John Calipari's Young Pupils Face Off In Intense Battle Last Night

Posted by CoHoops Josh Dhani

Derrrick Rose came out on top in the young and rising point guard competition versus rookie John Wall as the Chicago Bulls improve to 1-2, beating the Washington Wizards in a 107-96 win, dropping the Wizards to 2-1.

Rose had 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists while Wall had eleven points and six assists.

"When you're on the court, you want to see where a player is," Rose said. "It's just the way I am. I'm always going to attack and make sure a player is on his heels.

"It's challenging, knowing you can guard a guy that fast. It gives me confidence for the next time I'm out there against somebody that mobile. He's a good player."

Both players have both played for head coach John Calipari, who attended the game to watch his college projects perform well.

Kirk Hinrich played well against his old squad, after playing for the Bulls for the past seven seasons.

"([t's] a little bit [weird], being in the other locker room," Hinrich said before the game. "I've never seen it before. It was weird the first time I put on this uniform, too, but I've gotten over that."

He received a great ovation from the crowd.

"He don't even look right in that jersey," Rose said.

Kyle Korver had 17 points and Joakim Noah had twelve points, along with eleven rebounds for the Bulls.

Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards with 16 points.

Rose was drafted as the number one pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, playing under Calipari for the Memphis Tigers. Wall was the number one draft pick this season, playing for Calipari with the Kentucky Wildcats.

"I told these guys, don't get crazy. It's exhibition," said Calipari, adding that his advice to both players was to be "humble and hungry."

It went a bit slow in the first half, but when the second half rolled by, things started to get competitive between the two.

"I thought [Rose] gave us real good flow by getting guys involved and moving the ball," said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. "And then in the third quarter, he got real aggressive and took the ball inside."

The Wizards were outrebounded by Chicago, 48-32, most importantly because of their three-guard line-up.

"Our team has to rebound," Wizards coach Flip Saunders said. "It's not our guards getting beat on the glass, it's our bigs."

Saunders didn't want Wall to read Rose too much in his first match-up versus the young Bulls' guard.

"I think if John has a great game, I don't want him to think he's arrived already," Saunders said. "If he has a bad game, I don't want him to think he's not worth a [darn]. ... I think John will be more excited to play against him than he'll look at it as a measuring stick. John loves to compete, no matter who he plays against.

"[Rose and Wall] play each other four times a year, and [these matchups] are how they're going to be judged."

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College Basketball Well Represented at the 2010 ESPY's

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Earlier this summer it almost seemed like College Basketball didn't even exist. With the conference expansions, the College Basketball powerhouse Kansas was being left out of the picture.

There was only one thing that mattered when you thought of conference expansions; and that was college football.

That all seemed like a slap in the face to the sport itself.

However, at the 2010 ESPY's College Basketball was well represented.

First off, the Gatorade Player of the Year Brandon Knight was in attendance to show off his award.

In his senior season, Knight dazzled scouts with his video game numbers while still maintaining a great GPA. He comes to mind we you talk about a student-athlete.

Brandon Knight will be taking his services to the Kentucky Wildcats, where he will be able to compete for a National Championship.

Last year's freshmen sensation John Wall won 'Best Male College Athlete.' Something was telling me that Evan Turner wasn't going to edge him out this time. 

Wall had a phenomenal season. He accumulated 16.6 points, 6.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds.

He led the Kentucky Wildcats to an Elite Eight berth before losing to West Virginia. He later went on to be selected No. 1 overall in the 2010 NBA draft.

He is now playing for the Washington Wizards and is the face of their franchise.

The Northern Iowa Panthers received the 'Best Upset' award for their performance against the Kansas Jayhawks. They single-handily took out the number one overall team with hustle, heart and determination.

Ali Farokhmanesh hit one of the biggest shots in the history of the tournament. 

The Panther continued in the tournament after they defeated Kansas. They were later defeated by Michigan State, but nobody will ever get over the performance the Panthers displayed on March 20, 2010.

(Did I miss an award? Tell me below or email me at CollegiateHoops@gmail.com)

Has Calipari Ruined Kentucky's Image?

Posted by CoHoops DeAnte Mitchell

Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari is likable to some but despised by most. He has been a part of recruiting violations that have vacated his wins and tournament runs.


To me some have been questionable and others, not so much.

Despite that, Calipari has always been a favorable coach. He comes in, five-star recruits follow and 'bam' you have the production.

It's always great to post wins but is Calipari winning strategies beginning to hurt Kentucky's image?

Last season, just about everybody from his first recruiting class was drafted in the 2010 NBA draft--the first round I might add.

