Roy Williams' decision to call John Wall is not only a desperate move but the epitome of the eternal "Can you top this?" contest between Duke and Carolina I referenced in Duke's pursuit of Wall last week.
Look, UNC might be a point guard away from a third straight trip to the Final Four in 2010 (although I wouldn't count out Larry Drew II), so on some level it makes sense for Ol' Roy to call Wall, the highest-rated guard prospect in the class of 2009.
But the same desperate principle applies — UNC, like Duke, is one of the best universities in this country. How many fifth-year seniors can get into UNC, let alone one who has been to three different high schools in five years?
Wall's visit to Duke — three days after Coach K's public proclamation that he would find a point guard — was curious. This move by Williams is downright laughable, viewed through the prism of "Anything Duke can do, we can do better."
Perhaps it's understandable, given the change in Wall's recruitment process, with John Calipari leaving Memphis for Kentucky, but it's still comical and a desperate last-ditch attempt to get the kid. At least Duke had previously been a player in the Wall sweepstakes.
Comments
Concerning "k"
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 13:01 — gestapoOh, coach Krzyncshbdkkfartfacenmvhn48j090fhbnfski. He needs to do something. What, I'm not sure. Perhaps it's time to remove your moustache (he's a dead ringer for the likes of Hitler). Possibly considering stopping the "blitzkrieg" activity of the "goon" Henderson. Maybe have Singler remove his Halloween mask next year. In any event, we sincerely offer up our middle finger of friendship to "k", this clone of Hitler, wishing you nothing less than a plague while recruiting!
Funny
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 10:43 — heelsno1This is way too funny and really strange. First, you label K as desperate, now Roy.
John Wall should go to NC State. He will be totally embraced by the Wolfpack faithful, even if he is a one and done player. Also, Sydney Lowe played point on a national championship team. Neither K nor Roy did that.
In any event, Roy Williams is a lot of things but desperate, no. Coach K needs quickness at the point and more interior strength, but desperate...hardly.
Calipari
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 19:35 — the_wb91He does really dig Calipari and he still has the inside track. I can guarantee you if Strickland never signed with UNC, John would already be a signed UNC recruit. UNC's style fits his style to a tee. Plus, he has always been a fan since he was 11 years old.
Wrong.
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 20:48 — wog07That makes no sense, why go after Strickland (not a PG btw) when you could have the #1 PG in the nation? Also, before Strickland signed with UNC, Roy said he wanted nothing to do with Wall and Clifton. Kinda hard to guarantee something that even your coach didn't want. Or are you calling your coach a liar?
He's trying to get in with Wall now simply because he realizes Duke now has a chance and Duke will be scary next year if Wall commits there.
I guess
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 23:57 — jeromfitzthere is a timetable and it appears someone might be leaving the UNC Tar Heels if they win it all. Roy Williams got great guards on the way anyways but one soon to be great one to add in isn't bad at all. Who knows Mr. Wall needs to prepare his game for the next level after college ball. Most people talk of one year of college and he's done. Why not go the places where NBA champions are made of from training with UNC. More space to play in then the other college choices on the table. Mr. Wall do what ever he thinks to create a basket while playing at UNC. Mr. Wall problem might be discipline. Is he that patient enough not bum rush to the NBA and settle to play for UNC for two or three years. Either way it's your life and how hard you will to work anyway. Nothing is given in the NBA unless you're prepared to play in the NBA. He'll have the most TV explosure ever with UNC.
Wow
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 03:42 — wog07Were you drunk when you posted this? A lot of it makes no sense. Name one NBA champion Roy has developed at UNC. Obviously there would be more space to play on a team like NC state or Baylor, so that doesn't make sense either. Not sure what explosure means. Questions end with a ? mark.
don't know
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 19:32 — the_wb91I know personally that John Wall is a UNC fan and not a State or Duke fan. That @$$ hole Clifton who I know has an issue with UNC since before he went to Clemson. UNC actually was recruiting their current signee Dexter Strickland first before John hit the spot light Dexter held out accepting UNC's offer for a while. As soon as UNC became interested in Wall Dexter accepted immediately... kind of tying Roy's hands as far as recruiting another guard.
Spinning
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 03:26 — wog07Roy lied when he said he didn't want to deal with Wall? It was actually because he already signed Dex? So instead of stating the truth, he lied and said he didn't want to deal with Clifton. That makes sense. Lollers. Yet now he's recruiting Wall.
And it doesn't always matter who a kid's favorite school is.
Spin
Wow
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 01:41 — wog07Were you drunk when you posted this? A lot of it makes no sense. Name one NBA champion Roy has developed. Obviously there would be more space to play on a team like NC state or Baylor, so that doesn't make sense either. Not sure what explosure means. Questions end with a ? mark.
Re: Wow
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 02:29 — joedaggPaul Pierce
Re: Wow
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 03:51 — wog07That slipped my mind. OK, Danny Ferry. Your turn.
Fact: Duke has sent more players to the NBA than any other school in the nation.
recount
Mon, 04/06/2009 - 15:00 — heelsno1Now way Duke has developed more NBA talent than UNC. While I do not know the numbers, my quess is that UCLA probably heads the list and then UNC.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 21:46 — wog07LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Desperate act by Joe Gigio
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 21:33 — joedaggTo get a few hits on his sorry blog. Sorry clown, you have failed again. Try writing some truth next time. The next column was about Wall saying that UNC is not recruiting him. I expect a correction soon, otherwise your credibility and integrity as a writer has (if it hasn't already) been lost.
