May 13, 2004

JAMAICA, N.Y. - St. John's University head women's basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico has announced that two additional players have been added to the Red Storm's 2004-05 recruiting class. Chelsey Thompson and Tara Walker will both join St. John's for the fall 2004 semester.

Thompson, a transfer from the Globe Institute of Technology, was a high school All-State player at DuPont High School in Louisville, Ky. and led her team to its seventh-straight postseason as a junior. She was named to the 2000 Kentucky State Championships All-Tournament Team, after averaging 18 points and seven assists per game.

Prior to the Globe Institute, Thompson played for one season at Kansas, where she averaged 4.0 points and 3.1 rebounds as a freshman for the Jayhawks.

This past season at Globe, Thompson averaged 21 points per game, finishing ninth overall in scoring in D1 Junior College and led her team to the regional finals, earning All-Tournament honors.

A Street and Smith Preseason Honorable Mention All-American as a high school senior, Thompson is expected to add depth and size to the Red Storm backcourt next season. She possesses excellent range and her size, defensive abilities and ball handling skills enable her to add depth to various positions at St. John's.

Walker, a 5-9 guard from Jersey City, N.J., comes to St. John's after spending her last two years at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. Last season, she helped lead the Lady Tribunes to the NJCAA Division II National Championship, being named to the all-tournament team.

A standout for coach Bill DeFazio at Marist High School in Bayonne, N.J., Walker was a First Team All-State Selection, after finishing her high school career with over 2,000 points. She was chosen for and participated in the prestigious Nike Invitational Camp.

In addition, Walker was a NJCAA Division II First Team All-American, having led the team and placing 18th in the nation with 18.4 point per game, adding 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Also, she shot 52.6 percent (191-for-363) from the field and 70.0 percent (60-for-80) from the line. Walker was the Region III Most Valuable Player, also being named to the region's first team.