Wall will be first player covered by Trianglehoops.net to be drafted into the NBA

Wednesday June 23, 2010

Barring some major changes, conventional thinking has Raleigh’s John Wall as the number one overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft.  Wall’s new home will be with the Washington Wizards.  The Word of God product has had a meteoric rise to his current status in hoops lure.  We will get to that later.

As the number one overall pick Wall will join rare company for NC prep products.  Thought of as a “basketball state”, NC has produced several first round draft picks since 1980.  Trent Tucker(1982, 6^th, Tarboro), Brook Steppe(1982, 17^th, Chapel Hill), Jerrod Mustaf(1990, 17^th, Whiteville), Anthony Avent(1991, 15^th, Rocky Mount), and Hubert Davis(1992, 20^th, Winston-Salem) were all born in the Tar Heel state, but ultimately were prep stars in other states.  There is a long list of first round draft picks that first made a name for themselves in the NC high school ranks, before being drafted in the 1^st round:

Buck Williams(1981,3^rd, Rocky Mount)

Dominique Wilikins(1982,3^rd, Washington)

Mitchell Lee Wiggins(1983,23^rd, LaGrange)

Michael Jordan(1984,3^rd, Wilmington)

Chris Washburn(1986,3^rd, Hickory)

Rodney Rogers(1993,9^th, Durham)

Jerry Stackhouse(1995,3^rd, Kinston)

Todd Fuller(1996,11^th, Charlotte)

Tracy McGrady(1997,9^th, Durham) *Born in Florida*

Bobby Jackson(1997,23^rd, East Spencer)

Antwan Jamison(1998, 4^th, Charlotte)

Courtney Alexander(2000,9^th, Durham)

Brendan Haywood(2001,20^th, Greensboro)

Chris Wilcox(2002,8^th, Raleigh)

Rashard McCants(2005,14^th, Asheville)

Cedric Simmons(2006,15^th, Shallotte)

Stephen Curry(2009,7^th, Charlotte)

Eric Maynor(2009,20^th, Raeford)

Should Wall be selected first overall, he will join an exclusive club that includes only three other players in the last 30 years:

James Worthy(1982, Gastonia)

Brad Daugherty(1986, Black Mountain)

Danny Manning(1988, Greensboro)

Wall's Path 

The point guard’s road to the NBA has not been like other blue chip players.  Wall started his high school career at Garner, where as a Freshman he played on the JV squad like most other 9^th graders.  Here is the Wall timeline season by season:

04/05-Plays on JV as Freshman.  Reputation as a good player with a lot of flash to his game

05/06-Starts for Garner Trojans as Sophomore under coach Eddie Gray.  Team is young, but has the makings of a future contender.  Plays both guard positions.  Half of great one, two backcourt punch with friend Tyrone Williams.

06/07-Family moves to Broughton High School’s district.  Cut from Broughton team.  Lands at Word of God Christian Academy to play for Levi Beckweth and reclassifies.  Has good season with Holy Rams, regarded as one of the best players in the area.  Not focal point of offense, but displays prowess for scoring while developing as a point guard.

07 Summer-Destroys AAU circuit and is on every recruiting service’s radar.  Becomes the name on hardcore basketball fan’s lips after strong performance when invited to NY.  Ends summer with multiple high-major offers.

07/08-Word of God, Junior season, solidifies AAU reputation with solid season of highlights and production on the court.  Trianglehoops.net MOPY winner. Holy Rams win 2^nd consecutive State Championship.  Widely regarded as one of the most coveted recruits in the nation.

08/09-Word of God, Senior season, top ranked PG in nation, Trianglehoops.net co-MOPY winner, helped lead Holy Rams to third consecutive State Finals appearance.  After talking to many area schools, opts to go to University of Kentucky and John Calipari.

09/10-University of Kentucky, SEC Player of the Year, National Player of The Year Finalist, Led team to Elite 8 appearance, 16.6 pts/gm, 6.5 ast/gm

Summer 10-First Round NBA draft pick

10/11-??????

Kerry Smith

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