Was John Wall the best guard to play at Kentucky
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Tyler Ulis. Ralph Beard. Delk. Turner. It's hard to say. Talent wise? Wall probably.
Tony Delk’s senior year was the best all around UK guard season I’ve seen.
Maybe not.
Macy, Beard, Dampier, Epps and Turner all better imo. Not as flashy. Fox was great as were Ulis and Murray. Delk was great
Johnny Cox was good. So many. Roger Hardin and Ed Davender were solid as was Rondo and Sparks. Adrian Smith and Vern Hatton were champs.
One home state underrated guard I liked was Larry Johnson.
Macy, Beard, Dampier, Epps and Turner all better imo. Not as flashy. Fox was great as were Ulis and Murray. Delk was great
Johnny Cox was good. So many. Roger Hardin and Ed Davender were solid as was Rondo and Sparks. Adrian Smith and Vern Hatton were champs.
One home state underrated guard I liked was Larry Johnson.
Ralph Beard
Three time first team AA
Two time national champion
15th in scoring at UK
Olympic gold medalist
Three time first team AA
Two time national champion
15th in scoring at UK
Olympic gold medalist
It's either Ulis or Wall.
Tyler Ulis:
John Wall:
It's close but I'll always go with John Wall. Seeing him at BBM was epic and the sign that UK was back.
Tyler Ulis:
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/tyler-ulis-1.htm
72 games
PTS 11.3, TRB 2.4, AST 5.3, STL 1.2
TOV 1.5, PF 1.7
FG% 42.7, FG3% 37.1, FT% 84.6, eFG% 49.9
WS 11.3
Consensus first-team All-American (2016)
Bob Cousy Award (2016)
SEC Player of the Year (2016)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2016)
First-team All-SEC (2016)
SEC All-Freshman Team (2015)
SEC tournament MVP (2016)
72 games
PTS 11.3, TRB 2.4, AST 5.3, STL 1.2
TOV 1.5, PF 1.7
FG% 42.7, FG3% 37.1, FT% 84.6, eFG% 49.9
WS 11.3
Consensus first-team All-American (2016)
Bob Cousy Award (2016)
SEC Player of the Year (2016)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2016)
First-team All-SEC (2016)
SEC All-Freshman Team (2015)
SEC tournament MVP (2016)
John Wall:
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/john-wall-1.html
37 games
PTS 16.6, TRB 4.3, AST 6.5, STL 1.8
TOV 4.0, PF 1.9
FG% 46.1, FG3% 32.5, FT% 75.4, eFG% 50.3
WS 6.3
Adolph Rupp Trophy (2010)
Consensus first-team All-American (2010)
USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2010)
SEC Player of the Year (2010)
37 games
PTS 16.6, TRB 4.3, AST 6.5, STL 1.8
TOV 4.0, PF 1.9
FG% 46.1, FG3% 32.5, FT% 75.4, eFG% 50.3
WS 6.3
Adolph Rupp Trophy (2010)
Consensus first-team All-American (2010)
USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2010)
SEC Player of the Year (2010)
It's close but I'll always go with John Wall. Seeing him at BBM was epic and the sign that UK was back.
First team All NBA as well.
You might be right. I could see Ralph as the best ever
What’s funny about that?
John Wall is the best point guard in a single season.
Delk's senior season was the best from a guard.
I'm taking freshman Wall and senior Delk against any combo you guys can come up with.
Delk's senior season was the best from a guard.
I'm taking freshman Wall and senior Delk against any combo you guys can come up with.
In what world is Anthony Epps better than John Wall? Epps was never even the best guard on any of his teams.
Been a lot of names dropped here but one I've not seen that deserves to be in the conversation is Meeks. Dude scored 23.7 ppg on good efficiency when he was one of the only options to score and defenses KNEW he was going to be shooting.
But agree with most that Wall and 96 Delk are pretty much the top choices from my lifetime.
But agree with most that Wall and 96 Delk are pretty much the top choices from my lifetime.
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If I had to try to beat Wall and Delk, I'm probably throwing Rondo out there at one spot because he's probably the best choice for being able to defend against them. And was phenomenal at getting to the basket, setting up his teammates. Hell, Rondo + Meeks could give them a run for their money.
Delk, Dampier (all-time ABA scoring leader), DA, Ramsey, Beard, all ahead of Wall imo.
