That’s Debatable: Where Does Uber-Frosh John Wall Rank?
Posted by rtmsf on December 15th, 2009
Each week RTC will posit a That’s Debatable question or topic that is relevant to the world of college basketball. Sometimes whimsical, sometimes serious, we’ll post the thoughts from our core editing crew (in 200 words or less), but we’ll also be expanding to include our contributors and correspondents as appropriate throughout the season. We also invite you, the readers, to join us as we mull over some of the questions facing the game today. Feel free to send us your takes and/or leave them in the comments below.
This Week’s Topic: Kentucky’s John Wall has burst upon the scene as not only one of the best freshmen in America this season, but possibly one of the best we’ve seen around these parts in quite some time. How good is he relative to some of the other great freshmen of recent vintage? He’s the best freshman since whom and why?
Wall's World: We're Just Living In It (AP/Ed Reinke)
zach hayes – editor/contributor, RTC
Kevin Durant. I know I’m not exactly digging into the history books with this one, but Durant was a totally dominant scorer in his only year in Austin, as well as one of those players you absolutely cannot miss if he’s on TV that night. His final numbers in 2006-07 were incredible: 25.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 47% FG, 82% FT, 40% 3pt. Rarely in college basketball do you see a player surpass the 45%/80%/40% trifecta. Durant completed the task in his freshman season. The only argument against Durant is that his Longhorns flamed out early in March; I’d blame that falter on a weak/young supporting cast that relied on Durant to completely carry that team. Plug Durant on John Wall’s Wildcats and the national championship trophy would be a lock to return to Lexington.
nvr1983 – editor/contributor, RTC
Is this a joke? Am I the only college basketball fan who isn’t fully aboard the John Wall bandwagon? I know he exceptionally talented, but he is still very rough around the edges. For every jaw-dropping play he makes (and there have been several) there are a half dozen turnovers. This isn’t exactly shocking since Wall has only played nine games, but for some reason everybody is willing to overlook his carelessness because of his ridiculous athleticism and his penchant for hitting big shots. I get the infatuation with his potential, but before I anoint him “The Next Big Thing” I want to see him dominate. I am talking a 37/23 like Durant put up against Texas Tech (in regulation!) back when Bob Knight was still roaming the sideline in Lubbock. Wall gives us glimpses of his ability to dominate, but he hasn’t put it together for a long enough stretch to have me put him at that level yet. Wall may never put up similar numbers because of the DDM and the fact that Wall has more talented players around him than Durant did, but I’m going to wait for a little more consistency out of Wall before I even consider him in the discussion of the all-time freshmen.
john stevens – editor/contributor, RTC
I’m 30 years old. Kevin Durant is the best, most talented college player I’ve EVER seen. He was absolutely unstoppable, unguardable on the college level.
I’ll agree with the idea that John Wall is must-see TV and hyper-talented and he will be a stud in that other basketball league that I don’t watch where they pay players (you know, besides the SEC)… But I’m not going to say he is the best college basketball player since anybody before he even plays a single conference game…
Hey! RTMSF!
Is that 200-word thing just sort of a guideline, then? (wink)
William: I wish I were 30. I remember 30.
Andrew: the question asks about the best freshman, not necessarily the best player. But your point is still valid. I think he’s lived up to all the hype so far but I also believe most people are taking a wait-and-see approach. There’s still a lot of hoops to be played though I don’t see the kid slowin’ down. In fact, I think as soon as someone tells him that Kentucky only has one triple-double in its history, I think he’ll probably just go out and get one at will.
John Stevens
RTC
nvr, The only thing I have to say about your KD comparison is that the game you referenced was over 20 games into the season and Durant was the main scoring threat for that team. Augustain and Abrams were solid scorers that season but nothing like Wall is playing with in Patterson, Bledsoe and Cousins. I would be surprised if we see 30 plus points at all from him because he doesn’t need to score that many. Instead, we will see 21,6 and 11 like he pulled against Rider.
He is still turnover prone because he wants to make the SC play but he will cut down on that. That is his only weakness. He has made game winning plays in at least 3 games so far this season. Unreal.
JR–
The first point is a fair one and I recognized it when I looked at Durant’s box scores and Wall might put up that many points in a game (there’s no way he puts up 23 rebounds in a regulation game), but my point (surprisingly like much of the panel) was that he hasn’t done it yet so we’re not ready to give him the crown. The having talented teammates can be a +/- in this situation because you can argue it your way (Wall can’t score as much so that limits his “greatness”) or you can argue it rtmsf’s way (Wall will probably advance further in the NCAA tournament enhancing his “greatness”).
I hope that Wall cuts down on the turnovers, but I will need to see it happen before I am willing to give him credit for it.
Nobody here is questioning the fact that Wall is a great talent. I think we are all just questioning how great he is.
Props to nvr for getting off the nutsack and realizing we are 10 games into the season. Wall isn’t even close to Durant at this point. And for those who can’t remember any of Durant plays, youtube the Oklahoma St./Texas game from that year.