It’s another year, another dollar (or millions) for John Calipari. The old Kentucky hoops coach has got this recruiting thing down huh? John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight leave. Enter Terrence Jones, Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague. I guess with this revolving door of elite basketball talent, any of else could just roll the balls out at practice and get ready for our GQ close up on game day. Like John, if we could be like John.
I present to you one of the most hated men in college basketball. Maybe it’s his super sized ability to reel in McDonald’s All-Americans like his name was Ronald. Maybe it’s the way his team’s success has Ashley Judd rocking out with the co-eds. Maybe it’s his tag as the preeminent care taker of NBA point guards. It’s all these things and more.
Fuel is added to the fire seemingly as Davis’ blocks pile up and the Wildcat’s home winning streak increases (current longest at 52). Yes Calipari has channeled his inner Nick Nolte reeling in the multiple blue chippers. But here is another fact. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not easy fitting talented individuals into a system for deep NCAA tournament runs. This year may be his most impressive job so far at Kentucky.
They are loaded per usual including the consensus freshmen, defensive, perhaps player of the year and clear cut favorite for the top spot in June’s professional draft with Davis. But Calipari has been and is able to dampen the egos of guys who were the “guys” in high school and buy into a team oriented system based on stifling defense.
Yesterday, the top-ranked Wildcats took down number thirteen Florida in Gainesville, wrapping up a 30-1 regular season, going 16-0 in the Southeastern Conference. They’ve also won against Kansas, North Carolina, Louisville and Vanderbilt twice. The only loss came at the hands of a last second shot at Indiana, who’ve gained a reputation as giant beaters. Keep in mind Calipari is depending on three freshman, two sophomores and one senior.
But it’s gotta be the talent right? The notion of course being Calipari is a recruiter of talent and not a coach of talent. On his website (www.coachcal.com) Calipari addressed (piece entitled, “The great myth of our program”) the notion of his program being a breeding ground for one and done talent. Calipari held no punches in the opening stanza:
“As most of you are now aware, I don’t believe in the one-and-done rule. I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the student-athletes, the NCAA or NBA. I personally think kids should have to stay two or three years.”
So then we look at the fact that six of the seventeen freshmen drafted since 2010 were Kentucky products. And yes you guessed right, the program has the most first year guys picked since Calipari’s hiring in 2009. One-and-done entries are nothing new, yet only magnified with Kentucky’s status as the “hot” school right now in the college ranks.
How do you explain Jones and Doron Lamb coming back for their sophomore seasons? Both credit Calipari for providing information for their informed decisions. Freshman Kidd-Gilchrist announced he’s turning down his potential lottery money. Let’s not forget the motivation of upperclassmen DeAndre Liggins and Josh Harrellson last season en route to their draft selection. Calipari said that’s how the Kentucky system works. Sitting down with guys and giving clear cut reasons for why they want to leave or stay, no selfish reasons are involved.
“I would love to coach all these guys for four years and have them earn a college degree in four years, but if they have an opportunity to reach their dreams, I will not be the person to hold them back, nor will I let anybody at this university or in my program do it.”
He added, “There is a rule that needs to be changed and if that rule doesn’t change, my only two options are recruiting players that aren’t good enough or convincing young people to put their dreams aside because the university and our basketball program are more important than their dreams.”
Calipari didn’t make the rules, he was given them. Why hate the man for his ability to navigate a suspect and greedy collegiate system? He’s recruiting against the likes of North Carolina, Duke and Kansas. The leaders of those programs would gladly take on Wall, Cousins and Davis. Don’t think subpar seasons will hold up in Lexington or any other storied hoops locales.
So what’s a coach to do?
He then delivered the final blow, putting the ball in Billy Hunter’s (executive director of the NBA’s Player’s Association) court, outlining his ideal college basketball system.
1. These kids get a stipend-and more than $2,000
2. Their insurance, which they have to pay for right now, would be covered by either the universities or the NCAA
3. If they do stay in school, their families get to tap into a loan program after the first year this is capped
4. Lastly on the NBA side, if a young man stays in school, he can renegotiate his rookie deal faster than someone who comes sooner, plus the pay scale goes up the longer he stays in school
Until the rules are updated, Calipari will continue to work the system. He’s collected another top five recruiting class for 2012. Let me be among the first to introduce you to Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress. They’re also in the running for uncommitted All-Americans Shabazz Muhammad (top high school prospect), Amile Jefferson, Tony Parker, Anthony Bennett and Devonta Pollard.
Will Calipari ever win a national title? Alas the final knock to his resume. Some think he will always reach a certain point come tournament time where the opposing coach will simply outsmart him. Winning the chip will raise his recruiting juice and criticism even more though. The bottom line is this, it seems Calipari does have a genuine interest in his player’s lives, short stint on campus or not. Let us not forget the powers that be who say they care, but are busy racking up the dough via March Madness and conference realignment. You tell me, who is to blame for the ills of college basketball?
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