GCHS Alumni in the News: Marcedes Walker at heart of Pitt women\’s resurgence

Bill\’s Note: Pitt Basketball Coach Agnus (McGlade) Berenato is a former resident of Gloucester City, and a graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School where she was star basketball player.

It began with promises.

With all of her Gloucester City gusto and Jersey jargon, Agnus Berenato sold The Big Girl on dreams of winning a Big East Conference title and NCAA championship. The fast-talking Pitt women\’s basketball coach then vowed to The Big Girl\’s grandmother that she would become the first in their family to earn a college degree.

Never mind that the Panthers were about to finish 6-20 that season, not even qualifying for the Big East tournament, let alone the NCAA. Nor that people were pushing Walker toward Rutgers if she qualified, junior college if she didn\’t.

The Big Girl found herself drawn to Berenato and her magnetic personality during a relentless recruitment. The 6-foot-3 center took a leap of faith after one final assurance.