Illinois State's Chase Walker: "I'm back"
MBB: Walker is the first All-Valley player to announce his return for next season
In a sign of the times in college basketball, players don’t just announce they’re leaving the school they played at last season, now they let everyone know when they’re returning.
This afternoon, Illinois State’s Chase Walker sent a jolt into the Redbirds’ fan base with two simple words: “I’m back.”
Walker earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors this season, averaging 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. The one game he missed this season was against Murray State in early January as he was dealing with an injury. Walker is the first All-Conference player to announce they’ll be coming back next season.
As of this moment, only five of the 16 All-Conference players, either due to graduating or entering the transfer portal, can still return next year — with Walker being the only to confirm they’re coming back. The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Monday, March 24th.
FIRST TEAM
Tytan Anderson — UNI (Senior)Duke Deen — Bradley (Senior)Jonathan Pierre — Belmont (Senior)Bennett Stirtz — Drake (Junior)
Samage Teel — Indiana State (Senior)Chase Walker — Illinois State (Sophomore — WILL RETURN)
SECOND TEAM
Tayshawn Comer — Evansville (Junior/Transfer Portal)Kennard Davis — Southern Illinois (Sophomore/Transfer Portal)Darius Hannah — Bradley (Senior)Johnny Kinziger — Illinois State (Sophomore)
Cooper Schwieger — Valparaiso (Sophomore/Transfer Portal)
THIRD TEAM
Trey Campbell — UNI (Junior)
Ali Dibba — Southern Illinois (Junior)
Mitch Mascari — Drake (Senior)Zek Montgomery — Bradley (Senior)Carter Whitt — Belmont (Senior)