Words by Sean Ceglinsky

John Wall’s head is seemingly on a swivel, his eyes constantly surveying the floor as he dribbles the ball across halfcourt. The pesky little guard draped on his shoulder and the oversized forward heading directly toward him offer little resistance.

Accustomed to the situation, Wall uses a one-bounce dribble to the left and a quick crossover move back to the right to free up additional space, leaving the double-team behind. Seconds later, he’s driving down the lane, into the heart of a defense quickly collapsing around him.

Amid all the confusion, he collects himself with a jump stop, just inside the free-throw line. A short jumper presents itself. Out on the wing stands a teammate, positioned beyond the 3-point arc, patiently waiting for the kickout pass.

If there ever was a time for a spilt-second decision, it’s now.

Somehow, blame it on instincts, he catches a glimpse of a cutter diving to the basket and a well-placed bounce pass leads to an uncontested layup. Just another good, no wait, make that another great example of just how great John Wall can be.

“My job is running the show. That’s what I do,’’ Wall said.

And no one in the country does their job better than him. Perhaps that best explains why the 6-foot-4 senior point guard from Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina is the most sought-after prospect in the country.

“When I step out on the court, I have a big target on my back. I know that,’’ Wall added. “I expect everyone to go hard at me, hard as they can so they can try to make a name for themselves. And that’s fine.

“I love the competition. It keeps me hungry. It keeps me on top.’’

But is he really on top?

Yes.

No doubt about it.

There’s no one better.

No one.

That said, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise for Nothing But Net readers to learn that Wall is this publication’s top-ranked player for the 2009 class. The decision, believe it or not, was easy given all the tools he possesses.

Size. Speed. Quickness. Vision. Handle. Improving range. The list goes on and on.

“John Wall might be the most exciting player to come along since LeBron James,’’ said Patrick Stanwood, Nothing But Net National Recruiting Analyst. “We could be talking about a future NBA All-Star! His charisma and presence are also worth noting.”

Desire, however, could be his greatest attribute. It’s the one thing that separates him from the rest of the crowded pack at the top.

Individuals like Wall don’t come around very often and breakout efforts during the Reebok Summer Championships, LeBron James Skills Academy and Pangos All-American Camp last summer only strengthened his reputation as the best around.

Remarkably enough, there are still some skeptics out there.

For instance, ESPN/Rise Magazine lists him as the No.6 player in the nation, behind worthy counterparts such as Xavier Henry, Derrick Favors, John Henson, DeMarcus Cousins and Renardo Sidney – in that particular order.

It should be mentioned that, with the exception of Henry, each of the aforementioned players is capable of providing a huge post presence for their respective team, one of the few things Wall can’t do. Or could he, if given the opportunity?

Adding more fuel to the fire is the fact that Scout.com lists him at No.2 overall, with Favors sitting atop their rankings. Although Wall would never admit that being second best is something that bothers him, you get the feeling it must get underneath his skin, at least a little bit.

“John is well aware of what’s going on around him but he’s not consumed by all the hype,’’ said Brian Clifton, director of Wall’s AAU team, D-One Sports. “Let’s just say it’s not a wise idea to provoke him, because when someone does, when the opportunity presents itself, he makes sure to show everyone what he’s all about, in no uncertain terms.

“The thing about John is, he’s one of those individuals that makes everyone around him better. I’m not sure the other top kids in the 2009 class can say that. He makes a tremendous impact each and every time he puts on that uniform.

“There have been times when we have had to find a way to keep him from getting bored out of his mind when he’s on the court. No one can touch him. There’s no one even close. He does what he wants. He’s as good as advertised.’’

You can count college coaches Bill Self and John Calipari as believers. Wall has already made official visits to Kansas and Memphis. Plenty of other powerhouse programs have courted him, too.

But it appears as if the Jayhawks and Tigers, along with Baylor, North Carolina State, Duke and Oregon are the only schools with a realistic chance of securing a commitment from the dynamic floor general.

“John has a tremendous amount of upside,’’ said Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com, which ranks Wall as its top recruit in the country. “The point guard position is the marquee position now and John is the marquee player. The sky is the limit for him.

“I’m not sure where he’s going to end up, but he’s going to make some coach extremely happy once he gets there. John is the guy to go after if you’re looking for a player to come in and make an instant impact on your program. He has a chance to be one of the great ones.’’

Perhaps the most interesting part about the whole recruiting process, at least up to this point, has been the way Baylor managed to work itself into the whole equation. The Bears, after all, have never been mistaken for a hoops haven. They did, however, become a major player when it was announced that Clifton’s brother, Dwon, was coming onboard back in late July to be Baylor’s Director of Player Development.

Make no mistake, Dwon is qualified for the job, having played ball at Clemson and UNC Greensboro before heading overseas in 2005. Not so coincidentally, talk of Wall following Clifton to Waco has dominated chat rooms and message boards ever since.

“As of right now, I haven’t made a decision. I’m not worried about it either. I’m in no rush to pick a school,’’ Wall said. “There’s still work to be done before I think about going to the next level. There is always room for improvement.

“Sometimes, I sit back and look at my situation and think about how great it is to be able to go anywhere in the country. It’s a big world out there. A big, big world.’’

His sole focus nowadays is simple: He wants to do what every other kid his age wants to do: Finish high school. A decision about college life figures to come shortly thereafter.

“To be honest, the first time he practiced with us, I thought every school in the nation should have signed him right then and there,’’ Word of God Christian Academy coach Levi Beckwith said. “He’s grown up quite a bit since then. He’s matured and what you’re seeing now is a player that’s real close to being a finished product.

“He’s gotten over the hump. He can go anywhere he wants in life, both on and off the court. John is going to be star at the next level. We’re talking about a kid who could be the top pick in the NBA someday.’’

Interestingly enough, NBAdraft.net and Draftexpress.com list Wall as the No. 1 overall pick in their 2010 NBA mock drafts. “My ultimate goal is to make it to the league someday,’’ he said.

First things first.

He must carry the torch of being named the first, the inaugural, Nothing But Net top-ranked player in the nation. Beyond that, who knows.

 If, however, the present is any indication of what’s in store for the future, John Wall is heading in the right direction.