ShareThisJohn Wall isn't your typical high school recruit. That's been made apparent by a young man that hasn't even played a second of college basketball.
In case you don't know, the Raleigh, N.C. native is one of the most talented players in the nation, and he's yet to make a choice were he'll be attending school in the fall.
If you're an ACC or SEC fan, his decision could greatly affect your favorite team.
His four choices have been narrowed down to Duke, Miami, Kentucky and Florida.
His ability makes any of the above an instant national contender. Well, maybe not the Hurricanes.
Seriously, think Derrick Rose.
Rose helped lead a John Calipari-coached Memphis squad to the Final Four and NCAA championship game in 2008. He bolted after a season with the Tigers and recently won the NBA rookie of the year award.
Wall, a 6-4 point guard, can be that kind of player. That's why he's such a big story, which is also a bit odd.
Reportedly, he's a fifth-year prep senior, which raises some questions about academic eligibility.
Wall could also wait until late in the summer to sign with a team, something almost unheard of these days.
Recently, Wall was charged with breaking and entering at an unoccupied home with a couple of his buddies. It wasn't bad enough to be dropped by any of the four schools coveting him, but it still made headlines.
And then there's his agent, er, I mean adviser and club team coach Brian Clifton.
Clifton is reportedly shaping Wall's future, nearly guaranteeing himself a sweet paycheck when Wall turns pro in 2010, which he'll certainly do.
Clifton wants Wall under the care of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who runs a tight program and can shelter his players from many of college basketball's big-time pressures. Not to mention, Clifton will be close by to stay in Wall's inner circle.
Wall wanted to go to Memphis to play for Calipari, who's now at Kentucky, hence the reason the Wildcats made the final list.
He hasn't taken a visit to see Florida coach Billy Donovan yet, so it's looking less likely that he'll end up a Gator.
The Hurricanes are the long shot: Somewhere along the odds of Kentucky Derby-winner Mine That Bird.
In the end, it'll probably come down to a two-man battle: Wall vs. Clifton for the right to make the decision.
The hopes of a national title rest on it.
Chose Duke and Wall will replace Gerald Henderson, who's entered the NBA draft without an agent, and he'll have plenty of help as the rest of the Devils return. Let's just say an easy pick for ACC preseason champ with defending national champ North Carolina losing so many of its stars.
If it's the Wildcats, well, Calipari's already built a title-type team in just a couple months, and with forward Patrick Patterson back, Kentucky will probably be as well.
Either way, we'll get to see if the player lives up to an unusual billing. Thanks NBA.
(Contact Brad Senkiw of the Anderson Independent-Mail in Anderson, S.C., at senkiwb(at)independentmail.com.)
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