John Wall on ESPN the Magazine Cover

Sports Illustrated, check. Dime Magazine, check. ESPN the Magazine, check. Folks, he’s everywhere. (HT to Walter’s Wildcat World)

Later this week, we will have an extended interview with Kyle Weidie of TruthAboutIt.net, a Washington Wizards blog, but for now, here’s an excerpt from the site’s most recent article about Mr. Wall. It gives you an idea of the kind of expectations he’ll be facing in DC:

Wall will come into the league being asked by trainers, coaches, the media and fans to meet superfantastic expectations. Everyone is fueling the hype machine, even coach Flip Saunders who hasn’t been shy about his belief that Wall will revolutionize the point guard position.

Wall has become a legend before his story has even been told.

Maybe the heavy, humid summer air in the Washington Metro Area will keep people grounded. The biggest thing that Wall will bring to DC is not blazing speed, nor his dance moves, nor a new pair of Reeboks. He will bring a winner’s mentality to the team and give them a reason to play as hard as they can for 48 minutes. He didn’t demand the ball at Kentucky, like a me-first, gotta-get-mine, basketball-cancer (read: Stephon Marbury). As a freshman, Wildcat nation embraced Wall. His teammates put aside their egos and were willing to follow him, to go as far as he would take them. That’s why I’m so excited to see John Wall in a Wizards uniform. After the 2009-2010 season, the Wizards were in need of a near-complete reconstruction. Now, the Wizards are one impact player away from being a contender.

Here in Big Blue Nation, we know a little something about high expectations, and John Wall did pretty well around these parts. I think he’ll do just fine with the hype.

Category: Kentucky