Gophers sign three-star recruit Walker

The Gophers men's basketball team got bigger Wednesday, when 6-10, 300-pound center Maurice Walker signed a letter of intent to begin his career next season.

Walker, a three-star recruit on scout.com, won a national prep school title this past season with Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H. Walker, who is from Canada, is close to Gophers guard Devoe Joseph and his brother, high-profile recruit Cory Joseph, who are also Canadian. The Gophers have two scholarships available for his year's recruiting class.

Joseph, one of the top uncommitted recruits, is expected to make a decision in the coming days. He's narrowed his list to UNLV, Texas, UConn, Villanova and Minnesota.

Walker said Joseph recently told him that there's a chance he'll join him next year.

"Last week, I told him I'm going to visit and there's a possibility I might commit," Walker said. "And he said, 'Oh, that's a good look.' He said it's a possibility. That would be great. Devoe and Cory are both family to me."

Walker said he wants to enroll in summer school, but a student visa issue might prevent him from joining his future teammates prior to next fall.

MYRON P. MEDCALF

Etc. • The Lynx have signed Virginia guard Monica Wright and Drexel forward Gabriella Marginean, the two players they took in the WNBA draft last week. Wright, the second overall pick, averaged 23.7 points and had eight 30-point games. She is the Cavaliers' first Associated Press first-team All-America pick. The 6-1 Marginean is the first Drexel player ever to be drafted; she was the 26th overall pick. Wright will be paid about $45,000 this season, Marginean $35,000, according to the WNBA collective bargaining agreement.