Storrs — UConn's Megan Walker, the 2020 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, announced Saturday that she will forgo her final year of eligibility and declare for the upcoming WNBA Draft.

Walker, a 6-foot-1 junior forward from Chesterfield, Virginia, led the Huskies in scoring (19.7 points per game) and averaged 8.4 rebounds per game. She was named Most Outstanding Player of the recent AAC tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena.

She scored 1,251 points in three seasons at UConn and is projected to be a first-round pick in the WNBA draft. The draft is currently scheduled to held April 17, but could change because of coronavirus concerns.

"After much consideration and thought with my family, I have decided to forgo my senior season and enter the WNBA draft," Walker said in a statement released by the UConn athletic department. "Due to the unfortunate circumstances that caused the cancellation of the NCAA tournament, it saddens me that I was not able to finish my junior season in the way that I would have liked. I am, however, ready to move on to the next phase of my life and career.

"I would like to thank the University of Connecticut, my coaches, teammates, and the athletic staff for their support and for embracing me over the last three years. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the fans for all their support and making me feel loved over my UConn career. I will forever be a Husky and wish the best for UConn in the future.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma, in the same release, said: "During a player's college career, they're working toward certain goals, and when you have an opportunity to reach a certain goal that you set for yourself, I think it's important that you have an opportunity to take it.

"Meg's decided this is the right time for her to take advantage of this opportunity. Obviously, she had an incredible season this year and is incredibly talented. We support her 100% and we're going to support her going forward. We wish her the best of luck as she begins her pro career."

Walker, ranked the No. 1 player coming out of high school by espnW in 2017, is the third player in program history to leave school with eligibility, but the first to declare after just three seasons. Ex-Huskies Morgan Tuck and Azura Stevens both left with one year of eligibility remaining and four years of college.

There will be no seniors on next season's UConn roster, with current sophomores Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa taking on the role of being the most veteran players on the team. Also returning will be freshmen Anna Makurat and Aubrey Grifffin and transfer Evina Westbrook, who sat out the season per NCAA mandate after arriving from the University of Tennessee.

The returnees will be joined by five freshmen, including the No. 1 player in the Class of 2020 in 5-foot-11 guard Paige Bueckers from Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Also members of the incoming class are 6-2 guard Aaliyah Edwards from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 6-5 forward Piath Gabriel from Manchester, New Hampshire, 5-11 guard Mir McLean from Owings Mills, Maryland, and 5-10 guard Nika Muhl from Zagreb, Croatia.

In a conference call with reporters Friday, Auriemma said he was fairly certain everyone was returning, but said he was caught off guard with Stevens' decision after the 2018 Final Four.

"As I'm talking to you right now, I have no reason to think anybody that's able to come back, won't be coming back," Auriemma said.

v.fulkerson@theday.com