MELBOURNE, Fla. – Throughout February, Florida Tech Athletics is celebrating the Black men and women who have had a profound impact on Panther Athletics.
One of the most dynamic players to ever don the Crimson and Gray, Peter Walcott brought excitement and an impact every time he took the floor at the Percy Hedgecock Gymnasium. If you weren't there to see his acrobatics during the mid-1990s, a look through the Panther record book and Sunshine State Conference honors will tell you all you need to know about one of the most prolific players in program history.
Walcott came to Melbourne from Montreal in the fall of 1991 and had huge shoes to fill in the form of fellow Montrealers Dwight Walton and the Mike and Astley Smith, who had graduated the previous spring after leading the Panthers to their first two NCAA Tournament berths. If Walcott felt any pressure to live up to that standard, he sure didn't show it, as he earned the SSC Freshman of The Year award thanks to averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 assists per game. In addition, he was named to the All-SSC Third Team.
As a sophomore, Walcott was the leading scorer for the Panthers at 15.1 points per game while also averaging around three assists, three rebounds and three steals per game. He etched his name in Panther lore following a record-breaking performance during a 78-67 road win over No. 15 Florida Southern on January 27, 1993. Walcott's 18 made free throws in the game set the school record for consecutive free throws made and tied the record for most free throws made in a game. He received his first of three straight First Team All-SSC awards following the 1992-93 season.
As a junior in 1993-94, Walcott again led the Panthers in scoring at 17.3 points per game. Walcott scored double-figures in 23 of 27 games during the 1993-94 campaign, including a season-best 31 points against Eckerd College. He was also first on the team in assists, steals and minutes played. His performance would earn him a second straight All-SSC First Team honor.
As a senior during the 1994-95 season, Walcott averaged a team-best 16.7 points per game as Florida Tech went 17-10 with a 10-4 mark in the SSC. He also led the team with 1.5 steals per game while also averaging three rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Walcott capped off his collegiate playing career with yet another All-SSC First Team award, garnering an all-conference nod during every season of his Panther career in the process.
Walcott never missed a game in his four seasons and graduated from Florida Tech as the program's all-time leader in steals and assists and was second most in career points with 1,688. Today, he stands as the fourth highest scorer in program history and ranks fifth in steals (163) and 10th in field goals made (521). He also tops the list for most free throws made (566) and attempted (784). He joins fellow Panther Hall of Famer Dwight Walton as the only Panthers to earn three consecutive First Team All-SSC selections.
After No. 42 left the hardwood for the last time in a Panther uniform, Walcott graduated in 1995 with a degree in business management. He would go on to have a professional career in Europe and would later serve as an assistant coach back in his hometown of Montreal at Dawson College.
Walcott was inducted into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class.
Today, Walcott is a data processor for the Lester B. Pearson School Board in Quebec.
