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Is John Wall Overhyped?

March 22, 2010 – Kevin Burke

Believe me. I know that sounds blasphemous, but hear me out.

Every so often a high school talent gets much praise for dominating his opposition. He is usually faster, quicker and more athletically gifted than his counterparts. The most recent such phenomenon was Kentucky’s John Wall. Wall’s high school highlights are nothing short of disgusting. He looks like a man amongst boys. But, I haven’t quite seen that translate to the college level in the same manner I saw it in high school.

I’ve felt this way about Wall for a while, but I wanted to let the season ride out a bit more before I decided to write about it. I heard his name long before I ever saw him play. He had LeBron James hype coming out of high school, and deservedly so. His first couple of games as a Wildcat drew much attention and praise. But, as the season John Wall Kentucky Wildcatsprogressed, I noticed that his highlights were mainly open-court finishes and a few fancy passes. Therefore, I decided to tune into a handful of games during the season to judge for myself.

I did so Saturday night as well to see Kentucky take on Wake Forest. In the first half, Wall hit a couple of wide open 3s and had a few nifty assists. Solid, but nothing earth shattering. Then the second half began and I had to listen to Jay Bilas go crazy about John Wall’s non-so-spectacular first half (And I really like Jay Bilas. I think he’s the best in the business at breaking down college basketball. He is the Kenny Smith of college analysis, but tends to overhype guys sometimes). I was actually more impressed with Wake Forest’s PG Ishmael Smith than I was with Wall (If Smith could finish around the cup, the game would’ve appeared closer than it was). Wall is excellent in the open floor because he can jump out of the gym, and his court awareness is the best part of his game. He is a very good passer, but he can’t really score in a half court set. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s a bad player. He is very talented, but I just don’t see how he is Player of the Year / #1 overall pick in the draft material. I think both of the those distinctions should go to Ohio State’s Evan Turner. Turner is far more impressive to me.

He was initially compared to another John Calipari freshman of a few years ago: Derrick Rose. In my opinion, Rose was a better player as a freshman. Rose found ways to score in the half court set and was more fundamentally sound. Wall is more raw than Rose was. Again, don’t get me wrong. Wall can definitely play, but I just don’t quite see the hype that everyone else seems to.

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Comments

  • Paterick

    Yea…with Wall I permanently feel like I just missed the game where all that hype gets proved.

  • http://www.nba.com/ Dave Jeffries

    Yeah here’s my thing. I think John Wall has the talent to back up all the hype, but he just doesn’t seem to be using it night in and night out.

    If you look at how he performs in the clutch moments of games or late in the second halves in general you will see where all the hype comes from. He’s a game changer. Also, he doesn’t get nervous or shy away from the big shots. That is what makes him so attractive to NBA scouts.

    What frustrates the hell out of me (but possibly makes him a good teammate at Kentucky) is that he doesn’t assert himself most of the game until late in the second halves. He’s content to just pass up good look and get his teammates chances. That probably makes Kentucky a better team overall and makes Cousins a lot better. But in general I wish he sometimes was trying hard to ‘get his’ to see what he’s really capable of.

    Dave

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  • http://www.thekevinburkeproject.com Kevin Burke

    He is definitely a pass first PG, which is good (and a rarity). Taking his clutch shots into consideration, I still don’t see the hype.

  • Rick

    Clueless. Wall has finished time after time and is clutch. I have not seen talent like this in years.

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  • csr

    “He is a very good passer, but he can’t really score in a half court set. ”

    You aren’t watching enough. Every team plays off of him, giving him the 3. Sometimes he hits, sometimes he doesn’t. Pick and roll offenses in the NBA will set him completely free in a Rajon Rondo way.

    And Wall is a MUCH better shooter than Rondo.

  • Justin Harrell

    Overrated, but still very good. Turner is clearly better right now. It’s all media hype at this point. Considering the players that Wall has around him, it builds an even better case for Turner.

  • Your fkd up

    R U crazy, Wall doesn’t dominate in college like he did in high school because he is surrounded by so much talent and ish smith couldn’t hold his jock strap

  • Your fkd up

    Furthermore there is a reason NBA scouts r all over wall and get paid to do that and you write this blog and don’t get paid do that, LOL!!! You’re a tool!!

  • Your fkd up

    No wait not a tool, if you are a hoop doctor, this “article” makes u a quack!!!!LOL!!

  • Mark

    what the writer of this article isn’t understanding is…
    he is doing exactly what coach Cal wants him to do.
    It’s a full team effort out there, not just a one man show,
    that’s why they are on top.

  • Mark

    it’s a team effort, not a one man show.
    He is doing exactly what coach Cal wants him to do.
    That’s why they are 34-2.

  • Bradley

    Ish Smith was certainly very impressive in his match up with John Wall. Both points Smith scored that game were scintillating. If he could’ve made that same shot 16 more times Wake wins by 2. Excellent point indeed.

  • Richard

    do you get paid to write? this article is sickening. you are an clearly an idiot. john wall is the ish. ish had 2 points on a goaltend. when wall wins final four mvp and goes on to dominate the league you will eat your words, if anyone actually reads them.

  • Mojo Wilkins

    How does Kevin Burke get these wacky notions? Did he even WATCH the second half, when Wall dominated? Wall can make moves in transition that NOBODY I’VE SEEN SINCE DR. J CAN DO. He makes spectacular passes that nobody actively playing basketball today other than Jason Kidd can make.

    And Burke says Wall can’t score in the half court? Try 60 percent shooting (6 of 10) from 3-point range in the NCAA tournament.

  • Gary

    I would say you were making a valid counterpoint until you stated that Ish Smith looked better. Ish Smith v John Wall in that game was not a contest.

