Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 at 1:11 am  |  119 responses

Breaking: Wall to Kentucky

The nation’s top high school PG picks his college.

by Aggrey Sam

WallSources tell SLAM that John Wall, the nation’s top high school point guard, committed to the University of Kentucky tonight. Wall picked Kentucky over Duke, Miami and Florida, among other schools. The 6-4 senior from Word of God in Raleigh, N.C., is viewed as the missing piece for new Wildcats coach John Calipari.

With forward Patrick Patterson recently deciding to return to school (and high-scoring guard Jodie Meeks rumored to also be considering pulling out of the NBA Draft) and recruits like Alabama big man DeMarcus Cousins, as well as a talented core group of returnees, Kentucky is likely to be one of the favorites to win a national championship in 2010. While Alabama point guard Eric Bledsoe signed up to play in Lexington recently, in Calipari’s dribble-drive motion offense, multiple ballhandlers can play together in the up-tempo style. In addition, the recent SLAM co-cover boy is viewed as a one-and-done prospect.

Aside from Patterson, Meeks, Cousins and Bledsoe, other future teammates who will benefit from Wall’s playmaking ability include sharpshooting juco recruit Darnell Dodson, incoming freshman big man Daniel Orton and athletic sophomore wings DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller. Long story short, don’t be surprised if you catch a case of deja vu when you watch Big Blue play next season–Wall will remind you a lot of Derrick Rose and with him on the team, Calipari could have another team back in the chip.

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  • Dick Bagga

    Are you sure this is right? Would be nice if you gave some indication of where your sources are from.

  • kyfam4

    I agree topcity, and I’m a UK fan. Realistically, we have 6 new players, who have never played a college game in their lives. Plus, a brand new system to learn. I can understand being excited about the talent we are bringing in, but I think to call us instant national title contenders is a bit premature. And any rate, GO CATS!!!!

  • WyldeKat

    We don’t have to win a Championship NEXT YEAR. We just want to be competing for them again. We WILL win another Championship soon. Maybe not next year. Personally, I think it’s going to take a couple seasons with veteran players to get used to Calipari’s offense before we have a serious chance. But, we’re so loaded now … even without Wall we had a phenomenal class that many were already placing in the Elite 8. No Topcity, maybe we won’t win the Championship next year … but, you’ll hear our name when people are talking about it.

  • Shu

    i’m sure at least a few of you have been around long enough to remember the p＊trick p＊tterson fiasco as he was graduating hs two years ago. maybe it was his team was hot garbage so no national exposure, but was heTHAT good to go THAt crazy over?

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Great reporting, Aggrey. Coach Cal and www are the best team in the land.

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  • Eric

    hey shu, patterson didnt have 4 other 5 star recruits in his class did he? not to mention 2 other 4 star recruits. pat and jodie are gonna lead this team to the top, and wall will be a much needed addition

  • http://here.com ukfan

    Pat didnt blow cus of DA JUICE MAN OJ MAYO in HS

  • UKFAN

    BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO INDIANAPOLIS UK FANS!!!

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    I see this story on about 50 websites already…not that many of them are crediting SLAM. Haters.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Ryan Jones

    That UK-KU final is gonna be fun.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    So nice of UK Media Relations to stop by.

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  • http://www.slamonline.com GotHandles?

    John Wall is BANANAS. blocks and handles. ridiculous

  • Pingback: John Wall Commits to Calipari and Kentucky | Bumpshack.com

  • http://Courtcred.com Coop

    This is a game changer!!!! Calipari has done it again. Wonder if he will get Brandon Knight http://vimeo.com/4699469

  • Jamie

    Enjoy it while you can because when Cal and Worldwide Wes get thru destroying your program then it will be a long time before your playing basketball again. (See SMU football)

  • http://where-basketball-b-longs.blogspot.com/ B. Long

    Well, foxsports is reporting it now so it must be true. :)

  • http://mediacom charkles holland

    I believe this is the best class of recruits coming to Uk next year everat any college. better than the fad four.

