By LARRY VAUGHT
John Calipari acted liked he accidentally let the information slip out  but we all know better. Calipari doesn’t make those kind of mistakes.
So when the Kentucky coach was asked after the Indiana game how he had been successful taking “one-and-done†players, he let it slip that freshman superstar John Wall had “around a 3.8†grade-point average and then said he was “not supposed†to talk about academics after noting again how Wall had not missed a class or tutoring session this semester. He later threw in that Wall wanted to take extra classes next semester.
“If he does leave (for the NBA), he wants to come back and finish up (his degree),†the Kentucky coach said.
Wall is leaving. Barring a serious injury, he’s gone  and should be. He’s probably better than at least half the starting NBA point guards today and in two years will be on the of the league’s elite players.
Still, one does wonder why Calipari has been so successful with players who have spent just one year in college and then become NBA stars.
“The first thing is they are talented enough to do it. I was in the NBA and understand it is about scoring the ball,†Calipari, who was head coach of the New Jersey Nets before going to Memphis and eventually Kentucky.
“It is not about having a point guard get 19 assists. You have to score. At times you may say John (Wall) is selfish and I wish on one or two plays he had passed, but I want him to score.
“The other thing is we play man to man. We do stunts. The terminology is the same. I am not saying I am the only guy that does it. But it has never hurt us.â€Â
Former Kentucky coach Joe Hall, who has been embraced by Calipari, sees no way having Wall this year and then losing him to the NBA is anything but good for the Kentucky basketball program.
“Look at what he has done for this program already. He is a big part of the excitement that surrounds the Kentucky team this year. John Calipari will continue to have players of that caliber, even if they are one-and-done. They are exciting and make Kentucky exciting and make recruiting that much easier. To me, that’s not a problem. That’s a luxury.â€Â
Indiana coach Tom Crean says what Calipari does has not worked for some.
“John is very good at recruiting those guys and replacing them year after year. If you do that, it works. Look around and some get players for one or two years and they can not replace them. That’s where the risk and reward comes in.â€Â
But from what I have seen of John Wall, it’s all reward and no risk.
20 Responses to One-and-done works for Calipari, Wall and UK
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One and done, but right now he is at Kentucky. He has become a legend with the Cats and just how big of a legend remains to be seen. Just like Coach Hall said, “look at what he has done for this program already.” Not just SuperWall, but also the coaching decisions bringing together one of the best teams UK fans have ever seen. I’ll take this year with him especially after all the heartache of the past seasons. This is what Kentucky basketball is all about. I don’t like the one and done rule but am glad we have SuperWall playing for us and not watching him play for some other team. Wall is a great player and will only get better. It is frightening to think just how good this young man is going to be in the future. John also seems to have a very good head on his shoulders; he doesn’t come across like other players who have extraordinary talent. He wants good grades, he is keeping his slate clean, he loves his mama, and he is enjoying this year as much as any young player can. I love his smile and it is so good to see him and the rest of the team smile again! I think the year in college gives these young men time to mature as well as grow athletically so maybe it is not such a bad rule after all. I’d really like to see the days of old when players stayed more than a year or two, but that is never going to happen again. GO CATS!
Right on Linda! GO CATS!!
Could there be a Knight in UK’s future when Wall leaves for the NBA?
Amen Linda!!..and Barry I hope your are right about Knight..But I wouldn’t mind Selby either..Unlike WALL those two are not one and dones, they would be around for a while..Like Bledsoe..Give them what they want John Wall, Thats your best, And I am sure everyone will be happy in the end…GO WALL!! GO BIG BLUE!!!!
What’s wrong with Knight and Selby? It worked with Wall and Bledsoe
Selby probably will be gone after one year, right now Draftexpress has Selby as the #6 pick in the 2011 draft, and Knight as the #8 pick. Knight may stay for the education, he has a 4.2 GPA, but both will have the option to leave.
Cal says “look at what Wall has done for this program already”. If you take the time to do that, it really is beyond belief. There is a John Wall story on every ESPN show, every day. There is a John Wall story on every basketball blog, every day. The exposure we have gotten because of him is unparalleled in the history of this program. We are one of the most high profile teams in any sport, but until now, we have never had this high profile of a player.
Linda, never say never. The way I understand it, in 2011 the NBA re-negotiates it’s collective bargaining agreement with the players. From what I hear, there is a big push to either do away with the age restriction or make it a 2 year stint in college before moving into the NBA. So we may see the end of one and dones.
Jason, you are right. From things I have read, Knight is like Pat. He wants an education, but would like to do it in 3 years. To land him would be quite a prize, that might just pay off for a while.
IT IS AN AWESOME TIME TO BE A CAT FAN!!!! GO BIG BLUE!!!!
I think Knight will be in the SEC, but Selby will be at UK.
I have no problem with John being a one and done or with Kentucky recruiting that type of player. I’ve said it all along, they have to play someplace, it might as well be at Kentucky! GO BIG BLUE!!
I fully support Calipari’s recruiting decisions, and feel the good exceeds the bad. But there will be the bad. There will be cycles that includes some down years! No matter how good you are at recruiting, there will be years, when you lose the star, and fail to replace him. All UK fans needs to rationally understand that.
Fair point RanSmith. Sooner or later, it will happen. The hope will be that even then there will still be an Eric Bledsoe or Daniel Orton on campus to at least keep the ship steady. And I see no downside for having Wall only a year. IT’S A BLESSING
even in a “down year” it could never be as bad as the gillispie goof
add to the fact that with Cal’s track record in PG’s to the NBA (in the lottery no less) will have every top PG wanting to play at UK…and with top flight PG’s, wings will come…as will PF’s who want their face-up game developed…this is only scratching the surface, but UK is going to have many more great recruiting classes…and I think JWall has had a huge hand in that…still thinking he may surprise everyone and stay another year…but again, that just may be wishful thinking on my part
Great point Justin. Gillispie was a horrible recruiter and talent evaluator. And David it would be great if you were right about Wall staying, but folks tell me he’s going to be the No. 1 pick. NO way he can stay
Is it possible that John Wall is Calipari’s Mashburn? The beginning of a stream of really good players for UK? Boy I hope so!
Larry, I was born and raised in Danville(Admiral grad ’82). I now live in NW Indiana (Valparaiso) and I am glad to find your writing here. I remember fondly following your Dad in the Advocate.
All the best.
And I see where Jerry Tipton has an 8% approval rating. Larry – with simple, honest, straight-forward story-lets like this one, you have my full 100% approval and thanks for the information. Selby and Knight would be OUTSTANDING together.
Glad to have you following us Mark.
And JIm,Selby and Knight will be great together
Linda said it well….enjoy the great players we have and bask in the glow of being relevant on the national scene, again.
If John Wall wasn’t wearing KY blue, would we want to play the team that had him? I think not.
Great time to be a UK fan! GO BIG BLUE!
Well put Suzie. I don’t think anybody would want to play against Wall if they could avoid it. He’s that good
You don’t know how many time I have thought of Wall as Calipari’s Mashburn. Mash is still my favorite player of the ‘modern’ era and now I have to put SuperWall as my favorite player, tied with Patrick of the ‘new modern’ era. I still say an old woman should not be this exicted about 5 guys running up and down 94 ft of hardwood trying to put a round ball in a basket barely big enough for it to fit through that is suspended 10 ft above the floor and always over their heads.