Why The Latest Accusations Against John Wall Is Nothing More Than Speculation

Everybody knows John Wall, and what he has done for Kentucky.

But after the season he had, Wall was selected No. 1 overall by the Washington Wizards.

Now here comes speculation. With Allen Iverson career winding down, Reebok was definitely looking for a new face. 

So why not extend their offer to bring in the hottest young talent in Wall?

The current accusations are that Wall's former AAU coach negotiates the Reebok deal. Now the NCAA is poised to look at all Kentucky players’ connection with professional agents.

One word: Speculation! One Phrase: Yellow Journalism!

There are so many people out there that have been trying to dig deep and find the slightest mistakes UK has made since signing Coach Calipari.

However, linking Wall to this is a bit crazy.

Wall has been the model player since his days in high school. He is a smart kid, and has a great mindset. Out of all the players in college, Wall would be the last person linked to accusations like this.

Remember how LeBron James came onto the scene?

He was a hot commodity, and boom; speculation started flying about illegal benefits.

Now here comes a similar situation, but different player.

So, college basketball fans, sports fan, or just people in general; here is two things you must know.

• Coach Calipari has nothing to do with this

As soon as the speculations started flying around, everybody turned their heads to Coach Calipari rather than the player.

Last time I checked, it said the players were being investigated not Coach Calipari.

Just because he recruits players that have bad reputations--that happen to be pretty good players--doesn't mean the media has to attack him every time speculation starts. 

• It's nothing more than speculation

The Kentucky basketball has gone through a lot since hiring Coach Calipari.

There was the DeMarcus Cousins' trouble, Eric Bledsoe transcript, and now John Wall's Reebok deal.

None of that was proven up to this day. Until anything is proven, I believe fans need to give these Kentucky players a break.

Just because Coach Calipari reaches out to the five-star recruits that your team wants, doesn't mean he is cheating. He is simply a better recruiter and I think everybody hates him for that.

Until any of this is proven, it's nothing more than speculation.

(I want to know what you think. Is this speculation or does the Kentucky players really have something to hide? Let me know, send me an email at CollegiateHoops@gmail.com or simply reply below)

Written by DeAnte Mitchell

2010 NBA Draft: Two Un-Drafted Prospects Find Their Homes

The title may be a little misleading because they still have to make the team. However, two point guards were the first to be invited to play on a NBA summer team.

Those two players are Duke's Jon Scheyer and UConn's Jerome Dyson.

Neither of the two was really promised to be drafted. Each have the ability to run the point but there are still question marks.

Dyson was announced to participate on the Cleveland Cavaliers summer team. 

On the other hand, Scheyer is going to D.C with John Wall and the Wizards.

Dyson seems to be in a situation where he could possibly make the roster. He is coming to a team that doesn't really need a point guard because of the services of LeBron James--that's assuming he stays.

He could come right in and play the role Mo Williams and Delonte West failed to play. 

He is very aggressive and has the ability to score the ball at will. 

He reminds me a lot of Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa. Neither player gets lift on their jump shot and both stand 6-foot-3. Not to mention, neither was looked on to be much of a threat in the NBA.

Barbosa proved he can be an under-sized shooting guard, can Dyson? We'll find out shortly.

As for Scheyer, he is also put into a place where he can make the roster. He is 6'5'' and has the ability to play either position.

He can come into Washington as a shooting guard and provide three-point shooting from the wing.

Not only that, when Wall is out he has the ability to run the offense. He sees the court well and get's his teammates involved on the offensive side of the ball.

Scheyer and Dyson are both placed in situations where they might make the roster.

More un-signed talent is one the way.

Written by DeAnte Mitchell

2010 NBA Draft: The All-2010 NBA Draft Team

The 2010 NBA draft is now behind us, and some people are starting to make observations of the biggest night in college and professional basketball.

The NBA draft was very deep in terms of talent, but outside of the lottery picks all I see is solid contributors. 

With that said, here is my All-2010 NBA Draft Team

PG - John Wall 6'4'' Washington Wizards

Who else did you think you were getting here? John Wall has the most upside of any player in this draft and will be a great pro.

He is very long and has the ability to use that length on defense. Wall comes in as the face of the franchise and will take on the challenge of being the leader of an NBA team.

Down the road, John Wall will prove to be the best player in this year’s draft.

SG - Evan Turner 6'7'' Philadelphia 76ers

Turner was the best player in this draft. He is 6'7'' and because of his skill-set, he can play three positions on the court.

He has elite ball-handling skills and drives into the paint at will. Not to mention, his ability to finish around the basket or pull up for the mid-range jumper.

Turner is just an all-around talent that you want to have. He attacks the glass on both ends of the floor. He is a solid defender, and he makes his teammates better.

