Ben Roberts: Kentucky finds itself in an odd place on the national basketball recruiting landscape

[Smashcat]

Jeff Crume, who runs the RSCI site, used 2022 rankings from 247Sports, Rivals.com, ESPN, On3.com and longtime national analyst Van Coleman this year. Crume noted to the Herald-Leader that this is the first time Kentucky has ended up outside of the top five nationally since John Calipari arrived as the program’s head coach with the 2009 class.

Read more at: https://www.kentucky.com/sports/col...ecruiting/article262292272.html#storylink=cpy

 

[BlueBomb]

We still eat first. Cal just decided he wasn't hungry.

 

[Ron Mehico]

I’m perfectly fine bringing in good quality transfers and bringing back the NPOY instead of a bunch of freshmen. All those recruiting titles haven’t won Jack in 7 years.

 

[Gromcat]

Calipari became a good, not great recruiter, under everyone’s nose. Does anyone really think he’d be trying to become a team of transfers if he could get top tier prospects at his past clip? I hope not.

Calipari burned bridges and lost connections. He duped UK into that contract and Barnhart should have known what was going on. He needs to go too.

I don’t know why this is even a discussion it’s plain as day. Now the Cowbois lost their infamous “but he’s still a goat recruiter” excuse. What’s next? Still has Beautiful hair?

 

[Gus Polinski]

I’m perfectly fine bringing in good quality transfers and bringing back the NPOY instead of a bunch of freshmen. All those recruiting titles haven’t won Jack in 7 years.

In other words, I accept Cal regressing in his recruiting.

 

[blue woman]

a LOSER by any other name is a LOSER

begok is a LOSER

rr

 

[STL_Cat]

I’m perfectly fine bringing in good quality transfers and bringing back the NPOY instead of a bunch of freshmen. All those recruiting titles haven’t won Jack in 7 years.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying, but it points to a pretty obvious regression in Cal's recruiting. I'm glad he is bringing in the quality transfers but I also think his hand was forced because his recruiting has waned. He's scrambling to fill out rosters with transfers because he isn't recruiting at the level he once was. This was maybe partly a choice by Cal, but I don't believe it was all his choice. He always used to say you have experience I'll take talent, and I'll beat you. Just my opinion.

 

[Ron Mehico]

I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying, but it points to a pretty obvious regression in Cal's recruiting. I'm glad he is bringing in the quality transfers but I also think his hand was forced because his recruiting has waned. He's scrambling to fill out rosters with transfers because he isn't recruiting at the level he once was. This was maybe partly a choice by Cal, but I don't believe it was all his choice. He always used to say you have experience I'll take talent, and I'll beat you. Just my opinion.

I would rather have Oscar and Toppin than Lively or Bona. That’s my personal preference. Whatever that means I don’t know, but personally I like the good, experienced upperclassmen

 

[STL_Cat]

I would rather have Oscar and Toppin than Lively or Bona. That’s my personal preference. Whatever that means I don’t know, but personally I like the good, experienced upperclassmen

Like I said, I personally as a fan am fine with Toppin and Oscar. Yes. Agree. Of course. The point really is the greater, overarching theme here and it is that Cal's recruiting has regressed. There's just no way around that. Maybe you would rather have transfers. I don't believe that Cal would rather have transfers.

 

[SDcatfan13]

Have a feeling this will be the first, and last recruiting class Calipari has rated outside the top 5 at Kentucky. Also important to note it only consists of 3 players, so harder to be ranked high there.

Even if they were signing 3 top 5 players a year, I think the way to go would be to supplement young talent with experienced grad transfers. A good mix of high level freshmen, a returning core, and Grady transfers is the best approach.

 

[TankedCat]

I’m perfectly fine bringing in good quality transfers and bringing back the NPOY instead of a bunch of freshmen. All those recruiting titles haven’t won Jack in 7 years.

I agree with that approach IF we are getting the transfers we want, which doesn't appear to be happening.

The best option is for Cal to develop a strong bench of players that stay until their Jr or Sr year and don't feel pressured to contribute.

