College Basketball Freshman of the Year: John Wall
Jeff D'Alessio - SportingNews.com
Mar 08, 2010
He's the sure-shot No. 1 player on a surefire No. 1 seed. And soon, John Wall could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, a feat -- believe it or not -- no Kentucky Wildcat has ever pulled off.
After leading the Wildcats to their 44th SEC championship and breaking the school's freshman scoring record, Wall was an easy choice for Sporting News' Freshman of the Year award.
It marks the second straight year a John Calipari point guard has been honored as SN's top freshman; in 2009, Memphis' Tyreke Evans was the winner.
Evans left college after one season and was an NBA lottery pick -- something UK greats wouldn't blame Wall for doing.
"Go," former SEC player of the year Kyle Macy advised. "With the money the NBA is throwing around, earn it while you can. You can always come back to school if you want your degree."
Even if it's only for one season, Wildcat faithful will never forget the impact Wall had as a freshman.
There was the school-record 16-assist night against Hartford. The double-doubles in points-assists and points-rebounds -- something no 'Cat has ever pulled off. The game-winning shot against Miami of Ohio.
Reggie Hanson and Mike Pratt, both member of UK's 1,000-point club, say he's the best player to wear Kentucky blue since Jamal Mashburn. "He's able to take over when he wants and, at the same time, make everyone around him better," said Hanson, now an assistant coach at South Florida.
UK great Rex Chapman says Wall's game reminds him of Jason Kidd's. Explains Chapman, a former NBA teammate of Kidd's: "Their speed with the ball sets them apart. John is more offensive-minded than Jason has ever been. They both have an uncanny ability to throw on-the-money lob passes."
Former UK center Randolph Morris compares Wall, the SEC assist champion, to "a hybrid of (ex-'Cats) Rajon Rondo and Wayne Turner -- Rondo because of his athleticism, Turner because of his passing."
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