Luke Winn of SI.com has an interesting piece addressing three game-changing questions in college basketball.
The first deals with John Wall, in which the Raleigh guard’s advisor and former AAU coach says that is not inaccurate it is “accurate” to assume that Duke, Miami and Kentucky are the three finalists.
But Brian Clifton also makes some interesting comments about UK and the signing of Eric Bledsoe.
Excerpt:
Clifton, who met with Wall and his mother on Monday night, gave some insight into the schools’ respective situations, with the most interesting comments being about Kentucky, which has publicly been considered the front-runner since John Calipari jumped from Memphis on March 31. Wall has confirmed that he’s still considering the Wildcats after they accepted Bledsoe’s commitment, but, Clifton said, “The knee-jerk reaction, and justifiably so, would be to take a minute of pause to look further into it. Because I can’t imagine, to get a player like Eric Bledsoe, that [Kentucky] would tell him, we’re going to recruit over you immediately and not play you very much as a freshman.
“There had to be some assurances made to him about being able to share the ball, that would inspire him to commit despite the possibility of John still coming there. … So we have to revisit that situation and make sure it’s going to be great to have two of the top four point guards on the roster at once.”
By revisiting it, Clifton said hopes to talk to Calipari as well as Bledsoe’s camp, to see what their expectations are for next season at Kentucky. (Bledsoe has been quoted as saying that he and Wall can coexist on the court, and that, “I’m going to play my position either if [Wall does go to UK] or he don’t.”) Said Clifton, “It’s definitely not a deal-breaker, but I’d be remiss in my duty as a guy that’s helping John and his family if we don’t explore it fully.”
Winn also examines the impact of whether Jodie Meeks stays in the draft, or comes back to the Cats.
John, we are UK and you will be a freshman, so grow up and make a decision, if you can’t then UK is not for you, because we want student athletes who can make a decision and earn their keep, not get promises..
Bledsoe has said he has no problems with you coming on board, if you do, then go somewhere else..Bledsoe will be here for several years and will help our program all of those years, you will be here for one year and be gone, so come if you want to, or go somewhere else, but we will still be UK..
I hope you come, but I have no time for prima donas who think they are bigger than the program.
Great comment Rick. I think this is the attitude that more people need on the situation. I thinks it’s rediculous a 17 or 18 year old expects everyone to bend over and kiss him….How does his tradition and character stand in comparison to UK, or any of his college choices?
kentucky has a great racist history. who do these kids think they are anyway?
What a total tool! I have never seen so much crap being spread around about a recruit that can’t make a decision. On the one side, people say be patient. On the other, people say forget him. What in the world s wrong with us??? The UK I know would never get into this charade of letting a 17-18 year old hold us hostage. The kid is great, no doubt about that, but we need kids whether they are here for 1 or 4 years that can commit to a school and sign a L.O.I. like everyone else does. I guess I feel like if the kid is so distracted already, how does that bode for us in the future. Better yet, if Calapari can’t convince someone within the allotted time that this is the school for them then why do we honestly want to waste our time? Within two to three years every 4 to 5 star recruit gunning for a future in the NBA will be practically beating down our doors for a chance to put on a UK jersey and be coached by one of the best out there! This guy needs to make a choice by the end of the signing period or everyone needs to tell him to go play in Europe for a year and the would prevent these types of scenarios from occurring again! But I guess I’m just dreaming and wasting my time because it will never happen! Anyway, GO BIG BLUE and here’s to cutting down nets and hanging more banners for years to come! Can’t wait for BIG BLUE MADNESS to be able to get a look at the new team!
C-A-T-S CATS CATS CCCAAATTTSSS!!!!!
John Wall—-Disregard the comment by “rick.” He is not Kentucky. He is
one person who supports Kentucky. I am another person who supports Kentucky.
You would be smart to take your time making a decision. Just keep in mind
that coach Cal. has prepared many players to be successful in the NBA. He
can be instrumental in helping you prepare for the NBA.
