Breaking news:Mark Pope Ask  last 7 foot star commitment we need your help as the player recommit….

Breaking news:Mark Pope Ask  last 7 foot star commitment we need your help as the player recommit….

Mark Pope has done his best to bridge the gap between generations of Kentucky basketball history since taking over as head coach, most notably by bringing back dozens of legends across every era from Adolph Rupp to John Calipari for his introductory press conference. The 1996 national championship squad has been all in from day one, obviously, as have the likes of Jack “Goose” Givens, Rex Chapman and Richie Farmer, among a long list of others.

Shoot, Pope single-handedly brought Rick Pitino back from villain territory, Big Blue Nation ready to welcome back the Hall of Fame coach with open arms.

Maybe the biggest name Pope has connected with since landing the gig? None other than John Wall — Coach Cal’s first rockstar talent when he landed the Kentucky job.

The former No. 1 pick has been an outspoken supporter of Pope and Kentucky in the post-Calipari era while also making it clear he’ll always be a Coach Cal guy — fair given their history. And that’s what you’d hope for a player in his position, one who meant so much to the program in general, but also Calipari’s career. It was a win-win-win for all parties involved, everyone benefitting from the partnership between Wall and Kentucky under Coach Cal.

Wall’s relationship with Pope started back in May, the former Wildcat introducing himself in Indianapolis at Nike EYBL Session III, talking and sharing a hug at the high-profile recruiting event. He later said that moment was “all love and respect,” adding “it was exciting to just get a little chemistry and build a relationship with him.”

“We need your help”

Now, Pope is sharing his side of the story and what his relationship with Wall means to Kentucky as he gets rolling in Lexington.

“Just from my standpoint, John, you being around the program — come on,” Pope said on Wall’s podcast, Point Game. “… The one thing is, like — we need your help. That’s just it. Like, John Wall — there were actually surveys that I saw recently that said John Wall is currently the most popular Kentucky player on the face of the planet right now. Those were actually the results of a survey done locally.”

Pope’s ultimate goal is to connect generations and make Kentucky basketball a melting pot of eras, Wall a clear anchor for the Coach Cal era. His impact on this program needs no explanation, and he wants the former Wildcat to be around as often as his schedule allows for it.

“This is it. The one thing I know about Kentucky basketball is it’s a family. It’s been that from when I was here to the generations before and the generations after,” Pope told Wall. “I do think everyone who has put on this jersey, it means something to us. We’re all trying to be as successful as you can. The weight of John and his legacy here, what he means to this program — I don’t need to tell you guys, but Kentucky was not at its finest moment when you, Eric (Bledsoe) and DeMarcus (Cousins) rolled in here with a crew and fixed it.

“You guys fixed it in one season with Coach Calipari. That means a lot and that is always going to mean a lot. That’s always going to mean a lot here at Kentucky and all of us being together is what separates Kentucky from everywhere else.”