    Also one reader commented that you aren’t watching enough. Well, you say yourself you’ve watched a “few” games…but from the tone of this post I think you meant to say you’ve watched one game…the Wake Forest game, in which Wall played 22 mins and UK won by 30. His job function this post season is to engage options 3 & 4 Miller and Bledsoe thereby increasing UKs chances of going further in the tournament. His job function is not to put the team on his back every single night like Turner.

    As all too many bloggers, you certainly have an opinion…just not a very well informed one.

  • BballJUNKIE

    Ok, so you got your hits from the big blue nation for writing something silly to get everyone to react. Congrats. You analysis of Wall was from 1 game? Not just one game, but 1 game where his team won by 30! Who in their right mind would take you seriously if you were to say LBJ is over rated after watching him and the cavs win by 25 over the pistons on Sunday? Good job writing a bad article.

  • http://kentuckysportsradio.com Inside the Huddle With Rob Bromley

    More impressed with Ish Smith? I really need to get into this internet blogging deal, I have tons of unsubstantiated opinions I would love to throw out there. I bet if I said living in Mexico is better than living in the United States I could get hits, too.

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  • http://www.thekevinburkeproject.com Kevin Burke

    I’m definitely not the first person who has said or written this. I guess all of them reside outside of Kentucky. I don’t think I’m crazy because some people who commented above agree. What I said got misconstrued of course. Allow me ot clarify.

    Wall is a very good player and should go on to have a solid NBA career. I just wonder if his hype didn’t precede him, if everyone would think about him the same way. That is my point essentially.

    This was not based on 1 game. I missed only 1 KU game that was nationally televised, so I’ve seen enough to form an opinion. It was taken to literal when I said “few”. I referenced the Wake game because it was the most recent.

    Nowhere did I say that Ish Smith is a better player. To clarify, I think Ish did a better job of breaking down the defense with dribble-drive penetration. But he’s apparently allergic to finishing around the basket because he inexplicably missed at least 10 gimmies – easily. And yes, UK won by 30…but they’re team is much better than Wake’s. I was just talking about dribble-drive penetration.

    He is surrounded by other future 1st round draft picks, so maybe he doesn’t have to do as much. If that’s the case, why is he in the running for Player of the year if he “doesn’t have to do much”?

    Is he really head and shoulders – far and away better than Derrick Rose? Really?

    Someone brought up Rondo and LeBron is disprove what I’m saying. I’m confused. When did I mention Rondo or LeBron?

    By scoring in the half court set, I mean manufacturing your own shot in a half court set.

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  • Sully

    “This was not based on 1 game. I missed only 1 KU game that was nationally televised, so I’ve seen enough to form an opinion.”

    Since when are we talking about Kansas games? Kentucky is “UK”, not “KU”. Anyone who has watched more than a few Kentucky games should know this. You’re certainly not helping your credibility. John Wall is far ahead of Rose at this point in his career. He is faster, jumps higher, is a better shooter, and just as tall and athletic as Rose is today!

  • http://www.thekevinburkeproject.com Kevin Burke

    semantics. Far ahead of Rose? Give me a break

  • WTF

    Author is most definitely a Neanderthal. Literally one of the all time worst observations ever.

  • The Great Wall

    People who say that Evan Turner should be the number 1 pick and a much better player than Wall should just stop talking now. You say these things due to the stats Evan Turner puts up, but does he have 5-6 future first round picks on his team? Also, Wall chooses to get his teammates involved because he has such teammates that can finish and score. If Wall and Turner switched teams then you would see Wall put up Turners numbers because he would have to for his team to win, but Wall on Kentucky, he does not have to. When Wall is needed, he delivers.

  • Carlos

    Wall is a freak of nature in the open court with his speed and isn’t afraid of the big shot. Defenses have really keyed on him and provided a lot of help to keep him out of the lane, and that has somewhat iced his half-court game a bit. In the NBA, he will be able to go one on one more and will get into the lane at will.

    The kid has been very clutch for us when we needed a big shot, and has simply willed the team to victory on multiple occasions when we should have lost. Unlike Turner, Wall is surrounded by NBA caliber talent, and doesn’t have to be spectacular…he simply has to be a point guard and he does that. The one part where I will agree with you is….I would take Cousins with the top pick. I believe that guy is going to be really special. Cousins has been asked to be a post player only this season, but he’s got a really good face up game as well, and in the NBA I believe he will be a load.

    Wall is one of those guys that doesn’t always knock you down wowing you. Then you look at the stat sheet and see he has 9 assists and 18 points. I believe that’s truly what makes him special. He didn’t read his own press clippings and become a “me first” player. He could have settled for awesome personal stats, but he clearly doesn’t care about any of that. He wants to win and is a big reason that UK is doing just that.

  • Frank

    Everybody needs to relax. Wall is a tad overhyped.

  • Seth

    As a UK fan (full disclosure) I still don’t think Wall is the greatest player ever, but I have seen quite a few make or break situations this season where Wall basically said give me the ball and he won the game. Someone who performs in those situations on a consistent basis usually commands enormous respect because it’s unusual and incredibly exciting to watch a player take control of the game in the last seconds.

    But of course, he isn’t always the most productive player on the team. The amazing thing is that he can seemingly have an uneventful game, and when the win is on the line, he takes the ball and makes something happen.

  • http://www.ed-hardy-tshirt.com ED-hardy

    I just don’t quite see the hype that everyone else seems to.Wholesale MLB Jerseys
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  • james

    john wall is the best on the team

  • profile blast

    True but Loki was always pestering him with those crazy mischievous shenanigans……………. .