Walter joins Razorback women's hoops

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas head women’s basketball coach Tom Collen announced the signing of Chrisstasia Walter to a National Letter of Intent today. Walter checks in from Arkansas High School in Texarkana, Ark., where she plays for coach Venture Watson. Walter is a three-time all-conference selection and a two-time all-state pick for the Razorbacks. She has earned multiple all-tournament team honors and was named the offensive player of the year for the state of Arkansas as a junior. "We are really excited about Chrisstasia," Collen said. "She will fit into our system perfectly. She is an up-tempo player who is extremely athletic. She has great three-point range and she can really go off the dribble." Walter paced her high school team’s return to the state tournament in 2008 after a 25-year drought. The 5-8 guard led the Razorbacks to a 20-2 record with 10.0 points-per-game and 12.0 rebounds-per-game. "We saw Chrisstasia play last year in the state playoffs and offered her on the spot," Collen said. "She really didn’t entertain many other offers. I think Arkansas is where she envisioned herself from the beginning." Walter played on several AAU teams including Arkansas Mars and New Life in Little Rock, Ark. The Arkansas Mars reached the BC1 Nationals and New Life finished as runners up at the Atlanta, Ga., tournament. They finished the year as the top-ranked team in the state. "Chrisstasia played this summer for Dion Cross with the New Life Hawks and he did a great job training her on how to play the point," Collen said. "We think she is a true combo player that can really score. She’s kind of a mixture between C’eira Ricketts and Lyndsay Harris and she’ll fit right into our rotation." In addition to basketball, Walter is a four-year letterwinner in volleyball and track and field. She earned all-conference and all-state honors in volleyball and was selected to the all-star game as a senior. Her junior track team won the state title. Collen and the Razorbacks are anticipating the addition of one other player during this early signing period. The Razorbacks open the 2009-10 season Sunday, Nov. 15, hosting Alcorn State in Hot Springs, Ark., at 2 p.m. Arkansas departs for a Nov. 18 game at Southern Methodist before the home opener Nov. 22 against East Tennessee State. For more information about Razorback women’s basketball, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.