Men's Basketball Team Signs Sixth Player

Ordering the Combo

Garland Guard has Whole Package

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  New head coach Donnie Bostwick confirmed the addition of Jonathan Walter, the sixth recruited basketball player for Southwestern Assemblies of God University’s 2011-12 men’s team. A combo guard at 6’3, 190-pounds, Walter played at Garland High School.

Garland is an inner suburb, northeast of Dallas, with a population of over 225,000. He was a standout guard and forward who wore the gold and black for Coach Randy Love and the Garland Owls.

“Jonathan is going to surprise a lot of people next season,” said Coach Bostwick, who is in his first year at SAGU after twice winning National Coach of the Year honors at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. “He comes from a great program that is used to winning.”

Walter is one of the most versatile players in the incoming class, which has a half-dozen newcomers between 6-foot-3 and 6’5. 

“He is a complete player whose ability to do everything well adds to his upside,” Bostwick pointed out.  “He can shoot, pass, finish and defend.  Jonathan is a fine young man who excels in the classroom as well.”

Walter’s skills have allowed him to play at shooting guard, small forward as well as power forward, lending support for his physical prowess on the prep level. The son of Buddy Fuller and Cathy Walter is very athletic, and, like the other five recruits, can play at multiple positions.

The hard-working hoopster’s whole game includes the ability to shoot as well as guarding opponents.

As a senior he scored an average of 12.2 points per game for a Garland squad that finished with a 23-12 record. The Owls posted an 11-3 mark in District 10-5A, good enough for second place. He grabbed 5.1 rebounds and distributed 2.9 assists per contest.

Walter was the Owls’ team captain and was named their Offensive Player of the Year. He was also selected First Team All-District and was chosen on the All-Tournament Team of four separate events.

His junior campaign was very impressive, scoring 11.4, snaring 3.8 boards and passing for 2.4 assists. Garland High racked up a 22-9 overall ledger as well as a 9-3 district record. Walter was on the All-District Honorable Mention team and still rated as the district’s Defensive Player of the Year.

As a sophomore Walter’s Owls went 23-8 in all games and 9-3 in District action. He was also honored as his team’s Most Improved Player.

Building the Purple Pride

The Lions had a 12-19 won-lost record last season, and qualified for post-season play. With trio of the nation’s best performers returning, Coach Bostwick is building a core of incoming players to complement them.

Ronald Horne (Waco, Tx / Waco HS) scored more points than anyone in the NAIA while averaging 23.5 ppg.  Jared Gibson (Dallas, Tx / Plano West HS) was second in the NAIA in three-point baskets made (103). Nathaniel Duce Ward (Waco, Tx / Connally HS) was the country’s best rebounder, hauling in 12.3 caroms per outing. Horne and Gibson will be senior guards, while Ward, a forward, will be a junior.

About Southwestern

Southwestern is a member of the Red River Athletic Conference, with 15 schools from four states. SAGU is a participant in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Christian College Athletic Association. The NAIA has about 300 members, while NCCAA has near 50.

SAGU will also broadcast most of the Lions home games on the internet, via the SAGU Sports Live network. High Definition video streaming of games should begin in January, though the exact schedule has not been announced. The SSL production is probably the best of any NAIA school.

The Lions will begin their season with a pair of games in Shawnee, Oklahoma during November 4-5.

SAGU Recruiting Class

Contact:  Mark “Link” Warde, Southwestern Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.