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John Wall makes his pick

Submitted by timstevens on 05/19/2009 - 10:57

johnwall News & Observer file photo

• See a photo gallery of John Wall in action

John Wall, the top-ranked high school basketball player in the country, is heading to the University of Kentucky.

Wall plans to have a press conference on Wednesday to make his official announcement, but the Raleigh Word of God point guard confirmed at school this morning that he will join the Wildcats.

"I had a group of great schools, and I admire them all," Wall said today. "But the relationship I had with Coach Cal [Kentucky coach John Calipari] was the biggest factor."

Asked if it was a difficult choice, Wall said that once he sorted through his options, picking Kentucky, "was an easy decision."

Memphis had been the leader for the 6-foot-4 point guard before Calipari left the Conference USA program this spring for the head coaching job at Kentucky.

Wall also was being recruited by Duke, N.C. State, Baylor, Miami, Florida and Kansas. Although North Carolina coach Roy Williams telephoned Wall from the Final Four, the Tar Heels never officially joined the hunt.

Wall said Calipari has not promised him a starting role or guaranteed him playing time.

"He told me that it would be competitive, and I'd have a chance to compete for the starting job," Wall said. "I'm looking forward to graduating from high school and moving on to my college career."

At Kentucky, Wall will play for Calipari and could follow the path of Derrick Rose, the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year who played one year under Calipari at Memphis. As a freshman, Rose led Memphis to the 2008 NCAA title game before leaving school, as the Chicago Bulls made Rose the first pick of the 2008 NBA draft.

By adding Wall, Kentucky cements what scout.com analyst Dave Telep said might be one of the strongest recruiting classes of all time. Telep rates Wall as the second-best player in the Class of 2009.

The Wildcats’s class also includes 6-foot-9 forward DeMarcus Cousins of Mobile, Ala, who’s rated No. 3 by Telep, and 6-foot 9 center Daniel Orton of Oklahoma City, who Telep rated No. 17. The class even includes another top point guard, Eric Bledsoe of Birmingham, Ala.

Telep said that when this Wildcats recruiting class joins a roster that already includes forward Patrick Patterson, there will be high expectations that Kentucky will play in the Final Four in Indianapolis next season.

"I think right now everybody’s on notice," Telep said. "This is old school Kentucky right now, and the rest of the country has been served notice. This is the real deal. These guys are coming after players, they're getting guys, and they have a powerful product to sell."

After failing to get Wall, Triangle schools Duke and N.C. State likely are done recruiting for this fall's incoming class, Telep added.

Duke is bringing in McDonald’s All-America post players in 6-foot-10 Ravenscroft product Ryan Kelly and 6-foot-11 Miles Plumlee of Christ School in Arden, N.C. near Asheville.

State's six-player class includes highly regarded 6-4 guard Lorenzo Brown of Roswell, Ga., and 6-7 forward Richard Howell of Marietta, Ga.

Both schools have commitments from point guards in the Class of 2010.

"There's not a guy out there right now that you go to (to replace Wall)," Telep said. "After you don't get John, it was a chance. It was a chance taken and a chance well worth taking. But I don't think you can go out and replace him now. I don't think that's what they're thinking.”

— Staff writer Ken Tysiac contributed to this report.

Comments

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Thu, 12/31/2009 - 02:09 — DentalImplantsB...

I like john wall and i am the fan of him. He is the top-ranked high school basketball player in the country. His dunks and suits on the basket are mindblowing.
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John Wall wearing Boots

Mon, 09/28/2009 - 16:55 — BootsBasketball

I have 2 passions. Boots and Basketball. I Love John Wall. I would love to see him wearing boots and walking in to University of Kentucky. A brown cowboy boots will definitely suit him. Please John can you once remove your nike and where a boot of you choice.
We Love John.

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sour grapes

Tue, 06/02/2009 - 13:35 — bluecat

u guys look stupid with your jealous comments about john wall u know any program would love to have him,say something nice about him and maybe he will not beat u so bad next yr.

I'm leaving Friday to go to

Mon, 07/06/2009 - 13:25 — riyanjason

I'm leaving Friday to go to Miami, and I may be back Saturday night. I won't take anymore visits to any of the schools once I get back. internet service providers I'm just going to use that time to look over everything and get ready to make my decision. Hopefully I can make it soon ... I think I know where I want to go. I'm getting pretty close, but I need to look at things and make sure I make the right decision.

How Many KY Jerseys?

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 12:33 — jeromfitz

is Mr. Wall going to sell as a freshman. I know I got have one just for the respect of a should be NBA bound player from high school. It disrespectful if they can't predict you game plan transitioning on the court. I know Mr. Wall could have found any school USA to improve his jumpshot abilities. He is still in his baby diapers waiting to get potty train about the x's and o's of next level before the NBA drafts him instantly. Mr. Wall got four years or more to improve on a jumpshot. I think he got a jumpshot right now but he won't show it because it would make him too complete of a player. They'll see a zone buster at KY his freshman year.