Unfortunately Cal has no ability to do this with any regularity, nor do I think he has any interest in doing what it would take to make it part of the program.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Like I said, I personally as a fan am fine with Toppin and Oscar. Yes. Agree. Of course. The point really is the greater, overarching theme here and it is that Cal's recruiting has regressed. There's just no way around that. Maybe you would rather have transfers. I don't believe that Cal would rather have transfers.

If we lost Toppin and Oscar and picked up Lively and Bona we would have possibly the #1 recruiting class. If sharpe actually played we’d be top 3 without the other 2.

 

[STL_Cat]

Scratch that, I just saw on kentuckymbb IG page that we just welcomed to the family Walker Horn and Grant Darbyshire. At least we have enough to go 5v5 in practice now.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

I agree with that approach IF we are getting the transfers we want, which doesn't appear to be happening.

The best option is for Cal to develop a strong bench of players that stay until their Jr or Sr year and don't feel pressured to contribute.

Unfortunately Cal has no ability to do this with any regularity, nor do I think he has any interest in doing what it would take to make it part of the program.

I agree with your overall premise but I don’t know which transfers we aren’t getting that we want. Personally I can’t think of one that we’ve been really publicly linked to that we didn’t get the last couple years.

Now are there ones Cal and company should have prioritized and they didn’t? Sure. But I can’t think of many recruiting battles on the transfer front we’ve lost after getting seriously involved.

 

[IroquoisPliskin]

Getting guard recruits and bigs as transfers is a great system at the moment. I'll take our frontcourt over Duke's and they have two of the top 3 or 5 players coming in at the 4/5

 

[track42]

I agree with your overall premise but I don’t know which transfers we aren’t getting that we want. Personally I can’t think of one that we’ve been really publicly linked to that we didn’t get the last couple years.

Now are there ones Cal and company should have prioritized and they didn’t? Sure. But I can’t think of many recruiting battles on the transfer front we’ve lost after getting seriously involved.

I'll never understand Cal not going hard after another transfer with CJ's health as fragile as it is.I hope that doesn't come back to bite us next season.

 

[Smashcat]

Scratch that, I just saw on kentuckymbb IG page that we just welcomed to the family Walker Horn and Grant Darbyshire. At least we have enough to go 5v5 in practice now.

 

[Bassworship]

We still eat first. Cal just decided he wasn't hungry.

Or it could be we have more coming back off last years team than we ever had under Calipari.

 

[kycat14]

a LOSER by any other name is a LOSER

begok is a LOSER

rr

Cut the Immature Begot crap. It’s stupid.

 

[Mike-D]

I’m perfectly fine bringing in good quality transfers and bringing back the NPOY instead of a bunch of freshmen. All those recruiting titles haven’t won Jack in 7 years.

Cal's best teams at UK have had really good Freshman.

 

[YardCat]

Scratch that, I just saw on kentuckymbb IG page that we just welcomed to the family Walker Horn and Grant Darbyshire. At least we have enough to go 5v5 in practice now.

Horn is the Grandson of Ellen’s favorite high school teacher. Darbyshire is the son of the Net’s ballboy when Cal was there. JK

 

[Mike-D]

Or it could be we have more coming back off last years team than we ever had under Calipari.

We have 6 returnees. 1 didn't play last year, and 2 are projects.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Cut the Immature Begot crap. It’s stupid.

Max cringe.

I’m embarrassed for blue haired woman. Not only did she create a terrible acronym that failed to catch on, she doubles down and continues to use it.

 

[Cawood86]

I would rather have Oscar and Toppin than Lively or Bona. That’s my personal preference. Whatever that means I don’t know, but personally I like the good, experienced upperclassmen

Sure worked out well last year....no SEC title and 1st round loss in tourney

Lowered expectations keep going lower

 

[cats2010]

I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying, but it points to a pretty obvious regression in Cal's recruiting. I'm glad he is bringing in the quality transfers but I also think his hand was forced because his recruiting has waned. He's scrambling to fill out rosters with transfers because he isn't recruiting at the level he once was. This was maybe partly a choice by Cal, but I don't believe it was all his choice. He always used to say you have experience I'll take talent, and I'll beat you. Just my opinion.

