Calipari's first round draft picks - interesting facts

[rabidcatfan]

The selection of Keldon Johnson at #29 last night made, interestingly enough, Cal's 29th first rounder here at UK. Its also the 4th time in the last ten drafts that Coach Cal has had a player drafted at the 29th spot of the first round (2010, 2012, 2013, 2019).

Last nights draft was also the second time Coach Cal has had the 12th and 13th picks back-to-back, even more interesting is that the other one (which was in 2015) was also a PF (Lyles) and a SG (Booker) back-to-back.

Coach Cal has also had at least two players drafted in the first round in each of his ten seasons. No other school, not even Duke, UNC, Kansas, Arizona, or even Michigan State can say that.

Coach Cal has had four #1 draft picks, Dukes the closest over that time frame with two (thanks to Zion who should've been Cal's fifth).

Also speaking of Duke, the mighty recruiter Coach K has only managed 20 first rounders over that time frame and has never had more than 3 in one draft. Coach Cal has had 1st round draft classes of 5, 4 (twice).

Cal vs the other "elite" recruiters of college basketball:
Mike Krzyzewski - 20 1st rounders, one season (2010) with zero picks
Roy Williams - 12 1st rounders, three seasons (2014, 2015, 2018) with zero picks
Bill Self - 10 1st rounders, three seasons (2016, 2018, 2019) with zero picks

Coach Cal has even gotten a former high school 4 star drafted in the lottery the last two seasons in a fricking row! I mean, c'mon, why would ANY kid choose to play for another coach or school???

 

[Dream Team 13]

Cal goes the quantity route. Several guys between 6 and 40. Loads up with tier 2 & 3 guys. In the process, hes lost his top 5 touch most likely due to guys wanting to be the man and not share the spotlight but with 1 other guy, perhaps 2.

Arguable which process is best. Had Cal got his wish and had SO top 20 players trying to move up each year, hed likely win more with his recruiting philosophy. What he really wants to do is get a top 3 guy and surround him with top 40 talent, some of which are returners.. Similarly to 2012 and the nearly undefeated team.

But, the elite talent seems to be eluding him as of late. Guys that have 1nD dreams and 2-3 year talent are the ones coming to UK.

However, recruiting can turn on a dime and all it takes is one #1 guy to come and we start back swimming in the top 5 talent pool again.

 

[BBNinSCar]

I think you just completely whiffed on the Kentucky recruiting philosophy. Cal and his staff bring in high quality, hard working guys. They’re not targeting recruits just because of some number assigned to them.
Cal proves this to the fan base every year and yet there are still those that cry we are not getting “top five” players. It’s not “quantity”, it’s quality over hype.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Cal goes the quantity route. Several guys between 6 and 40. Loads up with tier 2 & 3 guys. In the process, hes lost his top 5 touch most likely due to guys wanting to be the man and not share the spotlight but with 1 other guy, perhaps 2.

Arguable which process is best. Had Cal got his wish and had SO top 20 players trying to move up each year, hed likely win more with his recruiting philosophy. What he really wants to do is get a top 3 guy and surround him with top 40 talent, some of which are returners.. Similarly to 2012 and the nearly undefeated team.

But, the elite talent seems to be eluding him as of late. Guys that have 1nD dreams and 2-3 year talent are the ones coming to UK.

However, recruiting can turn on a dime and all it takes is one #1 guy to come and we start back swimming in the top 5 talent pool again.

I guess getting a top 3 recruiting class every year is not good enough for some people.

 

[Dream Team 13]

I guess getting a top 3 recruiting class every year is not good enough for some people.

WTF? Someone piss on your Trump sticker or something? Take it easy and stop showing your tiny pecker.

Been a UK fan since I was 5 and I suddenly remember why I never come here. Nancy's all over the place. Take everything negatively and get defensive like a teenage girl.

Bye again and for the last time. Only ******** here.

 

[Dream Team 13]

I think you just completely whiffed on the Kentucky recruiting philosophy. Cal and his staff bring in high quality, hard working guys. They’re not targeting recruits just because of some number assigned to them.
Cal proves this to the fan base every year and yet there are still those that cry we are not getting “top five” players. It’s not “quantity”, it’s quality over hype.

Yeah because he hasn't been after Barrett or Zion or any other top 5 guy because they dont work hard enough.

I was having a discussion and you are arguing. The difference is clear... Reality vs cream puff sensitivity.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

WTF? Someone piss on your Trump sticker or something? Take it easy and stop showing your tiny pecker.

