Basketball
TJ Walker for Cheshire Jets
10 July 2007
The BiG Storage Cheshire Jets have landed BBL icon TJ Walker as their player/coach ahead of the 2007/08 season. The former Newcastle Eagle, a three-time BBL All-Star, put pen to paper late on Monday night.
The Jets' Director of Basketball, Paul Smith, commented,
"This is a real coup for the club. TJ has consistently been the best guard in the league for the past five years and has been a target for a number of clubs, both in the BBL and further afield over the close season. It is a tribute to the vision for the future that TJ has chosen to come to Chester, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership." Walker will take up his duties when he arrives back in the UK to oversee the coaching of Cheshire's young players at the club's basketball camp between 22nd and 27th July.
The point-guard, who has won the BBL Championship Playoffs twice, the BBL Trophy twice, and the BBL Championship and BBL Cup once each, said,
"This is the right place at the right time in my career - I am looking to develop my role as a coach so it was a real no-brainer. Chester is a real basketball city, the fans are so passionate and I want to help to put the club back to where it's supposed to be at - winning trophies."
Walker also revealed that work has begun on assembling the squad for the new campaign,
"I have been talking with Paul Smith about possible players for the squad. Some names are already in the frame and we are united in our wish to put a really competitive side on the floor in September."
Walker will also play a prominent role in establishing the club's community programme , Hoops4Health, which is targeting 5,000 school pupils during the season,
"I was involved with a similar project in Newcastle", he explained, "I can bring a lot of valuable experience about how it works. As well as promoting healthy lifestyles through regular exercise, the programme will try to establish the game more at a grass roots level - essential if basketball is to grow and prosper in the area."
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