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#TheJohnWall Holiday Invitational has the BEST Atmosphere in High School Basketball! Official Recap!

Webb Wellman — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 11:07:35 +0000

Article by: IAN PIERNO via News & Observer

RALEIGH
In the same gym where he was once cut from the Broughton boys basketball team, in the same tournament where he won MVP two years in a row, John Wall returned last week as an icon.

The players weren’t just playing in the prestigious Holiday Invitational, they were playing in “The John Wall.”

The 26-year-old Raleigh native, former Word of God Christian Academy star, first-team NCAA all-American at Kentucky, No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and three-time NBA All-Star of the Washington Wizards called it “surreal.”

“For it to be in my hometown, it was great to put my name on it,” Wall said. “Every time I go back into that gym, it’s surreal. I go back to where I got cut, to that school where I played and had an opportunity to win a (Holiday Invitational) championship … and now I have my name on it – it just shows all the hard work and dedication I’ve been through and I never gave up on anything.”

Wall watched some of the nation’s top players like Tampa Catholic’s (Fla.) Kevin Knox, Cannon School’s (Concord) Jairus Hamilton and Hillcrest Prep’s (Ariz.) DeAndre Ayton.

Wall caught their eyes, too.

“John Wall stayed and watched us,” said Ayton, who is ranked as ESPN’s No. 1 senior in the nation. “That’s so crazy; we’re so lucky.”

Wall plans to be a mainstay in the North Carolina basketball scene. He has his own AAU club, Team Wall, and he wants to continue to be involved with it long after his NBA career is over.

For Wall, a player who went from unknown to the No. 1 recruit in the nation in a few months, it all comes down to giving kids the chances he was given.

“Yeah, that’s my goal, man. I think just me making it where I made it from, that gives a lot of kids hope,” Wall said. “Now I have the opportunity to have an AAU team and have a holiday tournament and have these kids come and play in it and show everybody that you can make it out, it’s just about the steps you have to take and the direction you really want to go.”

When Wall played in the Holiday Invitational in the late 2000s, his Word of God teams were always the last game of the night and long lines of fans had to be turned away as Holliday Gym reached capacity hours before Wall took the court.

On Thursday, Wall was again drawing long lines. Fans waited to approach him, but he took a picture with anyone who asked.

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John Wall & CJ Leslie: The Ultimate High School Showstoppers

Webb Wellman — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 05:29:25 +0000

Here's a little throwback mixtape of Washington Wizards point guard, John Wall, and former high school All-American teammate Calvin "CJ" Leslie. The 2008-2009 season was my first covering high school basketball and I didn't know what I had at the time. Watch as these guys put on an absolute show, night in and night out, in front of sold out crowds all across North Carolina and beyond. For those less familiar with CJ Leslie (#5), he is a former member of the NC State Wolfpack & part of the 2010 graduating class at Word of God Christian Academy. Check out the showstopping duo that started the #HoopState movement. Leslie went un-drafted out of NC State in 2013, played summer league & 5 preseason games for the NY Knick before being waived, bounced around the D-League & overseas, and is currently signed with Cypriot team Petrolina AEK Larnaca. CJ played two seasons with John Wall at Word of God, winning a NCISAA state championship during one of those. John Wall is a 3-time NBA All-Star entering his 7th season with the Washington Wizards. He was selected 1st in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, where he was the SEC Player of the Year as a freshman. These guys took two very different paths in their basketball careers and as a result ended in two very different places.

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John Wall Presents: The Launch | Year 1 Documentary of Team Wall AAU

Webb Wellman — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 04:28:41 +0000

In 2015, Raleigh native and NBA All-Star John Wall had the vision. A vision and an idea to give back to the community that helped raise and mold him into the person he is today. Wall officially announced the establishment of the Team WALL AAU program in February of 2015 and after hitting 9 cities in 5 months, he created a lifetime of opportunities.

Appointing his former coach and one of his childhood mentor's, Kendrick Williams, was the first step. With the AAU season less than two months away, Kendrick and Team Wall wasted no time. The first piece of the puzzle was point guard Jalen Harris. Harris embodied the vision Williams had for Team Wall with his quick handles and crafty play. With his floor general locked in, it was now time for firepower. Not many had heard of Havelock High School's Kyran Bowman, but after following a suggestion Williams had established the Team Wall back-court. After a breakout junior season, Jalen Johnson of Wesleyan Christian had everyone's interest. The lefty, "Bull City" product decided to run with Team Wall and gave the team their high-flyer. The addition of Boo Williams sharpshooter Scott Spencer midway through the AAU season would prove to be the piece Team Wall was missing. Established shooter Rob Whitfield had been injured for a majority spring/summer, so the addition of Spencer came at a critical time. Osi Smart, Telligence Johnson, Matt Elmore & Mike Pippins rounded out the Team Wall squad as they hit Dallas, Indy, DC, Atlanta, Augusta, Vegas and more!

Before it was all said and done, Team Wall Had garnered over 30 scholarship offers among it's 17u team. Scott Spencer became the first Team Wall player to commit as he chose Clemson to further his basketball career and education. Not far behind was Jalen Johnson, as he later committed to the University of Tennessee. Matt Elmore later decided to stick close to home and attend University of North Carolina Wilmington. In their first year Team Wall was able to accomplish the sight set forth by Director and Head Coach Kendrick Williams. Players got exposure, earned themselves scholarships, and grew not only as basketball players but also as young men. Join us on this journey as Team Wall presents The Launch and see what it really meant to be #WALLIN.

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