Top point guard recruit John Wall has told Kentucky coach John Calipari that he will sign with the Wildcats, according to multiple sources, ending a highly publicized courtship with the game-changing player.
Wall, ranked the No. 1 point guard, No. 5 overall, on the ESPNU 100, informed Miami coach Frank Haith Tuesday morning that he had committed to Kentucky. The reasoning, according to a source, was because he just wanted to play for Calipari.
If Calipari had stayed as coach at Memphis, there would have been no drama in Wall's commitment. Privately, Calipari was convinced Wall would have chosen the Tigers, but the coach's departure to Kentucky created a soap opera in the renewed recruiting chase.
Adding another chip
Top 2009 recruit John Wall's commitment to Kentucky is the latest development in a remarkable stretch for John Calipari, writes Paul Biancardi of Scouts Inc. Story
Wall teased Duke, and actually gave Miami an informal commitment last week, according to a source close to the situation. But ultimately, the Word of God Christian Academy playmaker out of Raleigh, N.C., didn't stray from his original plan: He chose to play for Calipari, except the pursuit for a national title will be out of Lexington instead of Memphis.
According to sources, this had been an issue for Wall's adviser, Brian Clifton, who likely will be the one to represent Wall when the player eventually declares for the NBA draft.
A source close to the situation at Duke said multiple times that if Clifton were making the call, Duke would have been selected. But Wall, according to sources, made the decision.
Duke was hoping to be Wall's choice, because his mother has had health problems, and the Blue Devils had no issue recruiting a player who is projected to leave after his freshman season.
In the meantime, Wall had strung Miami along after a recruiting visit in late April, feeling comfortable enough with Haith and the team to make the Hurricanes a compromise choice.
Wall would have made Duke an instant title contender and clearly would have elevated Miami into an NCAA tournament team. Florida had made a run at him, but the Gators couldn't get Wall to make a visit.
Chris Williams/Icon SMIJohn Wall had made two unofficial visits to Kentucky when Billy Gillispie was still the coach.
Earlier in the year, Clifton's brother, Dwon, was hired as director of player development at Baylor, creating a stir. Wall even had made two unofficial visits to Kentucky, when Billy Gillispie was still the coach.
Calipari was the most consistent presence in the recruiting process. All that's left now for Kentucky is to see if the team's leading scorer and potential SEC preseason player of the year Jodie Meeks withdraws from next month's NBA draft. But even without Meeks, the Wildcats now have the pieces to challenge Kansas and Michigan State, among others, for the national title.
Sophomore Patrick Patterson, arguably the top returning forward in the SEC, decided to withdraw from the draft on May 8. Patterson will be joined inside by highly touted newcomers DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton, as well as Darnell Dodson.
Kentucky signed point guard Eric Bledsoe out of Birmingham last week, a player who also had been coveted by Memphis. Wall and Bledsoe could give the Wildcats two ball handlers who will be tough to disrupt if they play together.
Toss in Meeks, who averaged 23.7 points a game last season, and the Wildcats will have as much production possible on the perimeter as any team in the country. Wall can elevate at the point as few playmakers can and should flourish next to Meeks, should he return.
Meeks is projected as a bubble first-round pick. Wall's commitment might entice him to return to school for a run at a title, after the Wildcats missed making the NCAA tournament in Billy Gillispie's second and final season as coach.
The Wildcats have 16 players on scholarship now, three over the NCAA maximum of 13. Adding Meeks will put the Wildcats at 17. Calipari has said recently he expects the scholarship situation to work its way out this summer.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
Wall, ranked the No. 1 point guard, No. 5 overall, on the ESPNU 100, informed Miami coach Frank Haith Tuesday morning that he had committed to Kentucky. The reasoning, according to a source, was because he just wanted to play for Calipari.
If Calipari had stayed as coach at Memphis, there would have been no drama in Wall's commitment. Privately, Calipari was convinced Wall would have chosen the Tigers, but the coach's departure to Kentucky created a soap opera in the renewed recruiting chase.
Adding another chip
Top 2009 recruit John Wall's commitment to Kentucky is the latest development in a remarkable stretch for John Calipari, writes Paul Biancardi of Scouts Inc. Story
Wall teased Duke, and actually gave Miami an informal commitment last week, according to a source close to the situation. But ultimately, the Word of God Christian Academy playmaker out of Raleigh, N.C., didn't stray from his original plan: He chose to play for Calipari, except the pursuit for a national title will be out of Lexington instead of Memphis.
According to sources, this had been an issue for Wall's adviser, Brian Clifton, who likely will be the one to represent Wall when the player eventually declares for the NBA draft.
A source close to the situation at Duke said multiple times that if Clifton were making the call, Duke would have been selected. But Wall, according to sources, made the decision.
Duke was hoping to be Wall's choice, because his mother has had health problems, and the Blue Devils had no issue recruiting a player who is projected to leave after his freshman season.
In the meantime, Wall had strung Miami along after a recruiting visit in late April, feeling comfortable enough with Haith and the team to make the Hurricanes a compromise choice.
Wall would have made Duke an instant title contender and clearly would have elevated Miami into an NCAA tournament team. Florida had made a run at him, but the Gators couldn't get Wall to make a visit.
Chris Williams/Icon SMIJohn Wall had made two unofficial visits to Kentucky when Billy Gillispie was still the coach.Earlier in the year, Clifton's brother, Dwon, was hired as director of player development at Baylor, creating a stir. Wall even had made two unofficial visits to Kentucky, when Billy Gillispie was still the coach.
Calipari was the most consistent presence in the recruiting process. All that's left now for Kentucky is to see if the team's leading scorer and potential SEC preseason player of the year Jodie Meeks withdraws from next month's NBA draft. But even without Meeks, the Wildcats now have the pieces to challenge Kansas and Michigan State, among others, for the national title.
Sophomore Patrick Patterson, arguably the top returning forward in the SEC, decided to withdraw from the draft on May 8. Patterson will be joined inside by highly touted newcomers DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton, as well as Darnell Dodson.
Kentucky signed point guard Eric Bledsoe out of Birmingham last week, a player who also had been coveted by Memphis. Wall and Bledsoe could give the Wildcats two ball handlers who will be tough to disrupt if they play together.
Toss in Meeks, who averaged 23.7 points a game last season, and the Wildcats will have as much production possible on the perimeter as any team in the country. Wall can elevate at the point as few playmakers can and should flourish next to Meeks, should he return.
Meeks is projected as a bubble first-round pick. Wall's commitment might entice him to return to school for a run at a title, after the Wildcats missed making the NCAA tournament in Billy Gillispie's second and final season as coach.
The Wildcats have 16 players on scholarship now, three over the NCAA maximum of 13. Adding Meeks will put the Wildcats at 17. Calipari has said recently he expects the scholarship situation to work its way out this summer.
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.