John Wall opens up about meeting Mark Pope and new UK staff
“That’s the school I went to and who I played for.”
it is a new era for the Kentucky Wildcats as they now enter the first season with Mark Pope as the Head Coach of the Cats.
It was a roller coaster of a ride for the UK during John Calipari’s tenure, with the highest of highs and some pretty low emotions to go alongside it. One thing that came out of his time in Lexington, however, is a plethora of NBA superstars that has allowed the fanbase a rooting interest for almost any team they want to cheer for in the league.
One of those superstars is former No. 1 pick John Wall. A part of the first recruiting class for Coach Calipari to Lexington, many in the BBN have questioned if a player like himself would still be involved with the program with Calipari no longer at the helm.
After meeting Mark Pope this past weekend in Indianapolis at the Nike EYBL event, that question has a pretty clear answer.
“It shocked me, because I was just going to watch games. He (Pope) was right there when I dapped someone up. He stood up and said, ‘What’s up?’ I said, ‘All respect to you, wish you the best of luck there. I’m always going to support the school, no matter what,’” Wall said on his podcast, Point Game.
“Like, I love Coach Cal…I saw Cal when I was down there also, talked to him and talked to all the guys that were there that went with him. It’s just love for the school I played for. They’ve got love for me. I’m in the Hall of Fame there.”
He continued:
“I still love Coach Cal, am still going to show respect to Coach Cal, I’m still going to go to games, but I also want to build a relationship with the new coach. That’s the school I went to and who I played for. I met Coach Jason Hart, who was right there. He was like, ‘Don’t worry about it, bro. We’re going to make sure you get all the gear. I’m going to get you all the gear that’s coming through.’ I thought that was cool, I respect it.”
It is a new era in Kentucky Basketball history, but it appears the UK brand will still bring back plenty of the stars we have seen come through Lexington over the last 15 years. For me personally, I love to hear that.
