National Basketball Association

John Wall still adjusting to being No. 1 NBA pick

Published Jul. 31, 2010 1:05 a.m. ET

foxsports

John Wall still has a hard time believing all that has happened in the last 36 days.

He is still adjusting to life after the Washington Wizards selected him with the first pick in last month's NBA draft.

The former Kentucky guard visited with campers Friday at coach John Calipari's Pro Camp, which over a three-day span will feature other recently drafted Wildcats, including DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Patrick Patterson.

The 19-year-old Wall said the transition from college to the NBA has affected almost everything he does. Even what the 6-foot-4 guard wears.

Friday, he wasn't donning blue Kentucky Nike gear; he showed up in Reebok shorts, socks and shoes - he has a multimillion endorsement deal with the apparel company.

Wall got a glimpse of NBA competition at the Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged 23.5 points, 7.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals and was named the Most Outstanding Player. But Wall admitted he won't really know what to expect until October when training camp starts.

He says Wizards assistant coach and longtime NBA guard Sam Cassell has been a big help with his transition into the league, much like Rod Strickland did as an assistant coach at Kentucky last season.

''The NBA is just a different level,'' Wall said. ''It's the same basketball but it's at a different speed.''

Wizards fans have also helped Wall with the transition, starting with a fanatical welcoming the day in Washington. A few Capitals hockey players and Donovan McNabb even showed up to the festivities, greeting Wall with their own renditions of Wall's signature dance move.

''All those guys doing my dance, and even just showing up to welcome me, that meant a lot,'' Wall said. Going from being a celebrity in Lexington to one in the nation's capital has also been an adjustment.

''It's nowhere near the same because Kentucky's always going to be on top with their fans, there's nothing I've seen that can beat it,'' he said. ''But D.C. has great fans. Kentucky's like another family to me so every opportunity I have to come back and be around the basketball program means a lot.''

Once basketball season starts both for the Wizards and the Wildcats, Wall said he hopes to come to a game in Rupp Arena as soon as he can and punctuate a traditional K-E-N-T-U-C-K-Y cheer, posing as the final Y.

''That's the biggest thing I want to do,'' he said.

''It's still a dream come true, you know,'' Wall said. ''Sometimes I sit in my hotel room when I'm traveling, and I'm just shocked and amazed at all that's happened.''