Former Kentucky star John Wall named Howard President of Basketball Operations

TL;DR

John Wall, former Kentucky star and five-time NBA All-Star, has been appointed as the president of basketball operations at Howard University. He will focus on program building and long-term vision for the HBCU basketball program.

Key points

John Wall is the new president of basketball operations at Howard University.
He previously played for the Washington Wizards and was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Wall's role includes roster evaluation, recruiting, and program building.

Mentioned in this story

John WallHoward University

Washington WizardsNCAA Basketball

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 29: John Wall talks to the media before the game between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks on January 29, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Sabina Shysh/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images Former Kentucky basketball star and five-time NBA All-Star John Wall has been named president of basketball operations at Howard University, returning to Washington, D.C., in a major leadership role, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Howard officials confirmed the partnership, which positions Wall at the helm of one of the nation’s top HBCU basketball programs. Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft after one season at Kentucky, played for the Washington Wizards from 2010-20 and now transitions to a front-office role focused on program building. The idea reportedly began on January 31 when Wall served as Howard’s honorary captain for a game and expressed interest in eventually taking on a basketball operations position at the professional or collegiate level. In his new role, Wall is already involved in roster evaluation, transfer portal decisions, recruiting discussions, NIL strategy, revenue-sharing planning, and player mentorship. School officials say he will help shape the long-term vision of the program. Many fans around Kentucky basketball had hoped Wall might eventually take on a similar leadership or advisory role in Lexington after Mark Pope’s arrival, but that has not materialized heading into Year 3 of Pope’s tenure. Across college basketball, programs such as Duke with and Davidson with have incorporated former stars into staff or advisory roles, reflecting a growing trend. It will be interesting to see if Pope eventually gets a full-time GM and whether he brings in a former player for a similar position to what Wall and others have taken at their alma maters.

Q&A

What is John Wall's new role at Howard University?

John Wall has been named president of basketball operations at Howard University, overseeing various aspects of the basketball program.

How did John Wall's appointment at Howard University come about?

Wall's interest in a basketball operations position was expressed after he served as Howard's honorary captain for a game on January 31.

What responsibilities will John Wall have in his new position?

Wall will be involved in roster evaluation, recruiting, NIL strategy, and shaping the long-term vision of the basketball program.

Former Kentucky star John Wall named Howard President of Basketball Operations

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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