John Wall Could Shock the World And Choose Miami
Words. dimemag
From the jump, John Wall’s recruitment has been filled with surprises. First, fans were curious to see Baylor listed towards the top of his favorites shortly after he skyrocketed up to the top of the high school hoop rankings. Since then, traditional high-majors have accompanied the Bears as expected. But a number of those top-flight schools have been eliminated, while a different choice remains high on Wall’s list: the University of Miami.
The U has been on Wall’s lengthy list of schools still in the mix for a while now. But when he took his official visit to Miami recently and found the school to be even more than he imagined. Now, the Canes looks like a legit possibility to make Wall’s chopped-down list, which could be coming any day now.
“Now they are up there,” Wall told Scout.com’s Evan Daniels. “I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t really considering them that hard, but I hadn’t taken a visit there and I didn’t know how it was going to be and how the coaches were. After I took the visit it really opened my eyes up. I feel like I like the school better than I did before. I had Miami on my list but I never really considered them. I didn’t know how it was. I knew it was going to be nice in Florida, but didn’t know how it was school wise and that all the players from different sports get along great. From talking to coach [Frank] Haith, I really got a chance to sit down and talk to him one-on-one for a few hours and we watched some film and I just felt like it was a great place.”
With Rice’s Durand Scott already committed to play for Haith, Wall could instantaneously re-shape the ACC. With big man Dwayne Collins (6-8 F) coming back for his senior year, the U could have a dynamic trio better than any other grouping in the conference. Who else could even compete with these three? UNC’s Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller, and incoming freshman Leslie McDonald? The Tarheels will be good, but even with Larry Drew II and McDonald in the backcourt, they wouldn’t be able to stay with Wall and Scott.
The Dukies trio of Nolan Smith, Elliott Williams and Kyle Singler will be formidable, but not nearly as explosive.
DO IT!
he could really make a name for himselfmon a mid-level school.. plus WAY more highlights
A backcourt of Wall, Grant, Scott, Dews, and Jones would be pretty sick!
I can definitely see this happening. It takes the Canes from borderling NIT team to a Sweet 16 team.
He’s headed to Kentucky…though it would be cool to see him with the Canes, I think ultimately he’s going to announce that he still wants to play for Calipari and, with Patrick Patterson returning along with Meeks, forget about it and just order the SEC Conference and Conference Tourney Banners and get a sweet deal by buying the 8th National Championship Banner…
[...] Miami Has a Chance…. [...]
Just read that Kentucky signed another point guard recruit Eric Bledsoe, which could signal the Wildcats bowing out of the John Wall sweepstakes. Reported by Doug Gottlieb at espn.com link: http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4158021&name=ncbexperts
scroll down.
Were still in it Miami!
While I don’t doubt that he could have some success at Miami, I think the difference here is as clear as Derrick Rose entering the draft and Stephen Curry entering. Curry is a PHENOMENAL player, but playing at Davidson didn’t give him the exposure or discipline that could have really helped him in the draft. Rose, on the other hand…well, we all know. Go to Miami and be the next Stephen Curry (develop your game once you join the NBA), or go to Kentucky and be the next Derrick Rose (an instant superstar, capable of carrying a team into the playoffs). No contest in my mind.
Regardless of where Wall goes, he is not Derrick Rose. Derrick Rose is a better player than Wall is at the same point in there careers. Rose wasn’t a great shooter but he knocked down shots. Wall cannot shoot to save his life. If Wall doesn’t play in an uptempo offense, he is an average/slightly above average PG.
Wall should really shock the world. Skip Miami and go down the street to Isiah Thomas and FIU. That would be classic!!!
Bledsoe committed to UK last week buddy…old news. That doesnt affect Walls decision because he will start where ever he goes. AND he will get way more highlights playing for UK than Miami.
listen.. to anyone who is doubting John Wall’s going to UK, I really feel for you. As stated by the person before me, he will get an ungodly amount of media coverage and highlight reels that the likes of the Miami Hurricanes just wouldn’t provide.. Football comes as a top priority over basketball in ‘Cane nation. Nothing against you ‘Cane fans, just saying that as a fan growing up in the BLuegrass State, nothing comes close to Kentucky basketball, and Wall understands. He realizes that being surrounded by top-shelf players such as Patterson, Meeks (54 points against UT), and the 3 Five-Star recruits coming in (not to mention The Great Calipari), he will develop his game to the next level, which it is not far from, and be the 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year. Another major factor is the tradition at Kentucky. Not only does UK have the most wins in NCAA men’s basketball history, but ..ahhumm.. 7 national championships to go along with it. Good luck to all of you Miami fans, and your time will come. Oh, and to contradict highschoolGURU,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4psLTfvZEs
Miami is in the ACC. I admit I missed that Bledsoe committed last week, but the idea that Davidson is comparable to Miami is ridiculous. Miami plays Duke, UNC, Wake, Clemson ect. twice a year! Miami BEAT Kentucky last year on the road. Miami played Ohio State, Providence, Florida,UConn and the aforementioned Kentucky all out of conference last year.
If he is good at Miami he will get national media attention.
Why the hell is no one mentioning Duke, you all talk about John wanting media coverage then why shouldn’t he go to the team that has the most televised games on ESPN that’s exposure. Also he could make UK and Miami good not taking anything away from those programs but he could make Duke great, last year we were missing a true point guard and a presence inside. Well we got Plumlee as our post man and if we get that true point guard(John Wall) he’ll take Duke to a point they haven’t been since 2001 a national championship (That’s better than Miamis sweet sixteen shot and when was the last time UK won a nat’l championship).
I have no idea which way Wall is leaning but I think Kentucky would be a great choice for him. They have a very talented roster now and need a great point guard to command the team. If Jodie Meeks returns he would have a money shooter to dish it to when he penetrates or quality big men like Patterson, Cousins, or Orton to drop it off to under the basket if he can’t finish it himself. Plus, Coach Calipari is an amazing coach who specializes in grooming point guards for the NBA. Miami is a great vacation spot but as their mascot states, they have hurricanes! I wouldn’t live in Florida because of that reason alone. Duke has a good coach but at Kentucky he would be a celebrity. The fans can’t get enough of Kentucky Basketball; as soon as the last buzzer of the season sounds, we start counting down to the next season. Even in the summer we follow the team closely. I think at Kentucky he would flourish into the player of the year and the number one pick when he decides to enter the draft.
i thought wall’s best fit was memphis when calipari was there. now that cal is at uk, wall needs to go to uk. no question! duke does get a fair amount of tv exposure, but its not going to compare to the tv contract with the sec. every single game is gonna b televised. u cant get more exposure than that. not to mention the dribble drive motion was designed for john wall. sure bledsoe is there, but chris paul could b there, and john wall would still get his minutes. it would give calipari a solid backcourt play for the entire game, let alone the option of running 2 pg’s in the ddmo. that would b fun to watch. it would make uk 1 of the most complete teams. with serious depth at every position. they could go small they could go tall, one things for sure they gonna ball if they add wall! Go Cats!!!
Unc’s trio won’t b zeller Davis and mcdonald their trio will b deon Thompson marcus ginyard and ed Davis and I think drew II defense could slow down wall..larry drew will b a consistent player along with dexter strickland and leslie mcdonald in the back court
“shock the world”
yeah, right. Someone needs to figure out that “the world” doesn’t care where Jon Wall goes to school (or rather, where we plays basketball). He’ll be a stud, and UK will enjoy him for a year, but don’t be delusional as to “the world” caring about it. They don’t.
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