It was almost a no-brainer for him. He thought that he would be a piece of the puzzle.

After posting a 22-9 record in his first season as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee mens basketball team, Rob Jeter was in for a rough campaign this past year.

Losing seven seniors, the Panthers sputtered to a 9-22 record, leaving Jeter at 31-31 on his career. However, theres always an upside to bad seasons, and Jeter has been building a team stacked with recruits he has brought into the fold.

Add another one to the list.

After taking an unofficial visit on Sunday, April 15, McFarland junior Riley Walker verbally committed to UWM as a member of the class of 2008. A 6-foot-5 swingman, Walker spearheaded the Spartans attack this season.

During his unofficial visit, Jeter offered Walker a scholarship, and he made his verbal commitment before he left.

It was almost a no-brainer for him. He thought that he would be a piece of the puzzle, said Jeff Meinholdt, Walkers head coach at McFarland. Meinholdts style on offense is similar to the swing, the offense that Jeter employs at UWM.

With needs for an additional swingman in 2008, Walker will fill the hole that will be left by the graduation of Paige Paulsen. Paulsen, who played a bigger position than he is accustomed to in 2006-07, will move back to his natural swingman role with incoming post players Tim Flowers, Anthony Hill, Torre Johnson and Joe Allen.

He joins the 2008 class that includes power forward Trenton Marshall from Louisiana. UWM also has scholarship offers to Rick Wagner, a 6-foot-8 forward from West Allis Hale, and Kwamain Mitchell, a guard out of Whitefish Bay Dominican, the same school as recent UWM player Derrick Wimmer.

Meinholdt said Walker loved everything: the ability to play Division I ball, the coaching staff, the style, the players, facilities and the city of Milwaukee. His grandparents live a short drive away in the Delavan area, and McFarland itself isnt too far from campus.

During his junior season, Walker averaged 17.7 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. The small forward also tallied 1.1 assists and 1.6 steals for the Spartans. Walker committed to Milwaukee early because there was no more reason to wait.

Last season, the Panthers shot only 38.7 percent as a team from the field. Riley Walker took to the skies often, sporting a 44 field goal percentage. It was an area that doomed the Panthers many times in 2006-07.

If Walker can carry that momentum throughout his senior year and into a black and gold uniform, it bodes well for UWM.

It could be a match made in Panther heaven.

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