LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball program received two Herald Leader Women's Basketball All-State honors on Wednesday afternoon, head coach
Greg Todd was named Coach of the Year and
Antwainette Walker was selected as the Player of the Year for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Todd and Walker, the EKU selections, were chosen over the likes of its counterpart in-state programs like Kentucky, Louisville, and Western Kentucky.
"I was very humbled for our staff to receive coach of the year honors by the Herald Leader for all D-1 programs in Kentucky," said Todd. "I am blessed to have great assistant coaches, our administration is very supportive and behind us. I am having so much fun being home and getting EKU back to being a top mid-major program. Our results will continue to get better with more time."
Todd entered his second year with the Colonels at the start of 2022-23 and has since led the team to 17 wins this season as March Madness looms. EKU's 17-13 record is the first positive season since 2015-16.
With the teams win total, EKU has already clinched a placement in the 2023 ASUN Women's Basketball Championship beginning on March 4-11.
In two seasons with EKU, Todd has led the program to 32 wins and two berths in the ASUN Conference Women's Basketball Championship, including a win over Kennesaw State last season in the first round and a top-5 finish in 2022-23.
Todd has helped reaffirm EKU's notoriety as a tough place to play on the road, in his two seasons he's compiled a 22-8 (.733) record inside Alumni Coliseum. As the excitement continues to grow in Richmond, Todd looks to build on season-high single game attendance number of 1,862 (2021-22) and 1,431 this season against Jacksonville.
Walker was selected as the Women's Player of the Year after leading EKU with 21.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. She's recorded double-figure scoring in all 28 of the teams contests this season, including 14 double-doubles and 15 games with 20-or-more points, setting a career-high 33 points against Austin Peay.
"Antwainette continues to be recognized as one of the top players in the country," said Todd. Her work ethic and consistency amaze me daily. She is an incredible fit at Eastern Kentucky University."
Walker continues to gain national notoriety after being selected to the 2023 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award by the National Basketball Hall of Fame/WBCA and the 2023 Dawn Staley Late Season Watchlist, both awards recognize the top guards in women's college basketball.
Herald Leader All-State Awards
Women's Coach of the Year
Greg Todd, EKU
Women's Player of the Year
Antwainette Walker, EKU
Women's Freshman of the Year
Gracie Merkle, Bellarmine
Women's All-State
Antwainette Walker, EKU
Maddie Scherr, Kentucky
Katelyn Young, Murray State
Gracie Merkle, Bellarmine
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville
Men's Coach of the Year
Preston Spaulding, Morehead State
Men's Player of the Year
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Men's Freshman of the Year
Cason Wallace, Kentucky
Men's All-State
Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky
Jacob Toppin, Kentucky
D. Blanton, EKU
Marques Warrick, Northern Kentucky
Dayvion McKnight, Western Kentucky
