Nation's top prospect set to end recruitment

[Ukosumu]

Nation's top prospect set to end recruitment (http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=832374)
July 31, 2008
Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting (http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/)

The recruitment of John Wall (http://kentucky.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=2&pr_key=68235), Rivals.com's No. 1 prospect in the class of 2009, is coming close to an end.

Wall's travel team coach - Dwon Clifton of D-One Sports - will officially be named Director of Player Development at Baylor University on Friday, according to multiple sources close to the situation.

Wall is a 6-foot-4, 184-pound point guard out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Christian Academy. He is expected to announce his college decision early next week according to Brian Clifton, the director of D-One Sports and Dwon Clifton's older brother.

Naturally, Wall is expected to follow his travel team coach to Baylor.

This development is somewhat surprising considering many news outlets erroneously reported last week - during the travel team tournaments in Las Vegas - that Dwon Clifton and Wall were destined for Oklahoma State.

Baylor apparently was not the only school pursuing Clifton as a coach. According to a source close to the situation, Dwon Clifton was offered coaching positions by other Big 12 schools as well as schools in the Big East and SEC.

Clifton played collegiate basketball at Clemson and then later at North Carolina-Greensboro before playing professionally in Portugal.

[matt colvin]

Wow, number one recruit likely headed to Baylor. Money talks.

[Matt Dillon]

I wonder what effect, if any, this will have on Orton? Aren't they good friends?

[I REP NY 91]

Hmmm, quite interesting. Wonder if this will have some sort of "Kansas State effect" on Baylor. Top player (Beasley/Wall), go to a middling Big 12 school (Kansas State, Baylor, respectivly). And then have that team win big games and make the tournament.

Certainly can't hurt the Bears' season

[Bleeding_blue_80]

I wonder what effect, if any, this will have on Orton? Aren't they good friends?


I think they are good aqquaintances, and got to know each other while playing this summer. But I don't know if they are great friends. Either way, I do not see Orton opting for Baylor. Unless he goes against everything he says he "wants" in a school, I don't see it happening. Lets hope I am right. lol

[Wildcat_Fan98]

Baylor is signing his AAU coach and it is all over all the boards that Wall will follow his Coach...Last few weeks looked like both were headed to OK St now Baylor on top....What I do like about this is if Wall was going to go to OK St I would worry about Orton..with him goin to Baylor...I see Terrance Boyd and Danial Orton and Possibly Chris Colvin as our recruits for 2009..already with a 5star Hood coming in Looks like a great Class

[jkeller]

I would like to know if this guy was actually good enough to warrant the job offer or if it's just because he's connected at the hip with John Wall?

I personally think that these AAU coaches are using talented kids in order to boost their way up the career ladder, thus taking jobs away from more deserving coaches who've fought their way up by working hard, not being carried on the backs of more talented people.

[Will Lavender]

I wonder what effect, if any, this will have on Orton? Aren't they good friends?

Doubt it will have any. Those "package deal" things are almost always Internet myths.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Wow, number one recruit likely headed to Baylor. Money talks.


I agree....he surely does not want to play for a big time program..HUH?

[wildcat_lover]

Doubt it will have any. Those "package deal" things are almost always Internet myths.

Yepp just like PPat and Jai Lucas, but one went to the Glory Land(UK) and the other went to the second-rate Hell Town down south.

[MTCAT]

I have never liked the idea of hiring someone as staff in order to get a recruit. Especially a "one-and-done" recruit.

I don't think we need anyone that badly. Athletes like Wall should just forget the college scene and head for Europe for a year. Let's get these AAU parasites eliminated from the sport and only consider kids that WANT to go to college. To keep a level playing field, require the kids to make a 3-4 year commitment to the school with NO transfer clause.

[Adolph Rollingover]

I have never liked the idea of hiring someone as staff in order to get a recruit. Especially a "one-and-done" recruit.

I don't think we need anyone that badly. Athletes like Wall should just forget the college scene and head for Europe for a year. Let's get these AAU parasites eliminated from the sport and only consider kids that WANT to go to college. To keep a level playing field, require the kids to make a 3-4 year commitment to the school with NO transfer clause.

The NBA needs their own farm system like Major League Baseball. Commit to the NBA out of High School, or you have to wait until your Junior year to be drafted.

[MTCAT]

The NBA needs their own farm system like Major League Baseball. Commit to the NBA out of High School, or you have to wait until your Junior year to be drafted.

Agreed. Now that we've solved that little problem...I believe it's "Miller Time."

[Bombastic Blue]

I have never liked the idea of hiring someone as staff in order to get a recruit. Especially a "one-and-done" recruit.

I don't think we need anyone that badly. Athletes like Wall should just forget the college scene and head for Europe for a year. Let's get these AAU parasites eliminated from the sport and only consider kids that WANT to go to college. To keep a level playing field, require the kids to make a 3-4 year commitment to the school with NO transfer clause.

Happens all the time. That's how pitino got Maglorie. His high school coach ended up "the coach that inspects shoe lacings", or some such manufactured position.

It might not be honorable, but it is within the rules.

[Catdaddy]

Happens all the time. That's how pitino got Maglorie. His high school coach ended up "the coach that inspects shoe lacings", or some such manufactured position.

It might not be honorable, but it is within the rules.

Simeon Mars I think was the guy's name

[Matt Dillon]

Simeon Mars I think was the guy's name

That is correct.