John Wall?

[J_Ray]

I wouldn't waste a draft pick on a guy who needs 5 years to fight his way through anything as simple as high school, and a religious school at that.

Doubtful he'll survive fame and glory in the NBA with those kind of mental limitations, but he could be a star in the Special Olympics.

John Wall went to a basketball academy, pretty sure the basketball academies are different from regular high schools in terms of graduating because kids go to prep schools all the time rather than college if they can't field a good offer.

 

[Da_O]

What an extremely deep PG class if this is true. Don't know why this is being talked about on the Blazer board. If he is eligible there is absolutely no way we could get in position for him without giving too much up.

 

[NattaNerNuttaMan]

agreed....I just don't see that either since many teams drafting tha high would draft him in a heartbeat fo themselves.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

1) Rubio
2) Wall
3) Curry
4) Meyer
5) Jennings

Such a great PG class!

 

[BasX]

1) Rubio
2) Wall
3) Curry
4) Meyer
5) Jennings

Such a great PG class!

Who's Meyer? Maybe Maynor. Flynn.

 

[Fawzi83]

Either Kentucky or Duke, I'm praying he goes to Duke

 

[MAS RipCity]

I'd rather just sign Andre Miller and push for 60+ wins and let Bayless be our project PG for the future

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'd rather just sign Andre Miller and push for 60+ wins and let Bayless be our project PG for the future

Seconded (or it could be Sessions, Hinrich, etc.), this team is begging for a veteran or at least a player with a couple of years experience minimum to run the point -- assuming Blake isn't that guy.

I'm not opposed to getting a young prospect, but even a huge upside guy like Wall or Rubio, (etc.) is going to take a couple of years to be truly ready to lead a team and that just doesn't do a damn thing for us as the championship window starts to open -- not to mention that the cost to get such a player would be prohibitively expensive in terms of assets surrendered.

I swear to God, it feels like we've become addicted to the draft as a fan base. Let it go fellas.

 

[oldmangrouch]

This surprised me as well. Especially knowing how star athletes in high school are treated when it comes to grading.

It would be interesting to know exactly how and why he was held back. It could be that he is as dumb as a box of hair. It could also be that his parents gamed the system. I have heard of football prospects being held back for non-academic reasons. Having them compete against younger kids makes them look better than they really are.

 

[BlazerBeliever]

I was at the game and he was unbelievable. I would love to see KP pritchslap someone to get him. On one play he did two behind the back dribbles and got an assist on the same play.

 

[Da_O]

Who's Meyer? Maybe Maynor. Flynn.

Don't forget about Teague and Lawson.

 

[Natebishop3]

This team needs a veteran point guard in the worst way.

 

[Natebishop3]

[video=youtube;HPB3xzVDRpE]

Nate McMillan would eat that kid for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

McMillan to Wall during the first Blazer preseason game of 09-10 season, "Nice pass Wall, don't ever fucking do it again."

 

[Minstrel]

This team needs a veteran point guard in the worst way.

I always think...what if Portland had acquired Billups, instead of Denver? Denver wouldn't have been a threat and Portland might well be on the Cleveland/LA/Boston level.

It might be argued that we didn't have an "Allen Iverson," but I think that's fairly irrelevant. The deal was a salary dump for Detroit. Iverson is a very mediocre player these days. He hasn't helped them and may have been hurtful with his attitude. Starting Stuckey/Rip with Bynum off the bench all season would have made them just as good. A LaFrentz/draft pick/cash for Billups deal? Maybe Dumars couldn't have sold it to the fanbase but I think it would have been an even more beneficial deal to Detroit. Lose the salary, get some cash and get another first round pick.

 

[Natebishop3]

I always think...what if Portland had acquired Billups, instead of Denver? Denver wouldn't have been a threat and Portland might well be on the Cleveland/LA/Boston level.

It might be argued that we didn't have an "Allen Iverson," but I think that's fairly irrelevant. The deal was a salary dump for Detroit. Iverson is a very mediocre player these days. He hasn't helped them and may have been hurtful with his attitude. Starting Stuckey/Rip with Bynum off the bench all season would have made them just as good. A LaFrentz/draft pick/cash for Billups deal? Maybe Dumars couldn't have sold it to the fanbase but I think it would have been an even more beneficial deal to Detroit. Lose the salary, get some cash and get another first round pick.

I've wondered the same thing. I still think a veteran point guard would have had a great effect on this team, especially on the defensive end. Billups would have done wonders for our defense.

