JOHNSON CITY (May 10, 2016) – ETSU men’s basketball head coach Steve Forbes announced Tuesday that the Buccaneers have received a national letter of intent from North Dakota State College of Science transfer Julian Walters (Madison, Wis.).

A 5-foot-11 guard, Walters was a first-team NJCAA All-American and the Region 13 Player of the Year last season, averaging 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. In addition to leading his team to a 28-win season and a NJCAA National Tournament run to the Sweet 16, Walters finished the 2015-16 season with 118 made 3-pointers, shooting 51 percent from beyond the arc, 53 percent from the field and 76 percent from the free throw line.

“There are times to press and there are times to be patient in the recruiting process,” Forbes said. “Julian’s desire to go through the process, coupled with our patience, allowed us to get the point guard we coveted from the first time we saw him play. His desire to lead and to win is off the charts. In addition, he is a prolific 3-point shooter and a selfless distributor.”

Walters said ETSU felt like the place for him to continue his college career.

“I chose ETSU because of the coaching staff and the relationship I developed with Coach (Jason) Shay,” Walters said. “The players made me feel wanted and I really like the directions the team is going. ETSU was a place where I saw myself fitting in the best.”

Forbes said Walters’ character is equally as impressive as his athletic accomplishments.

“Julian possesses tremendous character and is an outstanding student,” Forbes said. “In 2013, he was named the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year in his hometown of Madison, Wis., and this past year he worked 18 to 20 hours a week in the school cafeteria.”



Walters joins signees Jason Williams (Detroit), David Burrell (Milwaukee), Devontavius Payne (Carbondale, Ill.) and Jermaine Long (New Orleans) as members of the Bucs’ 2016-17 recruiting class.

For more on ETSU men's basketball throughout the offseason, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's hoops link.