NBA Draft Prospects: John Wall, Kentucky

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Stats: 16.6 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 spg, 4.0 t/o's, 32.5% 3PT

Listed Size: 6'4", 200 lb, 19 years old


About Him: More than likely, John Wall will be the first player picked come the 2010 NBA Draft. Part of it is his seemingly unlimited potential, part of it is his knack for knocking down big shots and making clutch plays, and part of it is the success that recent John Calipari-coached point guards have had in the NBA. And its easy to pinpoint Wall as a potential superstar in the NBA.

The first thing anyone will notice about Wall is his outstanding athleticism. Simply put, the guy is a freak. He may have been the fastest player in the country with the ball in his hands, and anyone that saw his dunk on Jerry Stackhouse go viral last summer knows the kind of hops Wall has. Did I mention that Wall is also 6'4"? That combination of size and athleticism makes Wall an intriguing prospect on the defensive end as well as the offensive end.

And we all have seen what Wall can do offensively. He can get by just about any defender. He can finish an alley-oop in the half court. He's shown an awesome ability to make shots late in a game. He's a great passer, averaging 6.5 apg with an assist-to-FGA ratio that is similar to guys like Deron Williams.

But Wall is far from a finished product right now. He turned the ball over too much, something that could, in part, be cured with an improvement in his ball handling. His jump shot is not yet where it needs to be. He shot 32% from three this year, a number that he absolutely needs to improve. He also needs to better his mid-range game. Wall had a lot of impressive finishes around the rim this year that he won't be able to get away with at the next level. He needs to add a pull-up jumper and a floater to his repertoire. He could also stand to add some strength to his frame. As many highlight reel plays as Wall had this year, one of the concerns I've seen scouts mention is that he isn't as consistent finishing around the rim as they would like.

Every single issue listed above is fixable. All it will take is hard work and long hours in the gym. Wall reminds me of a big man prospect in some ways. He's going to be drafted first because his tools and his youth give him a very high ceiling. If his skill set can catch up with his physical gifts, Wall will be a scary-good point guard one day soon.

Comparisons: A lot of people are going to make the obvious comparison to Derrick Rose, but I think a better comparison is a rich man' Russell Westbrook, at least until Wall develops the pull-up/mid-range game that Rose has. Westbrook isn't quite the playmaker that Wall is, but their athletic profiles and limited (comparatively) offensive games make them an interesting match. And anyone that saw the Thunder's playoff matchup with the Lakers knows this comparison is not meant as an insult.

Outlook: John Wall is more than likely going to be the first pick in the 2010 draft, and rightfully so. He is really the only guy in this draft with the potential to be a franchise changing player. That said, Wall isn't a sure thing to be one of the best point guards in the league. He has the athleticism, yes, but there are still a few things he needs to work on before he gets mentioned in the same breath as a Deron Williams, a Chris Paul, or a Steve Nash.

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