Where would you rank the current UK recruiting class historically...

[Son_Of_Saul]

Among UK's historical recruiting classes? It's hard to make a true determination, being that all of the historical groups can be judged by their accomplishments on the court whereas we haven't even seen Skal and company play a game together. If the current class, for example, ends up producing a future all-star in Skal or Murray, or if Briscoe ends up being a decade-long NBA player, the value of the current class will grow exponentially.

My best guess (apologies to Jon Scott for any glaring omissions or oversights).

#1 - 2013-2014 (6 McDonald's All-Americans).
#2 - 2009-2010 (Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton).
#3 - 2011-2012 (Davis, MKG, Teague, Wiltjer).
#4 - 1945-1946 (the core of a group that became America's first dynasty).
#5 - 1978-1979 (Bowie and friends).
#6 - 1995-1996 (higher if we count Anderson's transfer).
#7 - 2004-2005 (Rondo, Morris, Crawford, Bradley).
#8 - 1966-1967 (Issel and company).
#9 - 2010-2011(hard to argue against two current max players plus Terrence Jones and Lamb).
#10 - 2014-2015 (I see you Karl Towns).
#11 - 1991-1992 (Delk, Rhodes, McCarty, Prickett - two Final Fours and a national title).
#12 - 2015-2016 (the class with global impact?).
#13 - 2012-2013 (a group that featured WCS, Noel, Goodwin, and Poythress).
#14 - 1977-1978 (Kentucky's first Mickey Ds).
#15 - 1999-2000 ( Bogans, Stone, Estill, Stewart).
#16 - 1990-1991 (the Mashburn class).


I just ran this list over coffee time this morning. It's by no means exhaustive or overly analytical. Feel free to discuss and offer your own insight.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Good thread.

I think you have to view this from the perspective of when they arrived on campus.

I'd move 2012 to second because Davis/MKG/Teague were three of the top 7-8 players in the country. That many elite guys at the top outweighs an extra five star, to me, but that's splitting hairs.

I also think that Nerlens/Archie/Poythress is a bit low, especially if you're going to factor in what we thought Harrow would be as an eligible transfer, and that WCS and Mays were there as well.

Would also put the 2010-11 class ahead of Rondo and company if we consider Kanter as part of it. He was one of the top 5 players in the country. Kanter, Knight, Jones, Lamb is better than Morris, Rondo, Crawford, Bradley, although we might have had higher expectations for the 04's and lower ones for 2010 because of the classes that had come just before each one.