Outside of shooting JW was far and away the most skilled player we’ve ever had, especially if you go by pound for pound or inch for inch.
But shooting is kind of a big deal.
Regarding RR, there’s a big difference between how skilled Rondo was at UK and how Rondo was used at UK.
But shooting is kind of a big deal.
Regarding RR, there’s a big difference between how skilled Rondo was at UK and how Rondo was used at UK.
Only played one year. You have to lump him in with that group. There's no way to fairly compare him/them to multi-year players. Separate categories. Just the way it is.
Without question, Wall was the best PG we've ever had.
Many will say Ullis, because he's a heartfelt favorite player, but Wall could take over a game. Ullis was a bit of a liability on defense. You could put him in a screen and take any shot you wanted. The 4 always had to help.
Wall was the only PG that ive seen catch lobs and dunk on people. Fox did a little bit, but Wall would just poster you.
We've also never had a PG like Wall that could take a rebound and run through the entire defense and dunk it. Wall could also block anyone, from a guard to a center. One of my favorite plays was when he blocked UT's 3 pointer and nearly palmed it.
I cant believe this is even debatable....
Many will say Ullis, because he's a heartfelt favorite player, but Wall could take over a game. Ullis was a bit of a liability on defense. You could put him in a screen and take any shot you wanted. The 4 always had to help.
Wall was the only PG that ive seen catch lobs and dunk on people. Fox did a little bit, but Wall would just poster you.
We've also never had a PG like Wall that could take a rebound and run through the entire defense and dunk it. Wall could also block anyone, from a guard to a center. One of my favorite plays was when he blocked UT's 3 pointer and nearly palmed it.
I cant believe this is even debatable....
others may have better resume
maybe even better all around players
but as far as talent wise wall is the greatest imo
and maybe the most fun to watch also
maybe even better all around players
but as far as talent wise wall is the greatest imo
and maybe the most fun to watch also
While I liked Wall, Kyle Macy was pretty damn good and won a national championship.
Define “best”.
Are we talking most talented, most productive, biggest winner, biggest impact?
Wall is in the conversation, as is Ulis, Macy, & some of the older guys.
Are we talking most talented, most productive, biggest winner, biggest impact?
Wall is in the conversation, as is Ulis, Macy, & some of the older guys.
Macy. He single handedly iced more games than any player I've seen.
A BIG part of being a point guard is making the other players around you better.
I didn't see that with Wall.
I didn't see that with Wall.
Even taking only "modern" guys, I'd put Rondo and Delk ahead of him, and Dampier going further back
LOL you continue to show your complete and total ignorance. Ulis was SEC defensive player of the year. But you can’t even spell his name so I don’t expect much from you. He also had a 3.6 : 1 assist to turnover ratio compared to Wall’s 1.6 : 1. He also shot 37% from 3 and 85% from the line compared to Wall’s 32%/75% splits. Wall was a great player no doubt, but he was more flash than substance, and that includes his pro career. He was too turnover prone and his inability to shoot consistently helped cost an extremely talented team an FF trip in the end. He was way more athletic and faster than Ulis (or any other guard UK has had) but that’s about it.
Wall had the best freshmen point guard season ever here.
If you compare his rookie nba (aka sophomore) stats to Ulis soph UK stats that pretty much ends that debate. Only fair way to compare them and since the NBA has significantly tougher competition, it's not really close.
If you compare his rookie nba (aka sophomore) stats to Ulis soph UK stats that pretty much ends that debate. Only fair way to compare them and since the NBA has significantly tougher competition, it's not really close.
You discredited your whole post with this ignorant line. Ulis was a fantastic defensive guard, one of the best backcourt defenders we’ve ever had here.
Or do you think he won that SEC Defensive Player of The Year award purely out of charity?
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Good post! Wall is not close to the best guard to ever play at Kentucky.
Not one mention for my man Keith Bogans? He is 4th all time on the scoring list. Keith has to be one of the most overlooked UK players of all time.
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year was a liability on defense? Interesting. A pretty high bar. Was everyone else even worse that year?
Wasn’t Monk a shooting guard/play the 2? I don’t remember him playing PG at UK. I also
Don’t remember Jodie playing PG either.
Wasn’t everyone else naming point guards? I must have missed Rondo and TU being shooting guards.