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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > December > 10 > Entry
College Basketball’s Best Player
Right now, the very best player in college basketball is Kentucky freshman John Wall.
He’s already being called one of the greatest point guard prospects off all time and he’s projected as the No. 1 pick in the next NBA draft.
Before we let Kenny Hayes — the Miami guard from Northmont High opine on him — here’s what Wall did Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
In an oft-repeated theme this young season, Wall took over the game against UConn in the final minutes and lifted his Wildcats to victory.
This time, with Kentucky trailing 61-60, the 6-foot-4 guard — who’d finish with 25 points — drove for a lay-up with 30.8 seconds left and though getting knocked to the floor by the Huskies’ 240 pound Alex Oriakhi he made the basket and then the foul shot to put the Cats in front for good.
Against Miami — in his very first college game ever — he hit the game-winner at the buzzer. He had a huge basket in an overtime win against Stanford. And last Saturday he made two crucial free throws in a two-point victory over North Carolina.
He’s averaging 18.9 points, seven assists and 3 steals a game through eight games.
Across the board, those early season numbers are better than the first year starts of other recent freshman phenoms like Memphis’ Tyreke Evans and Derrick Rose, USC O.J. Mayo and Indiana’s Eric Gordon.
“I’m not sure you could compare him to anybody,” former Duke assistant and ESPN assistant Jay Bilas told the Wall Street Journal’s David Biderman. “I can’t recall anybody who’s wowed me like this.”
After last Saturday’s game North Carolina coach Roy Williams called Wall the best point guard prospect since Jason Kidd.
Wall — who sat out Kentucky’s home opener because of a minor violation — made his debut against Miami at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky overcame an 18-point deficit, then took the lead until Hayes tied the game with a three-pointer with 8 seconds left.
That’s when Wall took over and hit the game winner at the buzzer.
“Before the game I checked him out on YouTube because everybody had been hyping him, but now I can say he more than lives up to the hype,” said Hayes, who had 16 points and fives assists to Wall’s 19 and 5.
“I remember when I hit my shot and then I just saw him flying down the court. He’s fast and I just knew he was going to hit that shot. He wanted to take over the game. You don’t see many freshman with that kind of attitude, but he’s not like anybody else.
“That dude is really, really good.”
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Comments
By dydayvuffteef
August 29, 2010 4:09 PM | Link to this
What do you mean?
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By cchristofield
December 11, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this
Wall is a gift to the oldest and the newest of Kentucky fans. The oldest who said there will never be another Ralph Beard. The newest who say there will never be another John Wall. I am fortunate to be one of both.
By gb
December 11, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this
Evan Turner is pretty good, too, but I haven’t seen a freshman playing college basketball as good as Wall in a long time. I’d take Wall over Evan Turner any day of the week. Wall has the ability to completely take over a game, and the Wildcats are a much different team when he in not on the floor.
By Blue Blooded
December 11, 2009 5:31 AM | Link to this
Pope John Wall !!!!
By reality
December 10, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this
…but hayes managed to get HIS 16 and 5. ‘nuff said. the real answer to this question was EVAN TURNER
By bruce from lexington,kentucky
December 10, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this
Tom:good to see your comments from DDN.John Wall is the real deal. We here in Lexington knew what he could do with a baskebtball. After last nights career-high 25 points performance at the worlds most famous arena, the rest of the country now know’s why our fan base considers Wall the greatest college point guard in the nation.
By brunnegd
December 10, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this
Think how good college basketball would be if all of the ‘one and done’ players would wake up and stay in school instead of taking the instant gratification dollars. Think how good pro ball would be if these same players would learn how to dribble, pass, play team ball instead of ‘me ball’
By D.J
December 10, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this
C.A.T.S CATS, CATS,CATS