to addressing the uncertainties due to the pandemic around having fans in arenas across the league.
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About Canadian Elite Basketball League
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. Head to more information on CEBL.ca or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Linkedin, Facebook & YouTube. (@cebleague).
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