Happy Birthday John Wall
Johnathan Hildred Wall, Jr. was born on September 6, 1990 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Wall is the son of Frances Pulley and John Carroll Wall, Sr. When Wall was 8 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.
Wall played his first two years of high school basketball at Garner Magnet High School in Garner, North Carolina. After his second season, his family moved to Raleigh and Wall repeated his sophomore year at Needham B. Broughton High School. Despite a very impressive tryout, Wall was cut from the Broughton basketball team for attitude-related issues. As a result, Wall transferred from Broughton to Word of God Christian Academy.
Wall is known for his blazing speed and explosive athleticism.Along with his ability to get to the rim using his speed, Wall also has a tremendous ability to pass the ball, averaging 8.7 assists for his career (as of the end of the 2014–15 season). His strengths usually do not include shooting but, he has seen his three-point percentage increase as he shot his best percentage of .351 from long range during the 2013–14 season.
In the summer of 2007, after his sophomore year of high school, Wall was invited to the 2007 Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia where he distinguished himself by scoring 28 points against a team that featured future lottery pick Brandon Jennings. In the next year he played in the Elite 24 Hoops Classic. He scored 10 points and earned co-MVP honors with Dominic Cheek, Maalik Wayns and Lance Stephenson.
Wall was originally recruited by the University of Kentucky, Duke University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Kansas. Wall decided to attend the University of Kentucky on May 19, 2009. 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. 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.
Wall made his college debut through a game against Miami University. He made the game winning shot with .5 seconds left on the clock to help then # 5 ranked Kentucky win. He finished with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.
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