Just a few years ago John Wall was one of the most explosive point guards in the NBA, scoring close to 25 points per game. Unfortunately injuries have tampered with his ability to play in recent years, and he has not been quite the same player.

  “John Wall was one of if not the best guards in the NBA during his prime, his ability to pass the ball and defend was far above the rest during his time.”   FHS Senior Tanner Covington

John’s rise to the NBA is one of the craziest against all odds stories in the modern era. Wall was a top high school basketball prospect in the country, but didn’t even make the team. 

Growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina John’s father was not around. This was because when John was just 1 years old his father was arrested for armed robbery, only to be released 8 years later because he had terminal liver cancer. 

After his father’s passing John slowly began to follow in his footsteps stealing cars at 13 and joyriding around the streets of Raleigh. John’s reputation followed him into High School, when he tried out for the team sophomore year and was cut from the team and replaced with a senior who wouldn’t cause any trouble. 

Even though he was one of the most talented guards in the country; no coach wanted to risk the trouble he would cause off the court. John transferred to Word of God Christian Academy, where he would clean up his act and focus on basketball. 

In the next few years of his high school career John Wall would work on his game and impress many college programs, but coach John Callipari was the one who stood out the most. After leading the Memphis Tigers to the National Championship Callipari would leave to coach at Kentucky where John Wall would follow. At Kentucky Wall would develop into a star, becoming NCAA Freshman of the Year, and leading the Wildcats to the Elite Eight. Under coach Callipari John was able to put his head down and put everything he had into basketball. 

“He was a part of one of the most fun college teams ever, with Boogie Cousins and Eric Bledsoe they were unstoppable.  John would declare for the 2010 NBA draft where he was taken first overall by the Washington Wizards.” Senior Ethan River said this about John Wall in college

John Wall’s rise to the NBA was one that no one could have predicted. After being so close to ending up like his father, John was able to beat the statistics and propel himself into being an NBA All-Star.