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Was John Wall the best guard to play at Kentucky

A BIG part of being a point guard is making the other players around you better.
I didn't see that with Wall.
He was 3rd in the nation in assists per game. He had two all-SEC first team guys, and an SEC all-freshmen player. What else do you want him to do so that he "makes the others around him better"?
 
Without question, Wall was the best PG we've ever had.

Many will say Ullis, because he's a heartfelt favorite player, but Wall could take over a game. Ullis was a bit of a liability on defense. You could put him in a screen and take any shot you wanted. The 4 always had to help.

Wall was the only PG that ive seen catch lobs and dunk on people. Fox did a little bit, but Wall would just poster you.

We've also never had a PG like Wall that could take a rebound and run through the entire defense and dunk it. Wall could also block anyone, from a guard to a center. One of my favorite plays was when he blocked UT's 3 pointer and nearly palmed it.

I cant believe this is even debatable....
This is where fans lose ALL credibility. Saying Ulis was a liability on defense. He was defense player of the year in the SEC.
Coaches were quoted many times Saying he wrecked their whole offense.
No more posting for you.
 
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Without question, Wall was the best PG we've ever had.

Many will say Ullis, because he's a heartfelt favorite player, but Wall could take over a game. Ullis was a bit of a liability on defense. You could put him in a screen and take any shot you wanted. The 4 always had to help.

Wall was the only PG that ive seen catch lobs and dunk on people. Fox did a little bit, but Wall would just poster you.

We've also never had a PG like Wall that could take a rebound and run through the entire defense and dunk it. Wall could also block anyone, from a guard to a center. One of my favorite plays was when he blocked UT's 3 pointer and nearly palmed it.

I cant believe this is even debatable....
He was the SEC defensive player of the year. Really? A liability on defense?
 
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Wayne Turner the best so far end of story pg 96 97 98 he took the cats to 3 championship games during this span and won 2 of them Ralph beard only other guard that's close macy 3rd
 
Wayne Turner the best so far end of story pg 96 97 98 he took the cats to 3 championship games during this span and won 2 of them Ralph beard only other guard that's close macy 3rd
Turner was great. I'm not sure you can credit him for 1996, i dont think he saw the floor much. Maybe im wrong, but he definitely didnt take us in 1996.
 
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Turner was great. I'm not sure you can credit him for 1996, i dont think he saw the floor much. Maybe im wrong, but he definitely didnt take us in 1996.
He was there I go by banners when critiquing players and their impact on the team and without Wayne Turner he was very vital in 96 Wayne really came on toward the end of that 96 season
 
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He was there I go by banners when critiquing players and their impact on the team and without Wayne Turner he was very vital in 96 Wayne really came on toward the end of that 96 season
Well, this is a silly way-over simplistic way of thinking. Hell, by this logic, Robert Horry and Steve Kerr were two of the greatest players in NBA history …after all, they kept finding themselves on the rosters winning banners.

Turner was a mere bench player who got only 13 minutes per game on one title team, and he wasn’t even our best guard on the other. I loved the guy, but NO way is he in contention for “best guard ever” honors.
 
Well, this is a silly way-over simplistic way of thinking. Hell, by this logic, Robert Horry and Steve Kerr were two of the greatest players in NBA history …after all, they kept finding themselves on the rosters winning banners.

Turner was a mere bench player who got only 13 minutes per game on one title team, and he wasn’t even our best guard on the other. I loved the guy, but NO way is he in contention for “best guard ever” honors.
You got to come stronger than that not impressed
 
Old heads will remember Ed Davender. He was a great point guard so smooth, pushed tempo, distributor just loved his overall game when he played at UK.
 