I'm glad

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 22:18 — jeromfitz

Mr. Wall found a way to school of his collegiate choice. Everything in KY is a new being to great career before the NBA. Wish you the best...in NCAAAA!!!!! I might have make KY a top four pick in the rankings. Here comes a wildcat ya'll. I'll see you later.

Give it a rest

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 22:14 — lakers12

I am so tired of you no playing old farts, jealousy people speaking of things you dont know. Everything that is put in the papers are not true. You are so quick to hang the young man. I wonder how many of you have sat down and have an actually conversation with Mr. Wall. He is a kid with a hugh decision. I bet all you want a be would love to be in his shoes. But you cant cause you cant play the game. You guys are just simply.

old farts

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 08:53 — bluecat

you are correct!!!!!!!

position decision next

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 20:29 — morgannyy

It should only take him 2-3 years now to decide what position he wants to play. Then 2 or 3 years to determine what size uniform, etc.

All the best to John and his mother!

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 20:14 — google

All the best to John Wall and his mother. Calipari may have a different sort of problem with (now) ~16 signed players -- isn't that more than is allowed? Regardless of who these guys play for, I hope that each of these recruits qualify to play academically. Isn't that what college is for?

only butch davis

Wed, 05/20/2009 - 19:12 — gvillegatr

No. It is only illegal and unethical for Butch Davis to over recruit. no one else.

You can blow this off all you want........

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 19:28 — unc1dmo

You can blow this 1 and done off...... all you want........

But ol Roy Boy who seemed to never be in the WALL loop..or even wanted to be.....

now has front court players and SG's out the WAZZOO ...but 1 BACK UP at best PG...who is a munchkin....that CANNOT shoot......

Now he'll have to play shuffling SG's to cover his XXX.....and since he has never WON jack without the BEST PG in the region (Felton/ Lawson)......

I wouldn't be making non refundable reservations for Indianapolis to see the HEELS.

Get real

Thu, 05/21/2009 - 10:18 — heelsno1

unc1dmo,

Your negative and cynical posts about Roy Williams are annoying. You berated his coaching capabilities throughout March and even during the Tar Heels' totally dominant stretch drive to capture the 2009 national title. UNC's team performances may have been the most powerful display throughout the NCAA tournament since the Wooden era at UCLA.

Drop the negativity about Roy and smell the roses. After all, Coach Williams and his staff have won 2 titles since arriving in Chapel Hill. Larry Drew II will continue to develop with more minutes next season and hopefully Ginyard will be fully recovered. Next season, Carolina will have returning bigs who are awesome players plus a top group of incoming freshman. From my perspective, the biggest challenge will be replacing the 3-point shooting capabilities of Lawson, Ellington and Green. Next year's team will have to emphasize team defense throughout the season, not just at tournament time.

I trust Roy's judgement on

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 20:12 — TheBigGuy

I trust Roy's judgement on this one. We are not a program that deals with "handlers". We'll get a PG if we need one down the road.

Another Michael Vick

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 17:25 — esteban1949

wanna be in the making...and trust those cops there in Lexington will NOT Be so understanding there...who knows though...maybe if he gets tazed a time or 2..he just might go there and learn something and get a degree in something useful...but i will not hold my breath..why ?? any college worth their salt wouldn't take him...so what does that tell you about the integrity of college sports...$$$$$$$

Go Canes !!

sour grapes

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 09:01 — bluecat

you know the canes would loved to have john wall, but he was not interested in a third rate team, he wanted to go to the best program in bb.. go duke!!!!!!!!!!

Perfect Match

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 16:41 — deansmith

One-and-done player goes to play for a one-and-done coach. IMHO, "Coach Cal" does little to improve the players that he inherits...academically or athletically speaking. All-in-all, the perfect destination (and thankful end to the daily Wall speculation).

Maybe he'll pull those fugly 1996 unis out of retirement?

Ho Humm

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 15:11 — bbadwolf

Again, this time with feeling. Ho Humm!

Telep the pole loving Tool.

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 14:54 — joropa

Telep, You really make me chuckle with your admiration for Calipari and Kentucky. I for one had hope that there might have been more positive local media hype for Wall to play at State. The kid would have made more of an impact at State then he can ever make at Kentucky. Instead it was a bunch of Brian Clifton and Calipari sphincter kissing on your behalf. I can't figure out if am more excited that the Wall recruitment is over so the kid can carry on with his life or because I won't have to listen to you talk about how you sat next to Coach Lowe at a recruits basketball game the night before only to hear you slam him down the next day on the radio. Jerk!

Try not to break and enter while youre there for one year.

John Wall makes his pick

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