[EKUAlum05]

Those thinking Wall was as hyped or more than Mayo are kidding themselves. Heck, ESPN only had Wall as their #6 player in the class!

Mayo was expected to be "the best" and followed by media since he was in 7th Grade. For all intensive purposes he has been a celebrity since he was in high school, how many other high school prospects besides maybe Lebron were truly considered household names in 3 states (Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia). Wall is universally known in the basketball community, but Iwould venture only in the state of Kentucky, and regionally in the state of North Carolina, would he be considered a household name.

With that being said, some things need to be noted about O.J. and his progression. Stardust noted he was the most heralded AAU player to ever be on the circuit, I think alot of that can also be attributed to the talent surrounding him on those teams, in particular Bill Walker, who had he not had an injury may have been a lottery pick as well.

Mayo also had the benefit of playing for star studded high school teams as well. At Huntington he had Patterson and 3 or 4other major D-1 signees on his team. At North College Hill he had Walker and other talented players as well.

Wall's hype reminds me of Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant moreso than Mayo. Very respected in the basketball community, everyone expects them to be dominant and be a lottery ick after one year, but noone has everdubbed them to be the "next NBA mega-superstar", coming out of H.S.

With that said, here comes the part Stardust will get mad at me about. If I were a NBA GM I would draft John Wall over Mayo in a heartbeat though. With Wall I still see that fire to compete and prove himself. Mayo has seemingly been on cruise control since he was a Sophomore in high school, EXPECTING to be THE STAR one day, Wall to this very day still plays with passion. Mayo is a supremely talented individual but I can't help but think that all his years of going through the motions being bored has hindered his game and depreciated his abilities to ever be the best. With Wall, FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR, I see a work ethic and drive that resembles Kobe Bryant.