John Wall is probably going to be entering the NBA Draft this summer and in all likelihood will go to the team with the #1 pick. I looked at his play profile and his hometown is Raleigh, North Carolina. So I just have to ask, why is he attending the University of Kentucky? UK is without a doubt an excellent school academically and crazy about their Wildcats... But I just have to wonder he wouldn't have chosen Duke or North Carolina in his home state? Both of those schools are equally excellent for their basketball and educational programs. Its blatantly obvious he is not attending UK for his education. Maybe I'm wrong and he genuinely wanted to attend UK...but I highly doubt it. Sounds to me like some underhanded college recruiting. Its not necessarily or completely a negative since it brings money for improvement of the educational system and facilities, as well as providing extra money for scholarships for other students to attend the school. This is true for other top athletes in other sports as well. It also irritates me some people prefer college basketball over the NBA because of its "purity"..the fact the only money the players receive is in the form of scholarships. Yeah, right. And baseball is the only sport where steroid usage is rampant. Football players work their asses off while baseball players just cheat. End rant.
From what I recall, Wall looked at out-of-state schools from the very beginning, including even the Texas Longhorns. In basketball recruiting, it is very common for players to go out of state. Just look at the rosters for the top teams.
It's no secret that he was all about Calipari...when Calipari went to Kentucky it was pretty much a done deal that Wall was also headed there.
What a random thread. Just a few thoughts: -I think you're giving UK too much credit for being an "excellent school academically." -John Wall, from what I've read, is a pretty good student. Nevertheless, academic reputation of a school had no bearing on his decision. -He did make token visits to small schools in his region and even NC State. His final two were down to Miami and Kentucky. He really did like Miami (who wouldn't; if you're going to play ball for one year, why not in Miami?) and apparently gave a verbal to the Hurricanes. However it was inevitable that Calipari was going to get this kid. If Calipari was still at Memphis, that's where John Wall would be. You cannot deny the effects Calipari had with Rose and Evans. -As to why he didn't choose Duke or North Carolina, it's simple. He needed to be the star. It wasn't an ego thing, but those schools are loaded with top talent so he needed to be somewhere where he could show off his game. It's the same reason why mid-major schools land top recruits. John Wall and Kentucky were a perfect fit for each other.
There's plenty of prestigious basketball programs, only 1 player. A player doesnt and shouldnt have to be narrowed to a handful of "natural" choices. No matter where a 5-star player goes, he could have gone somewhere else. He could have been a Hawaii Rainbow Warrior if he wanted. If he'da done THAT going to the other U of H, that would make the question legitimate. Cuz naturally any 5 star player will have Kentucky near their radar. Seems in college football players are starting to spread themselves out more so they can be THE man. Instead of being 1 of many on the same team.
Football if different then basketball. If you are a stud RB you want to go to school with a good o line. If you are a WR you want to a school with a good qb, but in bball if you want to be THE man better to have a team with no other superstar players.
its not like cousins and bledsoe werent highly recruited. they could have went somewhere else and be the man too. more than anything its about the coaches forming relationships with the player. calipari might have got to him early, if not, then once cal did his runs at memphis with rose i'm sure wall saw that and went thats who i gotta play for. i really dont think its that big of an ego thing...maybe a little, but not too much, at least in wall's case.
I wish all the 1 yr guys would just go overseas and stop fooling around. Coaches cant even coach 1 year players because they know kids are only going to be there for 1 yr. So the coaches are more managers vs coaches. Most of those 1 and done kids dont even go to class which is another fraud.
World Wide Wes, trusted mentor of Lebron James, John Wall, and tons of other up and coming players, funnels his guys to John Calipari. Kentucky is probably hooking someone in Wall's family up with a 6 figure job this year as an 'assistant', perfectly legal in the NCAA.
As someone said Roy Williams didn't offer him a contract. John Wall grew up a UNC fan and wanted to go there but Williams didn't want him I guess.
As for Duke, coach K doesn't recruit one and done players anymore. Which is probably why he hasn't been back to the Final Four the past few years.