  • http://ballislife.com/ Moose

    MALIK STITH!!!!!!

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  • http://slamonline.com Lang Whitaker

    Great work, Aggrey.

  • Pingback: John Wall to Kentucky . . . | The Jock Itch

  • http://slamonline.com Lang Whitaker

    BTW, thanks to Andy Katz of ESPN for not crediting SLAM with breaking the story.

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  • Court Litter

    UK is staring 5 future NBAer’s:
    PG John Wall
    SG Jodie Meeks
    SF Demarcus Cousins
    PF Patrick Patterson
    C Daniel Orton
    Bench: Darnel Dodson, Eric Blesoe, Jon Hood, Pilgrim
    Give them the title and move on to 2011…

  • Aaron Lacy

    Wow, We are ready to take on the NBA teams. Sorry for the dukies and KU birdwatchers and the Florida orange suckers. This is the great no one will top this team. It’s krazy how good
    we are now. I can see a new banner hangin on the WALL now.

  • Pingback: John Wall’s Going To Kentucky « The High Definite

  • http://ittakesanationofmillionstoholdthissac.blogspot.com ciolkstar

    Ugh! I hate this. I’m a big John Wall fan. Freaking slimy ass Calipari.

  • http://sfdjilf.com Jukai

    I knew John Wall was too black for Duke.
    Kansas will be RIDICULOUS. I don’t know how Cal continues to do (actually, I do, Worldwide Wes and breaking NCAA restrictions like they were fiber glass) but he gets things done, wow!

  • Tavoris

    Lang, u shouldn’t even b surprised that Andy Kats “forgot” to credit Slam

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  • sam

    hes gonna take the ncaa by storm

  • http://ballislife.com/ Moose

    @ Court Litter: MALIK STITH!!!

  • Maryland Guy

    im just glad he didnt pick them punk ass blue devils,he wouldnt of fit there!!! i live in chapel hill now and i hope he does great

  • http://slamonline.com Tzvi T

    Way to be, Aggrey.

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  • Jacob

    kentucky just won the 2010 national championship

  • donovan

    scooooooooops

  • breeze

    why is this on no other site?

  • donovan

    http://www.accsports.com/daily-links/200905195338/daily-links-may-19.php

    To give proper credit, it looks like SLAM magazine broke the story first.

  • Sparker

    judging by that video, i guess it’s fair to assume he’s not a pass-first pg

  • tenncat

    It’s hard to tell which of the hate mail is posted by Louisville fans and which is posted by Memphis fans. The Memphis fans are understandably bitter right now, as we were about 12 years ago when a coach packed up & left Lex in the middle of the night. They’ll be all right when the new coach gets settled. The Cards section on the Courier Journal site is full of people sharing blonde jokes – seriously.

  • tenncat

    Oops – hit “send” too soon! The season should be fun and exciting every minute. For now, it’s great fun watching Coach Calipari’s enthusiasm build and the anticipation balloon. It’s a fine time to be a Wildcat.
    I wish only two things today – that Mr. Bill “Wildcat” and my father could be here to enjoy this moment. They are doing a happy dance in heaven.

  • AR

    Between Miami and Kentucky, why on gods green earth would you choose the latter? You know you’re a one-and-done. So two semesters next to South Beach or… I don’t even know what’s in Kentucky.

  • Jose

    How many championships did the Fab Five win again?

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Somebody needs to tell John Wall to at least look enthusiastic for the cameras.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Okay, minus the one picture shown above.

  • Quail

    Just to make it a little simpler to understand. here’s how it will go for us UK followers; starters: Cousins, Patterson, Darius Miller, Jodie Meeks, Wall. Then our bench: Daniel Orton, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Liggins, and Darnell Dodson. I’m about to cry tears of joy.

  • http://slamonline.com a. sam

    Guess I’ll make it 100. Being an insomniac pays off.

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