Eventually one of these recruits is going to wise up and realize that John Calipari lied to them.
Hey Rick. Dont pretend you care about “student” athletes. The Bledsoe kid you signed can barely read, Cal gets all his players the best tutors out there so they barely do any real work.
The whole student athlete theory is such a joke. These guys are professional athletes and have no reason to be in school. The NCAA has just created a joke of the education system and its just a way for the pro leagues to have a free minor league system.
We haven’t been to a final four since 1998. Our only ticket to get there is to trust Coach Cal who has told us to get used to these one and doners. That includes their advisors. The questions raised about what promises were made to Bledsoe are very legitimate and we need to get this out in the open now rather than in October. I’m happy where we stand with Bledsoe as the man. I’m happy if Wall comes and everyone is on board with how that translates into playing time. We’re in a good situation. The Wall saga will play out soon. With him we are Top 5. Without him we may still be depending largely on how Bledsoe develops. Just remember - all elite teams have playing time issues because they tend to over recruit. Would you rather have it the other way?
Sounds like maybe the light bulb is going off with Clifton that Cal will lie and cheat to get what he wants. He made promises to Bledsoe that would impact Wall. Good business to do your due diligence. Cal is as bad as the WWW’s of college basketball. It’s no wonder they are so close.
Larry - why don’t you go back to the UL website and do your posting. You are not welcomed in BIG BLUE COUNTRY! Get a life!
I just wanted to point out that the article says it IS “accurate” to assume that it’s between Duke, Miami and UK for Wall. The blog post seems to say that it’s NOT accurate.
Timmy989 - don’t generalize. For most of these kids, the free education is very important. Playing professionally will not be an option for 95% of them.
The blog post said that it is “not inaccurate” to assume that UK, Miami and Duke are the finalists. But I polished up the sentence to make it clear. Thanks.
Who said Wall expects everyone to bend over and kiss him? Wall’s college choice is going to be about going to a program that will further his career best. And who can blame him? We are trying to find players that will make UK better and Wall is trying to find a school that will make him better.
If those two things happen to align and Wall comes to UK, all the better for both of us. But just because Wall is looking for what school is going to be best for him doesn’t make him immature or a diva - it makes him like everyone else who would do the EXACT SAME THING if they were in his situation.
His “advisor”? That should be a red flag. It’s certainly wise to have some folks helping you as a teenager make an important decision like this but a formal advisor sounds like money involved. Be careful U.K.
I think he should make up his mind so that our remaining players can know where they stand. The bubble players may want to go to another school, and until we know if Wall is part of the team, we don’t know how many scholarship players will get cut. This waiting is unnecessary (Wall will be a top NBA pick next year no matter where he goes), but it has tremendous impact on our current players if he ends up here. I support giving Wall a deadline to pick UK. I hope he comes, but I care more about our current players.
As for the person complaining about “student-athletes,” I know math geniuses that can’t understand a word of classical literature or write a good essay. But they can prove incredible math problems. My point is this - we have basketball degrees, and if those guys get hired out of school for millions, UK has done its job for them. Quit being an intellectual elitist. Every student (and student-athlete) has strengths and weaknesses. The basketball program gives us exposure and money, and we give them an education and exposure to a potential employer, the NBA. Everyone wins.
For those like B that keep saying Wall is like everyone else “in his situation” - uh, no he isn’t. Everyone else in the Top 150 save Wall and maybe 1 or 2 other kids has signed a LOI or announced the school of his choice. Like Wall, those kids had to make a tough choice of which college fit their needs as an athlete with pro aspirations (and some even considered the schools academic strengths). All of them, save a what? 2? - are signed or committed to someone. They also played the AAU circuit. They also have AAU coaches, some with their own agenda. Some even have single parents, sick parents, issues that make staying close to home a plus, etc.
So Wall is the exact OPPOSITE of everyone else in his situation. That is why we are having this conversation. Because it is UNUSUAL.
Let’s face it. The only reason Wall is holding out is to see if Jodie Meeks is returning.