If this isn't the guy you want on your team, I don't think you're a real basketball fan.

SF - Wesley Johnson 6'8'' Minnesota Timberwolves

I don't know how he is going to be set up with the T'Wolves, considering they acquired more two more small forwards in the draft. Despite that, Johnson is a great player. 

Johnson is 6'8'' but has the ability to guard out of position because of his lateral quickness and length.

With that comes a very offensive player as well. Under Boehim's system we weren't able to see a full arsenal of Johnson's moves but once he gets to showcase his skills we'll all know just how good he is.

Dick Vitale has pegged him as the Rookie of the Year--although, I don't think he will be that good.

PF - DeMarcus Cousins 6'11'' Sacramento Kings

Cousins' is the total package. Because of his so called "attitude-problems" teams passed on him and the Kings cashed in.

Cousins at 6'11'' is an extraordinary athlete. He can play at different speeds, beat defenders off the dribble, shoot the three; it's just a lot of things he does that you don't expect from a player 6-foot-11.

To add to that, he is a monster in the paint and likes to use his strength to overpower players. Not to mention, he does have the ability to play defense and if he is committed he will be a monster.  

You think John Wall is good, wait to you see Cousins at his full potential.

C - Cole Aldrich 6'10'' Oklahoma City Thunder

Aldrich is the most complete center that was drafted. 

He brings defensive intensity to the post that lacks it. He brings amazing size, and the ability to alter and block shots. Not to mention, he will be a nice addition to the pick-and-roll game.

He is very long and can score outside the paint if needed. At Kansas, you didn't witness much of this because he wasn't as aggressive as he should have been. 

But once he gets to the pros you'll witness his jump shot--it's ugly, but goes in--and his ability to score with an array of post moves in the paint. 

Written by DeAnte Mitchell

2010 NBA Draft: Washington Wizards Draft Grade

Washington Wizards Draft Pick

John Wall 6'4'' Point Guard

John Wall has the most upside of any recruit in this draft class.

He has great speed and he uses that when pushing the ball up and down the court in transition.

He is equipped with great athleticism and elite ball-handling skills.

He beats a lot of defenders off the dribble with his quickness and finishes strong once he gets around the rim.

Wall is a big time athlete. He is very long, and can lock down defenders at the next level. Not only that, but with his length he can also become a weak-side shot blocker.

Wall is a great pick if you're rebuilding your team. He has everything you want in a basketball player, now it's all about improving.

Acquired off of trades

Kirk Hinrich 6'4'' Shooting Guard

Kevin Sherapin 6'9'' Power Forward

Sherapin had thought about pulling out of the draft because of injury problems but I'm sure he is glad he stayed in.

He is a great defender in the post. He has an NBA ready body and can bang with the best of them. He is very athletic and displays flashes of a great player. Around the rim he likes to throw down a lot of dunks and does it consistently

Trevor Booker 6'8'' Power Forward. 

Booker is a very under-sized four-man but makes up for it with his strength and athleticism. He is actually the fastest prospect in the draft, running a faster time in the 3/4th court sprint than John Wall.

He moves well without the ball, has soft touch around the rim and a very explosive athlete. Once he gets around the rim you can expect him to throw down dunks or put-backs

Hamady N'daiye 7'0'' Center

N'diaye is a big time defensive presence. At 7'0'' he has the ability to block shots in the paint as well as alter shots if he is not able to get to them.

He isn't just all defense either. He needs to stay alert when catching the entry pass, but when he gets the ball in the post, he has soft touch and usually hits the jump hooks.


Analysis:


The Washington Wizards no doubt had the best draft. They acquire their franchise player in John Wall, and added explosive Trevor Booker to increase the frontline. Not to mention the long N'diaye.

With such young talent across their roster, the Wizards aren't going to make a huge splash during next season but will let people know that they are seriously improving.


Draft Grade: A+

2010 NBA Draft: Evan Turner Vs. John Wall, The Better No. 1 Pick

I am sure everyone already knows, but I'm going to tell you again: The Washington Wizards were granted the right to select number one overall in the 2010 NBA draft. With that, the Wizards have options.

Each prediction includes two players that could go No. 1 overall and John Wall has been the projected No. 1 overall pick since the college basketball season began. Even after seeing this draft loterry shake-up, Wall is still projected to be taken first.

Evan Turner, on the other hand, had to rise from the bottom. He was able to overcome a critical injury, and become a top prospect in the draft. Some even go as far as saying that Turner is the best prospect in the draft.

Both of these players could easily be selected No. 1 overall, but now I believe John Wall is the heavy favorite to be selected by the Wizards.