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How about this: Turner didn't play in the championship, had 2 points in 6 minutes in the FF, 0 points in 8 minutes in sweet 16. He had 12 points, 4 assists over the entire tournament. He was not a factor in the 1996 run.
Had 238 steals #1 Kentucky #4 in assists and 1170 points played in 151 games 3 final 4s 3 championship games and 2 championships again best guard to ever play at Kentucky
 
He was there I go by banners when critiquing players and their impact on the team and without Wayne Turner he was very vital in 96 Wayne really came on toward the end of that 96 seseason.
Do you honestly think that UK would have not won the tournament in 98 if John Wall was the point guard instead of Wayne Turner? Do you really think that the National Player of the Year and his 17ppg and 6.5 apg(3rd nationally) would not be able to do what Wayne Turner did?
 
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Bro is committed to Wayne Turner.
He (Turner) will always have a place in your heart if you watched him take a big ole greasy dump on Wojo during the Duke game.
 
Do you honestly think that UK would have not won the tournament in 98 if John Wall was the point guard instead of Wayne Turner? Do you really think that the National Player of the Year and his 17ppg and 6.5 apg(3rd nationally) would not be able to do what Wayne Turner did?
That’s a good question.

Turner was a game changer with his defense. He single handedly neutralized the other teams’ pg. Never out of gas. 3FF teams. Quiet leader. Love Wall - and maybe 98 wins it with him- but he sure would have changed the dynamics of that team - and as our pg on a more talented team no FF.
 
Had 238 steals #1 Kentucky #4 in assists and 1170 points played in 151 games 3 final 4s 3 championship games and 2 championships again best guard to ever play at Kentucky
Not debating whether he had a great career. Just correcting you on your incorrect statement that Turner "was very vital in 96."
 
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Do you honestly think that UK would have not won the tournament in 98 if John Wall was the point guard instead of Wayne Turner? Do you really think that the National Player of the Year and his 17ppg and 6.5 apg(3rd nationally) would not be able to do what Wayne Turner did?
John wall had 4 #1 nba draft choices starting with him and how many banners did he get I am waiting
 
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Tyler Ulis. Ralph Beard. Delk. Turner. It's hard to say. Talent wise? Wall probably.
Respectfully, Richie ... IMHO, neither Tyler Ulis nor Wayne Turner deserves to be mentioned in response to this question. Each of them was a great player who was an invaluable part of a great team, but ...
Beard played in a different era, of course - but he was so much better than his contemporaries that he's got to be in this discussion. Tony Delk and Louie Dampier were pure shooters - not drivers or distributors. John Wall was the consummate slasher and distributor on the break, but not a shooter.
Alluding to I what I think you were saying, Wall was clearly the best athlete of the four.
And after I finished this post the first time ... I forgot about Fox and Monk, who IMHO are also in the mix for the different reasons.
A good question by Smooth.
Go 'Cats !
 
Been a lot of names dropped here but one I've not seen that deserves to be in the conversation is Meeks. Dude scored 23.7 ppg on good efficiency when he was one of the only options to score and defenses KNEW he was going to be shooting.

But agree with most that Wall and 96 Delk are pretty much the top choices from my lifetime.
No one mentioned Meeks because this is Kentucky, it's not Jodie Meeks. This is not a one man University and that's really a bad answer.
 
John Wall was a great player, but he was not a cut above other great guards at UK. He'd have a stronger case as being the most talented, but his performance in his single season at UK was not above and beyond other greats at the role.

Great Guards in the last 30 years:

95-96 Delk
96-97 Anderson*
02-03 Bogans
08-09 Meeks
09-10 Wall
15-16 Ulis
15-16 Murray
16-17 Monk
16-17 Fox
17-18 SGA
19-20 Quickley
23-24 Sheppard
23-24 Reeves

*Played half a season due to injury, but he was a POTY Candidate pre-injury.

Wall was a talent and integral to the program's revival. His commitment and subsequent season ushered in one of the most successful runs in program history. His on the court production, however, isn't like comparing AD to every other center in the last 30 years. Any of the players from could be argued using a variety of factors as being close to, on par, or better than Wall.

