Glendora, CA (Men’s Basketball) -- Citrus College sophomore guard James Walker was named the California Community College Athletic Association January Male State Athlete of the Month late Thursday afternoon. It’s just the second time an Owl has earned the award since its inception in 2005, and the first since the Spring of 2007. It’s also the first time a male has won the honor for Citrus.
In the month of January, Walker led the State #1 Men’s Basketball team to a perfect 7-0 record. Walker started all seven games and averaged 19.9 points per game on 46.7% shooting from the floor in that stretch. In addition, Walker shot 33.3% from beyond the 3-point arc and 83% from the free-throw line.
Also in the month of January, Walker was twice named the Western State Conference South Division Player of the Week. He scored 24 points twice in that stretch, dropping 24 against Bakersfield and Santa Monica. During the month, Walker also averaged 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1 steal, and just under one block a game. On the season Walker is averaging 19.2 points per game, and is the eighth leading scorer in the State thus far on the year.
On the season, Citrus is 22-1, the best record in the State. Just this week, the Owls moved back into the #1 ranking in the State Coaches Poll, and continued to be the #1 team in Southern California. In addition, jucorecruiting.com has the Owls tabbed as the #5 team in the country among all two-year colleges.
Walker and the rest of the Owls will be back on the floor tomorrow night after a bye on Wednesday. Citrus has a chance to claim an outright WSC South Championship if they can find a way to win at Bakersfield College. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.