John Wall Named Howard Basketball Operations President
Howard University named retired NBA guard John Wall as president of basketball operations. Officials at the historically Black university in Washington confirmed the appointment to ESPN on Thursday. Wall began his NBA career with the Washington Wizards in the city.
Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, spent his first nine seasons with the Wizards. He earned five consecutive All-Star selections, later played one season with the Houston Rockets and appeared in 34 games for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022-23 before retiring in August 2025. He served as Howard's honorary captain on Jan. 31 and has shown interest in NBA front-office work.
Howard reached the NCAA Division I men's tournament three times in the past four years, including its first victory with a First Four win over UMBC in March. The program stands out among HBCUs and mid-majors for this success. Wall already participates in team meetings, evaluates recruits, identifies transfer targets and handles strategic vision, player mentoring and name, image and likeness deals.
Howard general manager Daniel Marks and coach Kenny Blakeney will collaborate closely with Wall. His appointment echoes recent moves by active NBA players Stephen Curry, named assistant general manager at Davidson College, and Trae Young, in the same role at Oklahoma.