This doesn't diminish Wall and his talent at all. He played a single freshman season at UK. Many of those other players played multiple seasons at UK. We didn't get to see his bright talent shine in a second season.
 
He was in the same sort of spot as Anderson for me, as a guy who could be a guard but could be a SF, and played at the 3 a lot.
There isn't much material difference between a 2 or 3, especially in the game today. Whether one is a guard or forward is often a product of the other players on the team. The 6'5'' player might be a 2 guard on a big team, but a 3 on a small team. It's practically up to the whim of whatever letter the coach wants to put next to the player's name.

Would one argue that Derek Anderson, a player who averaged over 5 assists per 40 and took almost 8 3's per 40 was less of a guard than someone like Cameron Mills? The ability discrepancy not withstanding, but Anderson had more overall "guard" coded skills. The only reason why Anderson is considered as a forward is due to an arbitrary height cut off.
 
Best freshman guard. But if you just consider college. Hard to compare freshman wall with Macy. Delk. Some others
 
John Wall, he bad.

John-Wall-350.gif
I remember that game. Was at home, light dusting of snow outside. I was so happy with Cal and his diaper dandys. As much as I wanted Cal out the last 5-6 years, the start of his time here was amazing. So many personalities on that time to like.
 
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I remember that game. Was at home, light dusting of snow outside. I was so happy with Cal and his diaper dandys. As much as I wanted Cal out the last 5-6 years, the start of his time here was amazing. So many personalities on that time to like.
Great for the green room I prefer championships and banners
 
Well I didn't quote you, but seeing how you are curious, I will give my OPINION.
He is 5-10, played in the late 40's early 50's. Not a chance in hell he would be able to stay in front of Wall, nor would he have success driving on him. He and his set shot would find it very difficult to get open looks against the much faster, athletic , taller Wall. John Wall thinks Beard was a horrible shooter. Played a couple years in the NBA as a 22 and 23 year old, now what was Wall doing at age 22/23 ??? Look, I get it, he played on the early Rupp teams that won ALOT and was a KY born player, BUT with players in today game, speed and athleticism is no where comparable.. You have your opinion, so by all means, share why Beard would be better than Wall ??? OH, and lets not even bring up the point shaving and gambling scandal,, SHHHHHH. SOME people give KY born players extra benefits, free passes, and overlook a lot of negatives, it amazes me how some people view KY players simply because they are born and breed. Fans talk a lot of shit about this player and that player today and how they do not care, or this and that. Well, at least none of them has been barred from the sport.

By the way, he was born in like 1927 or something. Played at UK late 40's and I do not think most here have even seen him play, I know me at 56, did not. I guess Alex Groza is better than AD, I mean he was on the same team and won like Beard. LOL. It is pretty simple, they was two really good players back in the late 40's / early 50's, and just simply do not compare to todays athletes. They did win a lot though, but not a lot of balanced, really good teams back in that ERA. It is why one team would dominate for several years, then another team (UCLA, etc.). This post will not be a popular one amongst the older / die hard KY born player fans, but it is the truth, Wall would be a lot better player than Beard. Another VERY unpopular opinion, Shaedon Sharpe caught a lot of shit, and deservedly so for how he did UK, but to me, Beard, Groza, and others involved in the scandal, did a hell of a lot worse. To me, I would rather have a never was than prop up a player and what they did. Let them bash begin, I am tough skinned and can deal with it. I can only imagine if the Harrison twins, Boogie, or any other player in the modern era would be treated if they did what Beard, Groza and others did while at UK. But hey, Beard was a Hardinsburg boy !!!! Loved UK.
Pretty much decimated the old vs new players argument 👌👌 Take THAT olde thymer
 
Do you honestly think that UK would have not won the tournament in 98 if John Wall was the point guard instead of Wayne Turner? Do you really think that the National Player of the Year and his 17ppg and 6.5 apg(3rd nationally) would not be able to do what Wayne Turner

Pretty much decimated the old vs new players argument 👌👌 Take THAT olde thymer
Beard won
 
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