However, that doesn't make it the best choice for the Wizards. Let me give you a breakdown on both players to better judge who really is the better choice for the Wizards.

John Wall

When the 6'4'' point guard John Wall graduated high school, he took the college game by storm. Wall was undoubtedly the best point guard in the nation, perhaps even the best player, and he certainly was great to have if you were a Kentucky fan.

Wall was mature the day he stepped onto the University of Kentucky campus. He had the guts to take the game-winning shot in his first game of play, and I am sure we all know how that went.

From then on, people considered Wall to be better than previously advertised--many scouts had expected him to be good, but not this good.

He is blazingly fast, displaying Derrick Rose-like speed in the open court, while still being able to handle the ball proficiently. He has great athleticism that he uses once he gets into the paint, and also finishes well around the rim. I once saw Wall put the ball behind his back while fighting off a defender and continued on to dunk the basketball.

Wall would be a great addition to any NBA team. He is a great play-maker and displays some great skills for a player so raw. Did I mention that he has shown limited potential? And that most of his potential still lies within him, untouched and unharnessed?

Why Wall is a good pick for the Wizards


Regardless of the talent on your roster at the point guard position, you do not pass up a player like Wall. He is a proven scorer, displaying flashes of a baby Derrick Rose in many games at Kentucky. Not to mention, he is defensively polished at the point guard position. His large, lanky frame will allow him to knock the smaller guards out of their sets and create turnovers.

Why Wall is a bad pick for the Wizards


Sometimes when you are drafting No. 1 overall, to take such a young player you have to be very cautious. Wall is a great prospect, but one thing that hurt the Wizards last season was turnovers. In college, Wall averaged four turnovers a game. Not to mention, the recurring five-plus turnover outings, which got up to the uglier seven turnover game on four occasions.

Drafting a turnover-prone player to a team that needs to cut down on turnovers could be bad news.

Evan Turner

Evan Turner, the National Player of the Year in college basketball, impressed most with what he had achieved last season.

Turner was everything to the Ohio State Buckeyes. When he broke his back, it was said he would possibly sit out for 6-to-8 weeks; his team went down the drain. However, with Turner being such a strong player, he was able to come back in merely four weeks and help the Buckeyes' return to form.

Turner is a 6-foot-7 point, shot, and forward. He can literally play three positions and play them all well. He showed he can run an offense by taking over the point guard position for the Buckeyes, leading them to the NCAA tournament after suffering such a critical injury.

He also showed that he could play the two guard position with his pick and pop and mid-range game. At the three position, he has the size of a forward. And when you put all of what I just said together, it makes a good cause for him to play at the three.

Why Turner is a good pick for the Wizards


Selecting Turner now could help the Wizards a lot. Not only would they be provided with a wing threat, but examine the possible thee-prong attack in Andray Blatche, Gilbert Arenas and Turner. Turner can help them in the mid-range game and take pressure off Arenas to be the main factor on offense.

On defense, you can rely on Turner to crash the boards and make defensive plays to get the ball back to his team . Evan Turner can be Mr. Everything from the wing position. He is a great ball-handler, shooter in the mid-range game, a smart player and most notably, he is consistent.

Why Turner is a bad pick for the Wizards


Remember when the Pistons passed on Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, etc, in the 2003 NBA draft to fill a need? That is still haunting  them to this day. I'm not saying that Turner will be another Darko, but there is a chance that he may not live up to expectations in the NBA.

The one aspect of his game that scares me the most is his lack of agression. Yes, he takes it to the rim, yes, he plays with heart, and yes, he can be aggressive when he wants, but has anyone noticed that Evan Turner shies away from contact once the game gets too physical? Refer back to the Tennessee game in this year's tournament, or the Siena game film during the previous one.

In the NBA it's all about being physical. If he wasn't doing that in the college game, the pros may eat him alive.

Overall


Like i said before, each one of them could be selected No. 1 overall, but it is all based on the Wizards. In my opinion, the better pick for the Wizards is Turner. He can do it all from the wing position and that will still allow Arenas to run the point in Washington, which is great news.

Playing beside a superstar like Arenas, and a growing star in Blatche, should be the ideal situation for Turner. That takes the pressure off Turner and gives him fresher legs on the court, without forcing him to run the court crazy and do it all like he did at Ohio State.

Turner is the better choice for the Wizards, but Wall will be the No. 1 overall pick. No one in their right mind can pass on a guy that is being compared to Derrick Rose. Have you seen the way Wall handles the game? Once his shot and overall game improves, we are talking about one of the best point guards in the NBA.


Written by DeAnte Mitchell, edits by Lauren Garrison