John Wall is the best player in the nation (coming from a Duke fan)

College Sports 89 replies 2,831 views
Trueblue23's avatar
Trueblue23
Posts: 7,463
Dec 9, 2009 11:24pm
This kid has a gear that nobody else in CBB has..

easily the #1 overall pick in the draft.
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ironman02
Posts: 4,989
Dec 9, 2009 11:26pm
Yeah, he could very well be the best in the country.

He's a special player that makes UK a serious title contender this season. There's also no doubt in my mind that he'll be a great NBA player. Great size and speed, with ridiculous athleticism.
wildcats20's avatar
wildcats20
Posts: 27,794
Dec 9, 2009 11:27pm
I'm still a little hesitant to say the BEST player in the country, I honestly believe that player is (SHOOT ME) Kyle Singler. But Wall is definitely top 5 right now.
GOONx19's avatar
GOONx19
Posts: 7,147
Dec 9, 2009 11:34pm
22 points and 6 steals right now. And he only played 9 minutes in the first half.
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I drain 3's
Posts: 574
Dec 9, 2009 11:35pm
I haven't seen enough of him or the other top players in the nation to have a big enough sample size to say who's the best, but i'd say he's probably top 5 easily. From the little i've seen, he has definitely impressed. Whenever he goes, he very well could go #1 in the draft. Just depends on who has that pick and if they need that type of guard.
Mulva's avatar
Mulva
Posts: 13,650
Dec 9, 2009 11:41pm
I don't think there's any question about it.
Trueblue23's avatar
Trueblue23
Posts: 7,463
Dec 9, 2009 11:42pm
Kentucky down 1, Wall goes to the rim and finishes while getting fouled.. hits the FT.

Kentucky up 63-61 now.. Wall with 25 points
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I drain 3's
Posts: 574
Dec 9, 2009 11:46pm
Kentucky seems to be a damn good team.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Dec 9, 2009 11:55pm
Kentucky is a good team who will only cut down the nets if other players are more consistent. Darius Miller, Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton and Darnell Dodson are all premier talents who can be the "third guy" on a given night. We will see if all of those guys continue to improve. With that said, if Patterson and Wall are healthy and just take the court, UK won't be an easy out.
reclegend22's avatar
reclegend22
Posts: 8,772
Dec 9, 2009 11:56pm
wildcats20 wrote:I'm still a little hesitant to say the BEST player in the country, I honestly believe that player is (SHOOT ME) Kyle Singler. But Wall is definitely top 5 right now.
What's this? Could we have that again, in double bold helvetica? ;)

I entered this season with that sentiment, and I still believe Kyle Singler is the best BASKETBALL player in the country. Not many touch his overall skill in that regard. He and Wall are completely different players. While Wall obviously has tons of basketball skill, he's more of a physical and athletic specimen who can do whatever he wants on the court. But that doesn't necessarily make him the most rounded basketball player. That's Singler. I'm with ya on that, wildcats.

But Wall is the most dominant player in the country in terms of speed and athletic skill with the ball in his hands.

Let's revisit this conversation in February. You have to throw a Collins from Kansas in there as well.
wildcats20's avatar
wildcats20
Posts: 27,794
Dec 10, 2009 12:04am
reclegend22 wrote:
wildcats20 wrote:I'm still a little hesitant to say the BEST player in the country, I honestly believe that player is (SHOOT ME) Kyle Singler. But Wall is definitely top 5 right now.
What's this? Could we have that again, in double bold helvetica? ;)
I don't want to talk about it. lol
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Dec 10, 2009 12:12am
No one is even close.

He's the next big thing in the NBA.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Dec 10, 2009 12:13am
Singler is good, but he isn't even #2 IMO. If you're stretching enough to call him the best because he's just a pure baller--doesn't have the crazy athleticism and all that and we're going to pick players like that. I'll take Luke Harangody over Singler.

