The Early Bird Seems To Be In Good Shape To Land Word of God Academy’s Jon Wall

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As we all know the staff has been sitting squarely behind the proverbial 8-ball since arriving. I think that Coach G and Co. did a good job piecing together top 15 classes in 07′ and 08′. Sometimes you just need time to catch up to the curve. After sprinting full speed for over a year, the Cat’s appear to be poised for a run on top talent. 2009 should should breathe athleticism & fresh air into a demoralized fan base. Soon the the holy sanctuary of basketball imortality that Rupp built, will rumble with joy and delight, as we.. my friends are in the middle of the revival. Word of God Academy’s Jon Wall is the kid atop of a ever growing list of 2009 players to give  the Cats a hard look.  

2009 will no doubt be the season in which the Cats burst back into the top 10 in recruiting. One of the top targets for the Cats was tabbed sometime ago ,6′4 PG Jon Wall. I am sure that you guys are plenty familiar with the name already. Wall was recently tabbed the top recruit in the class by the nations most respected publication(s) rivals.com. Wall has been on campus at least 3 times already and really likes the direction the team is heading. If this freakishly talented player would commit to the Cats it would put the national spotlight the following season smack dab in the middle of Kentucky. With the recent ratings spike provided by Freshman phenoms Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love and Derrick Rose, ESPN would be all over the all ready ultra profitable Cats. I know that I am getting a bit ahead of myself because Mr. Wall has recently said that he is still “wide open”.  I know that Memphis may be involved with him as well as N.C. State and a small group of the creme de la creme of college ball. Another factor that may weigh heavy into Wall’s decision is that his teammate C.J. Leslie ( a Junior to be) has verbally committed to play for Coach Lowe at N.C. State. I am however, far more optimistic than I was this time last year when Brandon Jennings, listed UK (before committing to Arizona) about the teams chances with Wall. The One thing that I can say for sure, is that the Cats got in early on Wall. When your coming down the stretch sometimes a good break is the difference in the race. Below are links to a few articles about Wall if you want to familarize yourself about some of the young mans accomplishments.

PG John Wall (Raleigh, NC; D-One Sports; Rivals #1)

Recruiting experts have made the comparison between Wall and Derrick Rose, and with good reason. Wall (6’4, 184) is explosive in getting to the basket and is a more than capable finisher. And he’s also very adept at setting up his teammates, a requirement for any reputable point guard. Two issues for John: the outside shot is still a work in progress, almost mechanical at times. And on the defensive end of the floor, times of focus are followed by moments in which you wonder if he even knows who he should be guarding.

Still the best pure point in his class, look for Wall to possibly be one of the movers up into the top five in his class with a good summer. Like Sidney, he’s also got a broad list of schools to look at, with just about the entire ACC looking to acquire his services. 

http://www.collegehoopsnet.com/new/arizona-cactus-classic-scouting-reports-john-wall-renardo-sidney-amp-more-42370

Word Of God Claims Title

The Rams got the usual spectacular highlight plays from junior John Wall and sophomore C.J. Leslie, but also once again there would have not been a win without the solid contributions of Richard Denning (7 points), Lance Beckwith (11 points), Dezmine Wells (3 points), and all-tournament selection Milton Chavis (10 points).

Leslie (19 points, six rebounds) was named the most outstanding player, with Wall (14 points, three assists) winning the most valuable player.

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/852486.html

The 6-foot-4 Wall is being courted by a ton of schools but has already made several trips to Lexington and told me recently that U of L has started to show string interest. He’s also been offered a scholarship and is being courted by IU.

“Everybody is still in the mix right now,” said Wall, who mentioned all three schools along with a handful of others in the interview with The Courier-Journal. “It’s kind of hard because there are so many schools,

“Everybody says I can’t do it, so I am trying to get better,” Wall said. “I want to be a better leader and I know in college I will have to shoot the ball better, so I am working hard.”

“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself,” Wall said. “I’m just having fun. I am happy to have this opportunity and I am going to enjoy it.”

The interest from U of L has come in the past month or so and Wall said playing for coach Rick Pitino would be a drawing card.

“I watched their game against (North) Carolina and it was a good one,” Wall said. “They have said they’re going to recruit me hard. I have heard a lot of good things about coach Pitino.”

Wall said UK is still in the picture and said he has enjoyed his visits to Lexington.

“I liked it a lot,” Wall said. “Like I said, everybody is still in the mix.”

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/labels/John%20Wall.html

I attented the Glaxo Tournament over the break at Broughton High School where I saw Wall play and Dawkins was there every night. At least one of the nights Roy was there to see Larry Drew and Sidney Lowe was there to see C.J. Leslie. After watching Wall play there is no doubt that he has talent, but I don’t know if he is Duke material. When I say that I don’t mean basketball material. Coach K is very picky about the guys he recruits and I don’t really see Wall fitting in the Duke system. He is very flashy and show boaty and he was probably the best player there but he let everyone know it. I also noticed several times where he would call for a lob and not get it or one of his teammates would shoot and he would get upset and begin pouting and walking toward the defensive end of the court. I would guess that Dawkins noticed the same thing, I guess it is just a question of whether they think this is something that can be changed or not. I was sitting beside a Division 1-AA coach who said he wouldn’t be surprised if Wall ends up at State??? Don’t know how reliable that is, his guess could be as good as anybody’s. The kid I was really impressed with is Reggie Bullock from Kinston High School. He is around 6′5-6′6, a sophomore, and is as smooth as they come. He hit several three’s in the first two games and has very good athleticism. He got injured the third day and was unable to play. Dawkins did hang around for his games and I hope he took note. – Tourney notes 1/2/08

Memphis has the chance to pull in one of the sickest recruiting classes in history next year. John Wall, Xavier Henry, and Karron Johnson all have Memphis at the top of their list. I’d say Wall and Johnson are near locks and Henry is between Kansas and Memphis. But, it’d be ridiculous.

John Wall = Derrick Rose
Xavier Henry = left-handed Kobe Bryant
Karron Johnson = muscular version of CDR

 

 Memphis on my mind

Two of the most talented prospects at the Invitational both have Memphis as their leaders at this point. Speedy point guard John Wall

is one of them.

“Memphis is on top,” said Wall when asked about his recruitment. “Coach Calipari called my dad the other day, and I spoke recently with Coach Kellog. He said they want me to come down and see the campus and meet Derrick Rose

. They feel I have a lot of similarities to him. That is a great compliment, but I’m not letting it go to my head. I want to stay humble.”

Playing with a new cast of characters with the South Carolina Ravens, Wall never quite found his groove although he raced his way to 23 points and got to the line 12 times in a loss to the New York Gauchos, who got 29 points from 2010 standout Doron Lamb

.

One of Wall’s teammates this weekend, Karron Johnson

is also quite high on the Tigers.

“Memphis is number one,” said Johnson. “I like their style of play-up and down the court. Plus my best friend Shawn Taggart

is on the team. We grew up in the same neighborhood.”

After Memphis, listed Seton Hall, Virginia, Georgetown, LSU, Miami and USC as schools of interest and also claimed offers from all of them.

Johnson played limited minutes in his first run with the Ravens but was effective when on the court, using his explosive athleticism and ball skills to make plays.

For elite shooting guard Xavier Henry

, Memphis sits at the top of his list along with Kansas. He also noted that UCLA and Texas are now on his list along with North Carolina.

Henry was sensational in the first half of his game before spraining his ankle. In less than half the game, he pumped in 17 points on an array scoring moves. The lefty’s stroke looked impeccable.

 

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=796580