John Wall…..Just how good was he?
- Thread starter Gromcat
- Start date
Probably the most athletic point guard of Cal’s tenure. I rank him third after Fox and Ulis for game management and court vision.
Screw the gif and the pic, gotta be the greatest mixtape of all time for this one.
Still taking Wall over both.
Absolutely amazing. 100% changed the trajectory of the program. Will forever be my favorite team.
In a smaller way, Wall was a sort of “Mashburn” type of signee.
Top 8 best players to ever play here and 2nd best in Cal’s tenure.
He was amazing. I’ll take him first over any point guard in Cal era. Maybe all time here. He was on par with Mash in changing the trajectory of the program. He was awesome. Check UNC game - awesome!
No need for the probably, I’d say there’s no doubt about that. Wall is our gold standard when it comes to sheer speed and explosiveness.
We would have at least 2 more championships if he was healthy for those 4 years.
I used to love some of my friends in Tennessee saying “he turns the ball over too much”.
Uh yea, when you’re making cartoon plays every other play and the ball stays in your hands that kind of happens.
Tell me you know nothing about basketball without….zzzzzzzzzzz
He was fast. He made fast people look... not fast.
I’ve seen people say his NBA career was a disappointment. I just don’t think it goes that far.
But I did expect a HOF type of career honestly. It’s a lot to live up to.
Check out the UNC game. He goes full court in just four dribbles - twice. Unbelievably quick and beat his man of the dribble almost every time. Turnovers and 3s were his Achilles heel, but he was so athletic he affected every single possession. In addition, he was coolest guy in CBB except for maybe Boogie. He instantly made us the IT team. Top 5 of the Cal era.
Seriously watching that highlight real against UNC… we simply don’t play like that anymore. I miss that.
Seriously watching that highlight real against UNC… we simply don’t play like that anymore. I miss that.
Attended Big Blue Madness that year and just knew. Everyone could feel it in the air. I went to Cancun, as well, and he was just a celebrity ... had the perfect side-kick in Cousins.
Wall put UK basketball back on the map. There were celebrities at nearly every home game to see him (and Cal, others). Lebron was the "Y" at a game. Magic Johnson was the "Y" too. They spoke to the team before games. It was the hottest ticket in sports.
Wall's performance against UConn at Madison Square Garden (I was there) lived up to the hype. It was the definition of electric for a game environment. UNC game, too.
Wall put UK basketball back on the map. There were celebrities at nearly every home game to see him (and Cal, others). Lebron was the "Y" at a game. Magic Johnson was the "Y" too. They spoke to the team before games. It was the hottest ticket in sports.
Wall's performance against UConn at Madison Square Garden (I was there) lived up to the hype. It was the definition of electric for a game environment. UNC game, too.
His impact on the first half of Cal's tenure is immeasurable. He was a great player, but he made us cool again. Magic Johnson did the John Wall dance at mid court of Rupp for crying out loud.
I was at madness that year. Electric doesn’t begin to describe it.
Undisputed mixtape champion, there’s no question about that. The best high school mixtape I’ve ever seen to this day.
I remember thinking is the guy for real? His mixtape was almost cartoonish it was so good. And then the UNC game happened and I’m like, “holy cow that mixtape is ACTUALLY who this guy is.” Just amazing. I have framed and autographed solo pictures of 2 UK players (not really an autograph guy) on my office wall beside me right now. Derek Anderson and John Wall. That’s it.
The dude had an epic thread dedicated to 1 picture of him photoshopped a zillion times.
Badass. Legendary.
Badass. Legendary.
Nobody was cooler than Wall. He completely changed the tone of UK basketball. First team AA. Was the best player in college bball that year from day one. That year was magical from the start. UK2K, magic, Lebron, Even at Madness that year, some dude hit a half court shot to win some prize. Everything was just perfect that year.
John wall, Anthony davis, Zion Williamson are the 3 best freshman I have seen
He was amazing. Shame how the season ended. If you played that game 9 more times I doubt UK shoots that poorly from 3 again, even if they took 32 of them.
In the 90s, “game breaker” was a popular college football phrase.
John Wall was a game breaker in basketball. He did not do it every game, but many times he’d step up his play to such a level that it completely blew away the opponent. He did it to UNC, IU, UConn at MSG, and against UT at Rupp to name a few.
John Wall was a game breaker in basketball. He did not do it every game, but many times he’d step up his play to such a level that it completely blew away the opponent. He did it to UNC, IU, UConn at MSG, and against UT at Rupp to name a few.
good gawd..there arent any guards out there that play like that anymore
As a non UK basketball fan....Wall was for Calipari what Mashburn was for Pitino. Enjoyed watching him play. He was must see T.V.
I still can’t understand how in the world we missed CJ Leslie. I remember thinking he was a lock with no key and was just baffled when he didn’t commit.
Those were the last days I really got into recruiting as a type of hobby. I used to be all over it, but after the 2014 class I just stopped. Maybe it was more age than anything, but I remember thinking with Calipari’s approach there just wasn’t a need to know anymore.
Those were the last days I really got into recruiting as a type of hobby. I used to be all over it, but after the 2014 class I just stopped. Maybe it was more age than anything, but I remember thinking with Calipari’s approach there just wasn’t a need to know anymore.
He was a highlight waiting to happen with lightning speed. I have never been more excited about a player joining the program as I was when he signed. I must've watched his HS highlight tape hundreds of times when I was in college. Wall and Fox were the two fastest PG's I have ever seen play at UK, with Fox being the fastest in the NBA today.
I’d love to have seen him and Fox in a race end to end. No doubt on the explosiveness but speed…
I was like 22 I think when Wall was coming. I lay’d a beat down on that mixtape button worse than my first steady piece. Just suffering through the end of Tubby then Gillispie, I was starving for that kind of recruiting. I can still see Wall’s rivals picture while looking at the top 100, wearing some kind of medal.
And I just continued to assault that mixtape button. And again, again.
“Honey follow me to bed”
Not right now I’m watching this John Wall Mixtape
“You’ve been watching it all day. Come on, you don’t want to miss this. Becky is coming over you get us both.”
I can’t do it right now babe. Some other time.
Just can’t see him beating Wall at that age. Wall had a 5th gear that was tough to understand.
I don’t know. Fox went coast to coast with a layup in three seconds a couple times.
He is a legacy type recruit - yes right in the mold of Mashburn.
He was a harbinger that Kentucky was back. I'll never forgive freaking Meeks for not coming back, he was probably the missing piece to a natty.
He was a harbinger that Kentucky was back. I'll never forgive freaking Meeks for not coming back, he was probably the missing piece to a natty.
"This has been 'The man who would rather watch John Wall mixtapes than have sex.'"
(Bob and Tom Show reference)
It would be real close, but I’m still betting on Wall.
The only past UK player that I might bet on in a sprint over him is Dwight Anderson, aka “the Blur.”
Most hyped recruit I ever remember. It was a lot of fun. His teammate Eric Bledsoe might be most underrated point guard we ever had. He was awesome too.
In Cal era I would take Fox over Wall. Much better 3 point shooter imo along with the quickness to get to the basket whenever he wanted. But Wall was great
In Cal era I would take Fox over Wall. Much better 3 point shooter imo along with the quickness to get to the basket whenever he wanted. But Wall was great
