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Reports: Wall to Kentucky
Submitted by jpg on 05/19/2009 - 08:17
The great American recruiting chase for John Wall will end with Kentucky, according to Slam magazine, Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Wall, the super point guard prospect from Raleigh's Word of God, apparently has chosen the Wildcats over a raft of offers from Duke, N.C. State, Miami, Baylor, Memphis and Florida.
Wall told Scout.com that his relationship with new Kentucky coach John Calipari was a key factor in his decision.
"It was a great job he did the last two years with his guards,” Wall said in a Scout.com interview. "I think my relationship with Coach Cal pushed them over. The other coaches did a great job but that relationship got them
over."
Rivals.com spoke to Brian Clifton, Wall's travel coach and advisor.
"We had an at-length conversation last night," Clifton told Rivals.com. "He felt that the risks that were
at Kentucky were acceptable risks for him.""
Calipari had courted Wall to Memphis, where he groomed a pair of one-and-done point guards in the past two seasons. When Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky on April 1, it extended Wall's recruiting process.
Considered the best point guard prospect in the country, Wall went to three different high schools in five years in the Triangle. He exploded onto the national recruiting scene two summers ago at a camp in Philadelphia.
He was first pursued by the Wolfpack, then Duke joined the fray and even UNC's Roy Williams made a late call to Wall during the Final Four. Instead of staying home, Wall apparently went with Calipari.
This would be the second time in three years Duke has lost out on a top-flight recruit, late in the signing process, to Kentucky (forward Patrick Patterson in '07).
About the blogger
J.P. Giglio covers the ACC for the News & Observer, where he has worked since 1997. Want to post a comment?
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Comments
ESTEBAN1949
Mon, 06/01/2009 - 12:11 — bluecatWHAT IMAGE, LOOSER, THAT IS YOUR IMAGE, AND U KNOWVERY WELL THAT EVERY NCS FAN WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE GENTLEMAN JOHN WALL. GO DUKE!!!!!!!!
Big Green Envy directed at the Big Bluegrass State
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 13:37 — BigBlueCatFanSay negative things about Mr. Wall all you want. He's ours, he came from NC, and we've got the best recruited class ever at UK. One of best recruited classes ever from any school. Patterson withdrew from the draft and Meeks still can. Good luck next year. The Cats are back where they belong. Even if we only get the 5-star guys for a year we're going to be great next year. I'll take it. I couldn't even watch the NIT games. NIT is not even part of my vocabulary. Seth Davis once said that UK fans wish they were Duke fans. The tables have turned today.
one things for sure
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 19:21 — gvillegatrno fan from UNC, DUIke or ncsu will ever be jealous of Kentucky. period.
Sour Grapes Much
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 09:55 — capecruSour grapes... sour grapes... sour grapes. Your negative comments on "the ACC doesn't need John Wall" or "tarnishing the school's image" or even calling the kid a thug are just that... sour grapes. Where were these comments 2-3 weeks ago when he hadn't made a decision yet? Oh I know... you were too busy rubbing your school's stuffed mascot wishing that he picks your school! The kid made his choice; let it go and move on. Either wish him well or ill will, but please discontinue portraying yourselves as disgruntled sore losers. And I don't believe a "citation" merits an arrest record...
Not sour grapes
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 12:15 — mayberry_lady1You must not have been reading comments for the past two months. Most were not positive on his choosing UNC or Duke....NC State fans seemed split on the matter. I guess you were rubbing your school's stuffed mascot wishing he would pick YOUR school. As a UNC fan, I'd never support choosing a known 'one and done'. I believe in team play and that doesn't include one year super stars using you as a stepping stone. I don't support them even if they are UNC players. I wish all players would finish their four years, but with $$$ waved in their face, that gets harder and harder.
Hope it's true.
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 09:37 — JPDOhioScoutHoops.com and Scout.com have reported this as well, so it sounds like it might be true. That's good news, because now we can be spared the daily John Wall updates that got so tedious.
All the negativity posted so far might seem like sour grapes to the losers in the recruiting battle, but I don't think so. There are enough inconsistencies with this kid that show at best a lack of maturity and at worst poor character. For all his apparent talent, he is not a risk-free recruit.
John does seem to be NBA-ready when it comes to trite public statements. According to Scout.com, John made his final decision after consulting with those close to him and then praying. Excuse me while I disgorge my breakfast.
I agree, NCSU, UNC, and Duke
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 09:21 — Steven252525I agree, NCSU, UNC, and Duke do not need that type of player.
Wall to Kentucky??
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 09:09 — finatic806Guess that is where the money was? Kentucky with Calipari will be on probation within two years for recruiting violations. Wall should fit right in given he has a arrest on his record now.
The heck with the guy for not wanting to stick around and play locally.
Good luck you thug!
NO. 1 CHEATER
Mon, 06/01/2009 - 12:05 — bluecatYOU GOT CALIPARI MIXED UP WITH OL ROY, HE IS THE ONE WHO GOT KANSAS PUT ON PROBATION, REMEMBER THAT , HE WAS THE ONE THAT GOT CAUGHT HANDING OUT MONEY, AND THEN SAID HE DIDNT THINK THAT WAS A VIOLATION,DUH!!!!GO DUKE
Why Slam magazine?
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 09:06 — mayberry_lady1Isn't it odd that a magazine announces this news and newspapers are totally unaware? Where's the big press conference? Where's the 'inside scoop' from the N&O? Could be this is just speculation on Slam's part? Don't get me wrong, I think Wall is a two sided coin for any college program. He may be good, but he won't be good for the program. Sounds like Kentucky is willing to bend to get Wall there........glad it wasn't an ACC team! Hope that 'bend' doesn't start a back-breaking fall for Kentucky....wait a minute, Yes I do!
From another article, the stage is being set for the dismantling of the Kentucky "team"
"The risk for Wall, who is a perfect fit to follow former Memphis standouts Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans in Calipari's Dribble Drive offense, is that he isn't the only point guard on the Kentucky roster. DeAndre Liggins returns, and Calipari already landed five-star point guard Eric Bledsoe in this incoming recruiting class."
what about this is surprising?
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 09:42 — acc_hoops_fan73178Press conferences are overated anyway. A high schooler making a decision is not carried on TV except for maybe ESPNU and who watches that? Did you see Derrick Favors' newsconference? How about Michael Snaer? Exactly! SLAM magazine is on every newstand. I'm surprised more kids aren't doing this.
I don't know how you can say John Wall won't be good for the program. Calipari has always been able to blend these types of personalities together. And he wins. You may not like Calipari's personality or the way he runs a program, but he wins. Kentucky has to be a favorite to win the national championship next season especially if Jodie Meeks returns (which is expected). John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Eric Bledsoe, and Jon Hood come in to play with Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks? They could be scary good.
I Be Glad
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 08:46 — esteban1949Wall is going to go there...The tar heels or wolf pack don't a Michael Vick wanna be tarnishing the schools image or integrity. But seeing I am NOT A fan of college sports...what would I know ???
The Easleys took over the news
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 08:44 — FloydTurboCould it be that Wall finally signed only after "The Easleys" pushed him off the local front page. He couldn't read about himself every day so might as well get on with it.