I mentioned that there's a more positive vibe around recruiting this year and wanted to explain why.
The biggest reason why is because it was very clear last year Kentucky would be losing a lot. There was a serious need for Calipari to land players and plenty of them. A lot more pressure. That isn't necessarily the case this year.
Yes, Kentucky is going to lose a few guys. Murray and Labissiere are gone for sure. I think Briscoe, Lee and Poythress will bounce as well, but you'll have plenty of pieces returning.
Both in the frontcourt and the backcourt.
But besides that, Calipari changed up his recruiting strategy and started to recruit, and offer a lot more players. It's been interesting to watch and there's been some downsides to it (Markelle Fultz playing Kentucky, which you know probably didn't sit well with Calipari), but ultimately I think it was a smart move by Calipari.
Cats are in a great spot with so many players, and there isn't the need like there was in 2015 where you HAD to land a lot of those guys.
And it never seemed like (at least this time last year) UK was in a great position for any of those guys except for Zimmerman. Yes, UK was in a good spot with several of them, but very few did it seem like Kentucky clearly led. Not the case this year, in my opinion.
UK just told a five-star guard to wait to commit and feel confident about two other five-star guards. A five-star wing player is extremely high on UK and you already have a five-star forward locked up.
Now there isn't as many guarantees with the frontcourt and it doesn't feel like Kentucky leads with as many guys. However, UK will get Humphries back, Wynyard will be there, maybe Lee and Killeya-Jones. If UK can just add one guy the frontcourt will be deep and incredibly talented next year.
So long story short, while UK has just one commitment, there's a very positive vibe around recruiting at Kentucky and the Cats will be incredibly talented again in 2016-2017.
Just a matter of who will be a part of that team.
The biggest reason why is because it was very clear last year Kentucky would be losing a lot. There was a serious need for Calipari to land players and plenty of them. A lot more pressure. That isn't necessarily the case this year.
Yes, Kentucky is going to lose a few guys. Murray and Labissiere are gone for sure. I think Briscoe, Lee and Poythress will bounce as well, but you'll have plenty of pieces returning.
Both in the frontcourt and the backcourt.
But besides that, Calipari changed up his recruiting strategy and started to recruit, and offer a lot more players. It's been interesting to watch and there's been some downsides to it (Markelle Fultz playing Kentucky, which you know probably didn't sit well with Calipari), but ultimately I think it was a smart move by Calipari.
Cats are in a great spot with so many players, and there isn't the need like there was in 2015 where you HAD to land a lot of those guys.
And it never seemed like (at least this time last year) UK was in a great position for any of those guys except for Zimmerman. Yes, UK was in a good spot with several of them, but very few did it seem like Kentucky clearly led. Not the case this year, in my opinion.
UK just told a five-star guard to wait to commit and feel confident about two other five-star guards. A five-star wing player is extremely high on UK and you already have a five-star forward locked up.
Now there isn't as many guarantees with the frontcourt and it doesn't feel like Kentucky leads with as many guys. However, UK will get Humphries back, Wynyard will be there, maybe Lee and Killeya-Jones. If UK can just add one guy the frontcourt will be deep and incredibly talented next year.
So long story short, while UK has just one commitment, there's a very positive vibe around recruiting at Kentucky and the Cats will be incredibly talented again in 2016-2017.
Just a matter of who will be a part of that team.
