I know John Wall hasn’t hired an agent yet, but it looks like it is getting close to that time. LeBron James’ LRMR marketing firm is reportedly about to partner with Kentucky star John Wall. The Cleveland Plain Dealer looks at the history John Wall and LeBron James have and also talks about Coach Cal’s relationship with James. Lets take a look.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK][QUOTE]Cleveland Cavaliers forward and NBA MVP LeBron James continues to build associations with some of the biggest names in professional and college basketball.
Kentucky freshman guard John Wall, the favorite to be the first overall pick during the NBA draft on June 24, and James became friends when Wall was still in high school.[/QUOTE] Explains a lot of the reason with all of the appearances by James at Kentucky games and practices during the past season.
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[I]James befriended Wall at his All-American camp as a high school senior, traveled to campus to watch him play and even enlisted rapper Drake to woo Wall to LRMR, James’ fledgling marketing company.[/I]
[I]Now, multiple NBA, agent and sneaker industry sources say Wall is close to partnering with the firm. As the projected No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA draft, perhaps the most-hyped pro prospect since James himself, Wall will have his marketing and endorsements guided with the perks of a partnership with the globe’s biggest basketball star.[/I]
[I]James’ childhood friend, Maverick Carter, is the CEO of LRMR and responsible for running his management company. Carter’s had a consistent presence with Wall’s AAU coach and surrogate, Brian Clifton, for months, and Clifton offered nothing to dispute the word of sources who say James and Wall are going into business together[/I]
[/QUOTE]Looks like all the celebrities that came to see the Cats this year was because of the friendship of Wall and James. I always wondered how Drake ended up a Kentucky fan.
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[I]Plain Dealer Cavaliers beat writer Brian Windhorst reported on Dec. 13 ([/I][URL=”http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/12/lebron_james_building_ties_wit.html”][I]click here for Windhorst’s entire story[/I][/URL][I]):[/I]
[INDENT][I]At the mere mention of [/I][URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/wall_john00.html”][I][B]John[/B] [B]Wall’s[/B][/I][/URL][I] name, [B]LeBron James[/B]’ eyes soften as he tries to swallow a knowing smile. [/I]
[I]”Yeah, I have a relationship with him,” James said. “A really good relationship. With not only John, but his family. We talk all the time.”James met Wall a couple of years ago at the LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, which is a star showcase that Nike runs at University of Akron every July. Not only is it a prime recruiting ground for the nation’s top collegiate programs, but it’s a golden meet-and-greet for James, who has been developing personal relationships with stars in the making by the gross[/I]
[/INDENT][/QUOTE]LeBron sounds a lot like Coach Calipari. He networks as much as possible so he can develop lasting relationships for future business endeavors. That is the way the world is. I just wish I could live in that world, don’t you?
[QUOTE] Windhorst referred to some of the people James has become close to, and wrote:
[INDENT][INDENT][I]You can now put Wall’s name in there. The 19-year-old is, as they say, “next.” A seemingly can’t-miss budding superstar at the University of Kentucky. He is certainly on track to be the No. 1 overall draft pick next June. And with apologies to [B]Blake Griffin[/B], had the NBA’s age rule not been in effect, most around the NBA believe Wall would have been the top pick last June. [/I]
[I]If he wasn’t already there, the 6-4 ultra-quick point guard hit national consciousness last week, announcing his arrival with a 25-point, six-steal performance as Kentucky went on the road to beat Connecticut. [/I]
[I]James met Wall a couple of years ago at the LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, which is a star showcase that Nike runs at University of Akron every July. Not only is it a prime recruiting ground for the nation’s top collegiate programs, but it’s a golden meet-and-greet for James, who has been developing personal relationships with stars in the making by the gross.[/I]
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[INDENT]I hope Wall is the next LeBron as the publicity of playing at Kentucky will flow even louder throughout the basketball world. When I think of colleges, I think of certain players. Wall could be that guy for top recruits in the future.
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James is close to Kentucky coach John Calipari. Windhorst quoted James:
[INDENT][I]”Coach Cal is family; it’s a big family that we have and we’re going to stick with each other,” James said. “Where ever Cal is, for the most part, I’m going to try to show my support to him. He’s a great coach and a great friend. It’s good that we can have that kind of relationship.”[/I]
[/INDENT][URL=”http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2010/04/lebron_james_lrmr_marketing_fi.html”]Read Full Article [/URL][/QUOTE]I love the sound of family,especially with LeBron James. What a recruiting tool Cal has at his disposal anytime he wants. I am sure it will keep paying off for years to come.[/INDENT][/INDENT]
