Walker Interviews at 'Nova

University of New Mexico men's basketball assistant coach Chris Walker has interviewed for an assistant coaching position under Jay Wright at Villanova, the Journal has learned. Villanova is Walker's alma mater, where he once was a star point guard and later an assistant coach. "I have no comment at this time," Walker told the Journal on Saturday. When asked if he was considering the position, Walker said, "I just can't comment right now." UNM coach Steve Alford also told the Journal that he had "no comment at this time," but would "if something happens." Walker, the No. 2 assistant and top recruiter at UNM, interviewed at Villanova on Monday. The Wildcats, a Big East Conference power, got all the way to this season's Final Four, losing in the national semifinals to eventual NCAA Tournament champion North Carolina. For Walker, the move could be a big one - allowing him to reach one of college hoops elite leagues. The position, however, is likely to pay less than Walker's current three-year contract, which he has previously said runs through 2011, and pays "around $170,000 to $175,000" per year. During the past two years, Loboland has resembled a sequel to the former hit TV series, "Walker, Texas Ranger." Walker was the lead recruiter - and a prime reason - the program has landed an abun- dance of young talent from the Lone Star State, including Will Brown, Nate Garth, Phillip McDonald, A.J. Hardeman, Curtis Dennis, Kem Nweke, Matt Staff, Jamal Fenton and Isaiah Rusher. Brown, Garth, McDonald and Hardeman recently completed their freshman seasons, while Dennis sat out the year as a redshirt and will be a freshman in 2009-10. Staff, Fenton and Rusher have signed letters of intent with UNM for next season, while Nweke transferred to New Mexico in August 2007, but has yet to play because of medical reasons. All nine played AAU ball in Texas, where they had close ties to Walker - a former AAU coach in Houston. Most of them committed to New Mexico before even making an official recruiting trip. "Chris Walker is there, and I know he'll take care of me," forward Will Brown, a freshman this past season, said after committing to UNM in 2007. Walker was hired by Alford in the summer of 2007 to replace assistant Billy Garrett. Alford, who was hired at UNM on March 23, 2007, hired Garrett three weeks later. But Garrett quit the program less than a month later and the slot remained open until Walker was named coach on Aug. 2 - nearly two months later. Upon his hiring, Walker - who had been out of college coaching for two years and was coaching the prestigious AAU's T-Mac All-Stars in Texas - promised to bring a number of young stars to Loboland from the Houston area. He made good on his word. All of the aforementioned nine players committed to the Lobos after Walker's hiring, or word had already leaked out that he would be hired at New Mexico. Rusher failed to qualify academically last year, but is expected to be cleared this month. He has said all along he is definitely coming to New Mexico. Rusher has called Walker "a father figure" and Walker has previously said he has treated Rusher "like a son." Nweke, who transferred from South Alabama to UNM in the summer of 2007 - following Walker's hire - is likely to retire from basketball because of a series of knee surgeries. Nweke sat out the 2007-08 season as a redshirt transfer and missed last season because of the injuries. He said he hopes to remain at UNM to pursue a degree. Walker, who was born Dec. 25, 1969, graduated from Villanova in 1992 with a B.A. in communications. He was a two-time all-conference selection, starting 96 games for Rollie Massimino's Wildcats. He led Villanova in assists for three straight seasons, and played in the postseason all four of his seasons - two NCAAs and two NITs. Walker has also coached at Massachusetts under Steve Lappas, and was an assistant at Pepperdine, Vanderbilt and Loyola Marymount. Wright was an assistant coach at Villanova during Walker's playing days. Nova's run to this season's Final Four led to Wright's staff being plucked clean by schools hoping to capitalize on the 'Cats' success. Top assistant Patrick Chambers was hired as head coach at Boston University, creating that opening.