“We need your help” - Kentucky HC Mark Pope urges former Wildcats star John Wall for assistance with the program
After parting ways with John Calipari, Kentucky has begun a new era under their new head coach, Mark Pope. Given the success under coach Cal, it isn't a walk in the park for Pope to handle such a high-caliber program. Thus, when he appeared on former Kentucky star John Wall's podcast, "Point Game," the coach asked for the five-time NBA All-Star's assistance.
"Just from my standpoint, John, you being around the program - come on," Pope said. "The one thing is, like - we need your help."
Wall is one of the most famous faces of Kentucky basketball and was welcomed as one of the top prospects under John Calipari. After Calipari's departure, Pope wants fans to connect with different generations and turn Kentucky into a fusion of eras. He said:
"This is it. The one thing I know about Kentucky basketball is it's a family. It's been that from when I was here to the generations before and the generations after."
Wall's arrival to the program benefitted Kentucky as a whole back in 2009, regarding which, Mark Pope said:
"I don't need to tell you guys, but Kentucky was not at its finest moment when you, Eric [Bledsoe] and DeMarcus [Cousins] rolled in here with a crew and fixed it. You guys fixed it in one season with Coach Calipari. That means a lot and that is always going to mean a lot.
"That's always going to mean a lot here at Kentucky and all of us being together is what separated Kentucky from everywhere else."
What did John Wall say about his first meeting with Mark Pope?
In May, during the Nike EYBL Session III, Mark Pope and John Wall started their fresh relationship. They shared a hug at the event, and Wall later described it as a very positive meeting.
"All love and respect," Wall said (via On3.com). "It was exciting to just get a little chemistry and build a relationship with him."
However, John Wall has made it clear that he will never choose between Calipari and Kentucky because both helped him reach the stage he is at today.