 

[BrianFromWA]

(i) The player (A) is or will be at least 19 years of age during the calendar year in which the Draft is held, and


(B) with respect to a player who is not an international player (defined below), at least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school (or, if the player did not graduate from high school, since the graduation of the class with which the player would have graduated had he graduated from high school); and


i hope that puts to rest that theres no way john wall can NOT be eligible... 1 nba season must pass since his date of graduation...

The issue (and reason this is being "investigated", imo) is that Wall can legitimately say that his original "class" graduated in 2007, thus making him eligible. His class graduated in 2007, whether he was with it (he wasn't) or not. There's where the loophole lies.

The NBA may rule to put the kibosh on it. They may rule he's eligible. Either way, it's nowhere near cut-and-dried, which is why we're talking about the NBA's need to investigate right now.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't understand the investigation.... if he's the right age, why is there a need for an investigation? Who cares how many years he went to high school? Who cares whether he went to college or not? Rudy didn't go to college....

 

[Minstrel]

The issue (and reason this is being "investigated", imo) is that Wall can legitimately say that his original "class" graduated in 2007, thus making him eligible. His class graduated in 2007, whether he was with it (he wasn't) or not. There's where the loophole lies.

The NBA may rule to put the kibosh on it. They may rule he's eligible. Either way, it's nowhere near cut-and-dried, which is why we're talking about the NBA's need to investigate right now.

I guess if the NBA rules against, Wall could/would appeal it to the independent league arbitrator.

 

[J_Ray]

Jonathan Givony (Draftexpress.com owner) says in his blog that Wall has yet to graduate officially and was reassociated to the 2009 class when he transferred to his new school., so this is all a Chad Ford gimmick.

 

[Da_O]

Jonathan Givony (Draftexpress.com owner) says in his blog that Wall has yet to graduate officially and was reassociated to the 2009 class when he transferred to his new school., so this is all a Chad Ford gimmick.

Tim Frank an NBA spokesman was actually the first to bring this up. Not Chad Ford.

 

[Ed O]

Jonathan Givony (Draftexpress.com owner) says in his blog that Wall has yet to graduate officially and was reassociated to the 2009 class when he transferred to his new school., so this is all a Chad Ford gimmick.

I didn't read that blog, but that's not necessarily a big deal.

The language seems to be:

(B) with respect to a player who is not an international player (defined below), at least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school (or, if the player did not graduate from high school, since the graduation of the class with which the player would have graduated had he graduated from high school); and

All he has to do is NOT graduate from high school this year and he might be set.

That's sort of a big gamble, though, since presumably failure to graduate from high school would hurt his chances to get into college.

Ed O.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The language seems to be:

(B) with respect to a player who is not an international player (defined below), at least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school (or, if the player did not graduate from high school, since the graduation of the class with which the player would have graduated had he graduated from high school); and

All he has to do is NOT graduate from high school this year and he might be set.

Not having gone to high school in these fair United States, I am ignorant as to what exactly counts as the point of graduation. Is it getting enough credits? Or is having enough credits necessary but not sufficient, and you actually have to perform some arcane ritual as well? I vaguely remember Charles Barkley walking with his high school after he'd been in the league many years because of some loophole (which presumably allowed him to attend Auburn without graduating high school).

Even if he DID graduate high school, you'd think he had a case. For example, suppose Brandon Jennings never officially graduated, and went off to Europe (as he has) but liked it so much he stayed for five years (which he won't, but bear with me). Then he comes back, realizes the problem (say, an incomplete), fixes it, and graduates like a week before the draft. Are you telling me the NBA would rule out him being drafted just because he just got his diploma (or whatever it's called)? I don't think so. Or if they tried, lawyers would be lining up at Jennings' door to represent him against the league.

 

[J_Ray]

I didn't read that blog, but that's not necessarily a big deal.

The language seems to be:



All he has to do is NOT graduate from high school this year and he might be set.

That's sort of a big gamble, though, since presumably failure to graduate from high school would hurt his chances to get into college.

Ed O.

You don't understand though, he was recategorized as this year's class when he transferred to the academy, so his class is now 2009. There should be no John Wall in this year's draft unless he fights it like Maurice Clarett did the NFL.

 

[number 10]

All he has to do is NOT graduate from high school this year and he might be set.

That's sort of a big gamble, though, since presumably failure to graduate from high school would hurt his chances to get into college.

Ed O.

which is exactly why the NBA needs to clarify this, even without Wall's asking.

 

[BasX]

FWIW

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.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4178271

 

[C_note]

[video=youtube;LR8NSQllaVQ]"]

 

[hasoos]

Hmmm and nobody wondering why he was a 5th year senior............