Yeah
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:17 — wog07Roy calls an elite prospect that he hasn't recruited in the past, three days before the final four, with all that on his mind and the pressure along with it, the week after Calipari takes a new head coaching job. Just to ask how he's doing and making sure he's alright. Nothing about his thoughts of following Calipari or going to Duke, nothing about him possibly considering UNC.
If you believe that, you are either a fool or unwilliing to accept the truth/read between the lines.
Re: Yeah
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:22 — joedaggIf it is true then it is true, why would it be an act of desperatoin? Wall would be a one-and-done player who's recruitment has just turned upside down with Calipari bolting for UK. Roy is not a desperate coach and UNC is not a desperate program, we'll be fine next season without a great PG but Roy was probably looking to gauge Wall and where his intentions lie but you'd think he'd enter the sweepstakes earlier since he obviously knew we'd have a PG deficiency next season.
Guess what?
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 23:48 — wog07You're making the exact same arguments that duke fans did in the "desperate act by Duke" article. I never said either school is desperate for Wall, and that has nothing to do with what I previously replied, but this is still too funny. Lots of backpedaling and hypocrisy by tarheel nation today.
The fact is neither coach is desperate - the situation with Wall now that Calipari is in Kentucky has opened up some new windows. Both schools need a PG for one year.
Personally I think he's just using both schools for more publicity and hype, and maybe even a fatter paycheck from Calipari.
The fact that he's taking an official to Miami is laughable - we know he's not going to Miami. But who can resist South Beach?
Tar Heel Nation?
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 00:46 — joedaggI'm one poster, no need to generalize an entire fan base. You had the word "desperatoin" and "UNC" in the same sentence, do you think that will go over well? Seriouslyk, if anybody is desperate it is Duke and K who are resorting to going after a shady character in Wall (a guy that needs 5 years to graduate high school), because he's getting his tail whopped by Roy in recruiting. We don't need or want Wall and the attempt was not desperate. Perhaps he genuinely cared for the kid since his future is so up in the air at this point.
lol
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 01:59 — wog07Find one sentence of mine that has desperatIOn and UNC in the same sentence.
So UNC can go after the kid because maybe they generally care about the kid, but Coach K is only recruiting him because of desperation? That's the spin on this situation I would expect from a tarheel fan with no real information but the desire to talk trash on the internet. Roy genuinely cares about the kid, but he only starts recruiting him when Calipari goes to Kentucky? Give me a break.
This is quoted from Duke star Jason Williams himself on SportsCenter the other night - "Coach K told me he can't guarantee I'll make it to the league, he can't guarantee I'll be a one-and-done, but he can guarantee that I will leave the Duke program as a better person and individual". If there's a coach who genuinely cares about John Wall, it's Coach K.
If K can get on the good side of Wall's AAU coach, he must be legit.
"We all left the meeting with the conclusion that it was worth exploring further," Clifton said. "I respect Coach K and the way that he goes about business. ... He was enough of a professional to deal with people based on who they really are, not on what he's heard they might be. I'd be comfortable with any of my guys learning from and being shaped and molded by a guy who's got that in his character."
Your argument is nothing but a biased view of an ignorant tarheel fan so I'm done discussing this with you.
You're a hack that is
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 02:39 — joedaggYou're a hack that is heaping hate on UNC for reason at all other than you're a freakin' hater. I'm not even in a position to "spin" anything, you're supposed to be the "unbiased" journalist but obviously from what I can tell you're just another ABC douchebag.
Wall has already said that Roy wasn't recruiting him but obviously your consumption of haterade has affected your already lacking reading comprehension. What is wrong with giving Roy the benefit of the doubt? He's not recruiting Wall, because he knows better than to deal with a player who cannot think for himself and is influenced by his AAU coach of all people. His AAU coach? Why don't his parents or anybody go on visits with him? He's not worth the trouble, even for a year.
Your argument is nothing but a biased view of an ignorant wanna be dookie and ABC clown.
this is funny
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 03:39 — wog07This guy thinks I'm JP Giglio. Your ignorance continues to impress as you ignore all of my facts and points, and say I'm "heaping hate on UNC" while I've even DEFENDED Roy in my posts.
1. I'm not J.P. Giglio. I'm not a journalist. I am a Duke fan. I don't rock the soulpatch.
2. It's obvious Roy is recruiting Wall, you even almost admitted it. This is way too circumstantial (www.freedictionary.com) for it to be just a check up call(see my above post)
3. His mom does go with him to visits - she met Coach K and came away very impressed. No evidence of Roy talking to her on the phone though. John doesn't have/know a dad, and his AAU coach has been his fatherly figure and has taught him the game of basketball. Regardless of Clifton's intentions, you can't fault Wall for that.
4. Obviously you know nothing about Wall's situation, but you are quick to label him a thug. Shows us a lot about YOUR character. Quick to give your coach the benefit of the doubt and quick to call Duke's coach desperate in the SAME RECRUITMENT. In the SAME WEEK.
Another swing, another miss.
lol
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 20:07 — gvillegatrlol. he isn't coming to Carolina.
But, if he does, book UNC into an Indianapolis hotel next year around this same time.