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UK Basketball: Wall completes puzzle

May 20, 2009|Keith Taylor/Sun Sports Editor

Last year Kentucky struggled to find consistent point guard play and solving that dilemma was a recruiting priority for Kentucky coach John Calipari.

What Calipari has done is bring in two five-star recruits. He landed Alabama point guard Eric Bledsoe about two weeks ago and added the nation's top-ranked point guard Tuesday in John Wall.

For Wall, he says playing on the same team with Bledsoe is not a problem. For Bledsoe, he said if Wall did come to Kentucky, it would only make him a better player.

Larry Orton, the father of UK signee Daniel Orton of Oklahoma, thinks having Wall and Bledsoe creates a perfect scenario for the Cats.

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"John is probably only going to be at UK a year (before going to the NBA)," Larry Orton said "That's why it is good to have Bledsoe. He is not a one-and-done, or two-and-done, kind of player. He could very well end up in the NBA in four years, and probably will.

"But now he can play behind John for a year, or if John gets hurt or in foul trouble, he will give Kentucky a great point guard, too."

Wall and Bledsoe could also play together, especially if Jodie Meeks doesn't return to Kentucky for his senior season.

"If Meeks is back, and I hear he will be back after he gets through testing the NBA waters, then Kentucky has to be a top five team going into next year," Orton said. "How are you going to guard them all?"

He noted how Bledsoe and Darius Miller could back up Wall and Meeks. Then there will be Patrick Patterson, Matt Pilgrim, Perry Stevenson, DeMarcus Cousins and his son inside. Plus, junior college transfer Darnell Dodson could play multiple spots and UK also has other returning experienced players like Ramon Harris.

"Kentucky will have all the backup firepower it needs," Orton said. "The second team could handle a lot of teams because it will be full of stars, too. It's just a great situation for everybody, including John Wall."

Analysts rate Wall

Sometimes it can be almost impossible for a highly-touted high school player to meet expectations on the collegiate level.

Those who have seen Wall play say not to worry about how he'll fare now that he's decided to play at Kentucky.

"John Wall is a terrific prospect. He's similar to (former Memphis star and current NBA standout) Derrick Rose based on what they can each do with the ball," said Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels. "He needs to work on his jump shot, but he'll do a lot of damage at Kentucky with his overall play.

"We had Derrick Favors as our overall No. 1 player in the country, but John is right there behind him and you could make a strong case for him having the top spot. He's always loved (John) Calipari and it's no surprise he believes his favorite coach can make him an even better player now."

Scout.com rates Wall's strengths as his ability to create, finish plays and his speed/quickness. Even though his perimeter shot is suspect, he's still difficult to guard and contain.

"I've watched every single elite player in the country against John the last two years," Scout.com national recruiting director Dave Telep said. "He is the single most difficult player in the country to guard right now. It's just impossible to stay in front of him.

"He has that elite burst and elite athleticism. He is just really a load to deal with. He has impressive physical traits. You just can't emulate what he can do to you. John is video-game fast. He's super fast."

Telep says not to worry about Wall off the court, either, in spite of a recent incident in his hometown of Raleigh, N.C.

"He is really a good kid. John lost his father at an early age. He worked through some emotional problems. I can tell you beyond a shadow of doubt that the last two years John has made greater strides as person than a player. That's a credit to who is and where he wants to go," Telep said.

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