The John Wall Recruiting Saga

As the college basketball poster on this fresh new blog, it is my duty to introduce you to a name you will hear throughout all of the upcoming season. He isn’t enrolled in a school yet. He hasn’t signed his national letter of intent. He wasn’t a McDonald’s All-America. That guy is Word of God Academy point guard John Wall.

Wall has been one of the most publicized recruits in recent memory, and as I mentioned still has yet to commit to where he will be playing his college basketball come October. According to some recruiting services, Wall is the nations number one recruit being billed as, “The Next Derrick Rose.” Rose’s one year at Memphis ended a few free throws from being a national champion. Wall has finally trimmed his list of schools down, unofficially, to three schools. Kentucky, who has believed to be the odds on favorite since the acquisition of new head coach John Calipari. Duke is also in the mix and with the departure of leading scorer Gerald Henderson and a gaping need at the point; this has become a interesting choice. The third school has gained ground rapidly and is a school few thought had a chance. The University of Miami has gotten in the mix after Wall visited in mid-April.

With Wall comes one interesting back-story. His AAU coach Brian Clifton has served as his advisor through the process, which has gone on much longer than almost every other recruit. Clifton’s brother Dwon is an assistant coach at Baylor. A school that many believed hired him because he would be able to deliver Wall. Baylor is one of the 7 schools who have all had their hats in the ring to try and land Wall’s services. Another element for Wall is his mother is ill and may want to stay near by in college. Wall attended Word of God Academy in Raleigh, which is a short 30-minute drive from Cameron Indoor. Clifton has also been believed to want the 6 foot 4 inch point-guard to attend Duke. Obviously Wall has been pulled in several directions through the recruiting process and has a tremendous relationship with new Wildcat head coach John Calipari. The other news worthy item came a week and half ago when Wall was charged with breaking and entering into a vacant Raleigh, NC home. The citation has hardly kept the schools from recruiting Wall.

Wall has hardly made it a secret that he doesn’t plan on being in college past the upcoming season. Many already think he is the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

If Wall chooses Kentucky, Big Blue will be a top-ten team a year removed from an NIT appearance. They return Forward Patrick Patterson. They also add 5 other recruits that include 6’9’’ center Demarcus Cousins and point guard Eric Bledsoe. Kentucky may also return Jodie Meeks if he removes his name from the NBA Draft.

If Wall chooses Duke, than the Blue Devils become instantly better than the 2009 version that had 30 wins. Wall would walk into a situation with the keys to the car being his. He would have the ACC’s best player in junior; Kyle Singler and combo guard Jon Scheyer. They also add 6 foot 11 freshmen Mason Plumlee who is expected to contribute instantly in the interior.

If he chooses Miami, he steps into the spot left empty by the graduation of Jack McClinton in the backcourt. If forward Dwayne Collins removes his name from the draft, Miami becomes a top tier team in the ACC and also an NCAA Tournament ready team.

When Wall does decide to end this long circus, the school that gets him will be improved instantly. Get ready to hear a lot about John Wall next season.