Point is, no matter how you want to twist it, the athleticism and skill that Wall brings to the table and guys like Singler don't, is certainly part of the equation.
SportsAndLady's avatar
SportsAndLady
Posts: 35,632
Dec 10, 2009 12:33am
He is the best player in college basketball...but I wouldn't trade him for Sherron Collins.

Remember, Decemeber means practically nothing for top ranked teams...it's what they do in March, with ten times more pressure on their back, that makes them the best player. And there isn't one player in the country who I'd take in the clutch over Collins.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Dec 10, 2009 12:37am
Reynolds MAYBE, but I'm not sure there is a strong argument against you S&L.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Dec 10, 2009 12:45am
Reynolds isn't a pure PG. He's a very good player, and when he is hot he's unstoppable. He's also clutch. However, the most valuable player to teams who win titles or go very deep in March is the point guard. Hard to say Reynolds is better than the likes of Wall or Collins.

Right now, I'd take Collins because of his shooting ability and experience. However, this is December. With that said, I've never seen a Freshman PG as good as John Wall through 9 games. As many have said, he has another gear that nobody else does. The key is keeping him out of situations where he can use it. Connecticut did a good job of that outside of the first five minutes tonight, but in the end, a few spurts and huge plays by Wall won UK the game.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Dec 10, 2009 12:50am
Wall is without a doubt the best player. Regardless of what happens this year (Collins experience will go a long way for him) he'll prove it at the next level. Wall is the next superstar in the NBA. I think he's better than Derrick Rose.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Dec 10, 2009 12:52am
Oh I agree, and many others have better pro potential than Collins. However, there is something about Collins' game and his make-up that wouldn't make me bet against him. The guy is good at everything, and he won't give anything away. You will have to beat him and the Jayhawks, and it will take someone the caliber of Wall to do it.

Call me a sucker for a PG who can shake, bake and knock down a 25-footer like Collins can. Wall is capable, but that's not his game. If he adds that, he COULD BE the best player in the world in 5 years.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Dec 10, 2009 12:58am
I don't see Wall passing LeBron, DWade or Melo as the best player in the world for quite some time--not until they start slowing down and by then who knows who will be who. I'm not sure he's on THAT level but he's definitely going to be a big deal at the next level. If he pulls a Melo-like run to a title, then I'll definitely be here to agree with the statement you just made.

It'll be tough for UK to beat Kansas in the tourney--and a lot of more experienced teams for that matter. Experience goes a long way, especially in college basketball. But it doesn't change the fact that he is EASILY the best pro prospect in college.
Azubuike24's avatar
Azubuike24
Posts: 15,933
Dec 10, 2009 1:08am
Wall isn't going to score like those guys, and I agree, he may not pass LeBron, but I wouldn't doubt that in 5 years he could be the best PG in the NBA. Given the young PG's in the league right now, that would be saying something. Then again, this is a long off projection and sometimes players just don't reach that greatness level. Many top off at "very good."
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Dec 10, 2009 1:15am
That would definitely be saying something. I think he's going to be a superstar--so I expect to see greatness from him. He's as good as any freshman I've seen since the one and done rule.
sleeper's avatar
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
Dec 10, 2009 4:17am
Am I the only one who doesn't think he's that great? I'm mean he's good, but best player in the country?

I'm not buying it, sorry.
C
cats gone wild
Posts: 2,651
Dec 10, 2009 7:05am
I havent watched last nights game yet, but do I think he's the best player in college? Idk, maybe top 5 or 3. Still has a bunch of games to show what he's made of. Why did he only play 9 min the first half? Foul trouble? I bet a certain coach in NC wishes he recruited him.
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georgemc80
Posts: 983
Dec 10, 2009 8:51am
When you see a player like Wall, you can only laugh at the mandatory one year rule.....Part of me wishes they would go back to the old way.
SQ_Crazies's avatar
SQ_Crazies
Posts: 7,977
Dec 10, 2009 9:08am
^Me too.