Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:10 pm
Because Wall was a fifth-year high school senior in 2009 and would turn 19 by the end of the year, some sources argued that he would be eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft. Draft rules stated that American players must turn 19 during the year of the draft, and must be a year removed from their regular high school class. NBA spokesman Tim Frank told sportswriter Chad Ford that the league was not sure if Wall met the second criterion, and that league officials would need to "do [their] due diligence to determine his eligibility". However, Wall announced in April 2009 that he was not entering the 2009 NBA Draft. Wall was expected to be the first player drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft before his first season at Kentucky.