July 3, 2007

Providence College all-time men's basketball great Jimmy Walker passed away on Monday, July 2 in Kansas City, Mo. Walker, 63, died after a battle with lung cancer. Walker, who is considered by many people to be one of the greatest collegiate players ever to come out of New England, is the only player to ever be taken first in the NBA Draft from a New England college.

In just three seasons of play at Providence College, Walker became the school's all-time points-scored leader with 2,045 for his career. His record stood for 38 years until Ryan Gomes surpassed Walker in 2005. Over the course of his career, Walker averaged 25.2 points per game. In 1967, Walker's senior season, he led the nation with a scoring average over 30 points per game. He also grabbed 509 boards for the Friars, and he shot 49.2 percent from the field as a Friar. He was an All-New England selection three times in his career, as well as the 1967 New England Player of the Year. He was also named an Associated Press All-American three times, including a First-Team selection in 1967.

Walker helped PC to a top five national ranking during his sophomore season. He put up huge numbers for the Friars as one of the strongest and most physically gifted point guards to ever wear the Friar uniform; all before the three-point line was put in place. Walker was drafted first overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1967 NBA Draft. In nine seasons of NBA play, Walker averaged 16.7 points per game.