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Vaught's Views: Walker likes Cousins

September 23, 2009|By LARRY VAUGHT

Former Kentucky All-American Kenny Walker likes what he has seen — and heard — about Kentucky freshmen DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall and Eric Bledsoe.

"Cousins is big, strong and pretty mobile for a guy that is 6-9 or 6-10," Walker said. "He's really going to take a lot of pressure off Pat (Patterson) this year. Pat won't have to do all the low-post scoring and defending with Cousins here now.

"Teams are going to have to pay attention to Cousins on both ends of the floor because from what I saw, he can really be a force in there."

While Walker expected Cousins to bring a physical presence to UK, he was surprised by something else.

"He does have a finesse game, too," Walker said.

However, look for Cousins' primary role to be inside, based on what coach John Calipari told Walker.

"He was saying that he wants him to dominate the paint. That's the mindset and attitude he wants him to have because that is what the NBA scouts want to see and if he's going to help get the kid ready for the NBA, then that's what he needs to do," Walker said.

"However, he said this kid is so talented that he can do a lot of different things. He can step away to 15 to 17 feet and knock down shots. He's mobile and can handle the ball, which impressed me. How much he gets to display that may depend on how he dominates the paint early. If he shows right off that he is coachable and dominates the paint, then I wouldn't be surprised to see Cal let him show more of his versatility on the outside.

"But this kid could really be special. He's even better as an all-around player than I thought he would be."

So is Wall, the nation's top high school player last season.

"To have that speed and quickness and jumping ability is unreal. He jumps almost like I jumped but he is only 6-3, 6-4," Walker said. "The only weakness I see for him, and maybe the team, would be 3-point shooting. But he can do so many other things that you may not even notice that."

Walker thinks Wall and fellow freshman Bledsoe can play together even though both are point guards.

"Bledsoe and Wall can play because they can both create off the dribble. When two guys do that with the big guys we have, that is a tough combination to defend," Walker said.

"Bledsoe has been the pleasant surprise of all the new guys. He has not backed down from Wall or anybody. He is not intimidated. He's fast, quick, very athletic. He reminds me of (former Wildcat) Dicky Beal in terms of the way plays as far as quickness and the way he jumps."

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