Murray State Basketball Signs Abdelgowad & Walker

Murray State men's basketball coach Steve Prohm announced the signing of 6-10 forward, Malek Abdelgowad and 6-4 guard, Shawn Walker, Jr. for the 2022-23 season.

Abdelgowad has two seasons to play for the Racers, while Walker has one season.

Malek Abdelgowad (F, 6-10) Cairo, Egypt
Out of Cairo, Egypt, Abdelgowad (pronounced AB-del-GO-WAHD) played in the USA the last two seasons at South Plains Community College in Levelland, Texas. He scored 427 points and grabbed 388 rebounds in 59 games with per game averages of 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds.

"We needed a quality front line player and Malek is that," said Prohm. "He comes from a highly respected program at South Plains and he had a big season in 2022-23. He brings size, length, has a great motor, runs the floor well and can rebound out of his area. The thing I like is that he knows who he is and what he can do. He's experienced as an international player having played for the Egyptian national program and he has played against great competition."

In the 2022-23 season, Abdelgowad grabbed 10 or more rebounds in six games with a season-high 13 against Howard College. He had two double-doubles including games against New Mexico Military (13 points/10 rebounds) and Midland (15 points/10 rebounds). His play with the Egyptian U18 National Team in 2020 totaled five games where he scored 6.6 points per game with 8.4 rebounds per game.

"Malek meant a lot to our team in the two seasons he was with us," said South Plains Coach Hayden Sowers. "He started more than 40 games for us and he's a winner. Malek is an elite rebounder and screener and has a great feel for how to play the game. His work ethic is fantastic and he's going to improve and immerse himself in the Murray State culture. I am looking forward to watching him take the next step in his career."

Shawn Walker, Jr. (G, 6-4) Elizabeth City, N.C.
Shawn Walker, Jr. joins the Racers after he started all 32 games in the 2022-23 season with the Mercer Bears.

Walker scored in double figures in 12 games, averaged 8.5 points per game and was second on the team with 60 assists. He had a career-high 23 points behind a career-best nine field goals against Milligan. Walker led the team in points in four time and six games in assists. He was sixth in the Southern Conference in 3-point field percentage at .398.

"Shawn has been coached really well and we're excited to have him with us," Prohm said. "He's the son of a college coach and he's going to bring a lot of maturity to our team because he understands what the Murray State program is all about. Shawn is versatile, because he can do a lot on offense and defense. There were two things we wanted to address: 3-point shooting and size and length on the perimeter, and we feel Shawn provides that."

Murray State University Athletics

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