Been a UK fan since I was 5 and I suddenly remember why I never come here. Nancy's all over the place. Take everything negatively and get defensive like a teenage girl.

Bye again and for the last time. Only ******** here.

Your negativity will not be missed. I said some people are not satisfied with a top 3 recruiting class. Evidently that hit a sore spot with you.

 

[Doctor-J]

WTF? Someone piss on your Trump sticker or something? Take it easy and stop showing your tiny pecker.

Been a UK fan since I was 5 and I suddenly remember why I never come here. Nancy's all over the place. Take everything negatively and get defensive like a teenage girl.

Bye again and for the last time. Only ******** here.

You should calm down.

 

[BLUEVADER]

I think 4- 4*'s total. WCS,Booker,SGA,Herro and all lottery picks at that.

 

[gossie21_rivals69805]

I think you just completely whiffed on the Kentucky recruiting philosophy. Cal and his staff bring in high quality, hard working guys. They’re not targeting recruits just because of some number assigned to them.
Cal proves this to the fan base every year and yet there are still those that cry we are not getting “top five” players. It’s not “quantity”, it’s quality over hype.

Except we are still going after and prioritizing the top-5 recruits. We just aren’t landing them.

 

[BLUEVADER]

Cal goes the quantity route. Several guys between 6 and 40. Loads up with tier 2 & 3 guys. In the process, hes lost his top 5 touch most likely due to guys wanting to be the man and not share the spotlight but with 1 other guy, perhaps 2.

Arguable which process is best. Had Cal got his wish and had SO top 20 players trying to move up each year, hed likely win more with his recruiting philosophy. What he really wants to do is get a top 3 guy and surround him with top 40 talent, some of which are returners.. Similarly to 2012 and the nearly undefeated team.

But, the elite talent seems to be eluding him as of late. Guys that have 1nD dreams and 2-3 year talent are the ones coming to UK.

However, recruiting can turn on a dime and all it takes is one #1 guy to come and we start back swimming in the top 5 talent pool again.

Plus you have to take into account all the shenanigans that was going in last few years. Everyone was trying to keep CAL and UK down but cheating. I think that comes to an END and we will start seeing the too 3-5 guys coming again starting next class. Plus the failures of other schools bombing in getting players ready for the draft. It's only matter of time when players and parents look at the facts of this.

 

[uky8unc5]

In the process, hes lost his top 5 touch most likely due to guys wanting to be the man and not share the spotlight but with 1 other guy, perhaps 2

I know you won't read this because you left us forever.
But you are oh-so-wrong to say Cal has lost his Top 5 Touch (ouch, that would have hurt if you still were reading this).

Cal just refused to cross the line that gets everyone but Dook/Heels prosecuted and probationed.
That's it. Check the past 4 recruiting classes and you can see the Rogue's Gallery he "missed" on.

 

[BBNinSCar]

I know you won't read this because you left us forever.
But you are oh-so-wrong to say Cal has lost his Top 5 Touch (ouch, that would have hurt if you still were reading this).

Cal just refused to cross the line that gets everyone but Dook/Heels prosecuted and probationed.
That's it. Check the past 4 recruiting classes and you can see the Rogue's Gallery he "missed" on.

That is it. We have no real insight as fans to the character of these recruits. Someone associated with Kentucky recruiting is doing a great job of making sure we always get the “good guys”.

 

[zannmann]

I could care less about the NBA and the draft. Championships and Final Fours is how we measure success at Kentucky.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

I could care less about the NBA and the draft. Championships and Final Fours is how we measure success at Kentucky.

Success is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[etowncatfan]

I think the number one asset Cal looks for anymore is the quality of person the individual is. We usually have no issues(assaults,grades.or off campus issues) The UK program is run like a Professional Team. High expectations and a work ethic is non negotiable.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

WTF? Someone piss on your Trump sticker or something? Take it easy and stop showing your tiny pecker.

Been a UK fan since I was 5 and I suddenly remember why I never come here. Nancy's all over the place. Take everything negatively and get defensive like a teenage girl.

Bye again and for the last time. Only ******** here.

Nah those people would break windows in cars with Trump stickers. Lowest class of people there are.

 

[rabidcatfan]

I could care less about the NBA and the draft. Championships and Final Fours is how we measure success at Kentucky.

Hate to break it to you....but most (if not all) recruits look at NBA results, not that other stuff. I as a fan want championships and Final Fours, but the recruits want careers. Careers win everytime.