Sassafras: Wizard's Wall

John Wall

Point Guard of the Washington Wizards

Date of Birth : September 6, 1990 (age 20)

Place of Birth : Raleigh, North Carolina America

Nationality : American

Listed Height : 6 ft 4 in (1.92 m)

Listed Weight : 195 lb (88 kg)

Johnathan Hildred Wall, Jr. is an American basketball player with the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wall was chosen the first overall in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Wizards.

::Childhood::

Wall is the son of Frances Pulley and John Carroll Wall, Sr., who was in prison for most of Wall's childhood for robbery with a dangerous weapon. When Wall was 9 years old, his father was released from prison but died of liver cancer a month later, on August 24, 1999 at the age of 52. Throughout his childhood, Wall's mother worked multiple jobs to support Wall, his sister, Cierra, and his half-sister, Tonya.

::College career::

Wall was originally recruited by Kentucky, Duke, Georgia Tech, and Kansas. Wall committed to attend the University of Kentulcky on May 19, 2009. Wall was properly introduced, like his teammates, to the Kentucky fanbase through the annual event Big Blue Madness. At this event, which had more attention to it than normally given due to the anticipated recruiting class, players were introduced with music one at a time at a raised platform high above the arena. This is when John Wall first performed what has come to be known as the "John Wall Dance" – turning his right arm in a biceps "flex", then rotating his hand out. This dance has taken on a life of its own through web viewings, photos of people doing the dance across the world, and more. He was suspended by the NCAA from Kentucky's first exhibition game and first regular season game, for travel benefits he received from his AAU coach, Brian Clifton, who was a certified agent at the time. In his first action as a Wildcat, in an exhibition game against Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Wall led his team with 27 points and 9 assists in 28 minutes of playing time.

John Wall during his season at Kentucky

::2010 - 2011 (Rookie Season)::

Wall was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 23.5 points, 7.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 32.3 minutes per game. Wall made his NBA debut in a 112-83 loss to the Orlando Magic. He had 14 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals. In his third game, his first home game, he tied a franchise record with nine steals, and became only the second player in NBA history to get nine assists or more in each of his first three games. On November 10, Wall recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists to go along with 6 steals and only 1 turnover. In doing so, Wall became the second rookie, along with Magic Johnson, to record a triple-double with six steals in his first six games. Wall was the third youngest player to record a triple double in NBA history.

John Wall performances during his college season