Big names from around the basketball world gathered in Indianapolis on Friday for an AAU event that featured some of the biggest names in high school basketball.
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope and Arkansas Head coach John Calipari were seen sitting together during an AAU game. Later in the event, former Kentucky star and former No. 1 NBA Draft pick John Wall met with Pope for a moment where the two exchanged a few words and hugged for a moment.
All of which was recorded by KSR’s Jack Pilgrim.
John Wall is a wildcat through and through.
Former Kentucky star meets Mark Pope for the first time in Indianapolis pic.twitter.com/NbbpMz3I9e
– Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) May 18, 2024
After greeting his alma mater’s new head coach, Wall headed to Calipari, who Wall committed to almost 15 years ago (May 19, 2009), where he sat with his former coach for a moment before settling in with your group to see the action in India.
While some Wildcats fans have sensed a shift in allegiance from some of Kentucky’s Calipari-era stars, Wall has long confirmed his allegiance to Big Blue Nation.
“It’s sad to see it go,” Wall said on his Point Game podcast, provided by KSR’s Jack Pilgrim. “I’m still a part of Kentucky. I will continue to be the Big Blue Nation. They gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level possible in college basketball at D1, one of the biggest schools in history, and then have the opportunity to go to the NBA. That’s always family. I have the t-shirt (tattooed). I’m in the Hall of Fame. “There is always love and support for Kentucky, and that will never change.”
Mark Pope shares the special moment he shared with John Calipari and Tubby Smith at the Final Four
As if by destiny, new. Kentucky coach Marcos Papa says he enjoyed a special time with former Wildcat coaches Chubby Smith and Juan Calipari just days before he became the new leader in Lexington.
Pope, Calipari and Smith were among many current and former college basketball coaches to attend the Final Four. A week after Saturday’s Final Four games, Pope was announced as Kentucky’s new coach, but when he met with Smith and Calipari in Phoenix, the three men had no idea of the whirlwind of changes that was about to occur. . .
While speaking with Jon Rothstein about the College Hoops Today On the podcast, Pope recalled that moment with the other Kentucky legends and how special it was to him, even before he had any idea he would be the Wildcat coach late next week.
Read more from On3’s Alex Weber here.
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