Rosters aside, I’d just be happy if he actually started coaching to win games again and forget about not playing this way or that way as that doesn’t help my players prepare for the next level crap we have had to endure.

 

[Snow Leopard II]

Calipari became a good, not great recruiter, under everyone’s nose. Does anyone really think he’d be trying to become a team of transfers if he could get top tier prospects at his past clip? I hope not.

Calipari burned bridges and lost connections. He duped UK into that contract and Barnhart should have known what was going on. He needs to go too.

I don’t know why this is even a discussion it’s plain as day. Now the Cowbois lost their infamous “but he’s still a goat recruiter” excuse. What’s next? Still has Beautiful hair?

I agree Morg. This years team will expose Cal and hopefully put an end to this boondoggle.

 

[Cawood86]

If we lost Toppin and Oscar and picked up Lively and Bona we would have possibly the #1 recruiting class. If sharpe actually played we’d be top 3 without the other 2.

Iffin game is always no good

 

[anon_ce2llurbpkli4]

WWW

 

[UKWildcats1987]

a LOSER by any other name is a LOSER

begok is a LOSER

rr

Takes one to know one. I'd rather be a rich loser than some podunk old lady on a message board with the worst nickname in history that literally no one on here has memorized.

 

[JonathanW]

I’m perfectly fine bringing in good quality transfers and bringing back the NPOY instead of a bunch of freshmen. All those recruiting titles haven’t won Jack in 7 years.

I think Cal has learned/admitted, that a more balanced roster, with BOTH elite FR (likely 1-and-done) AND good experienced upperclassmen which can partly be filled by transfers is the best way to go. Yes you can add FR with more overall talent than a 1996 Epps, a 1998 Turner or Sheppard or Padgett, a 2004 Daniels and Fitch, a 2005 Hayes, ect..., but there is big value in having guys who "have been there and done that before", experienced the battles and March Madness.

 

[STL_Cat]

I think the Worldwide Wes connection was absolutely real, when we lost that connection is when the tide turned quite a bit.

 

[Deli owl]

Cal's best teams at UK have had really good Freshman.

Exactly people act like he’s winning titles with transfers and can’t remember 2012.

 

[Fox2monk]

Scratch that, I just saw on kentuckymbb IG page that we just welcomed to the family Walker Horn and Grant Darbyshire. At least we have enough to go 5v5 in practice now.

Awesome! I look for huge bench warming from Horn and Darbyshire this year. I’ve heard they are perfect for that role.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

RSCI top 5 guys since 2015:

Skal
Boston
Sharpe

And now we know why Cal isn't getting to Final Fours anymore.

 

[STL_Cat]

Awesome! I look for huge bench warming from Horn and Darbyshire this year. I’ve heard they are perfect for that role.

Shaedon Sharpe left big shoes to fill.

 

[dl51344]

I’m perfectly fine bringing in good quality transfers and bringing back the NPOY instead of a bunch of freshmen. All those recruiting titles haven’t won Jack in 7 years.

Agree. Cal's high rankings came mostly because he was replacing almost the entire team with new freshmen each year. Even though I take great issue with some of his coaching I believe he has gotten the recruiting art about right for last coupe of years. A couple of good freshmen, a couple of needed players from the portal, and 4 or 5 contributing experienced returning players. Maybe 1 or 2 project players to insure enough for practice.

 

[STL_Cat]

Agree. Cal's high rankings came mostly because he was replacing almost the entire team with new freshmen each year. Even though I take great issue with some of his coaching I believe he has gotten the recruiting art about right for last coupe f years. A couple of good freshmen, a couple of needed players from the portal, and 4 or 5 contributing experienced returning players. Maybe 1 or 2 project players to insure enough for practice.

He's close to getting it right -- but what he is missing is that one absolute stud. That top 5 pick in the draft, total stud top 5 RCSI freshman. You throw that in on top of what he has been doing, then you might see some Final Four banners in the rafters again.

 

[Cawood86]

RSCI top 5 guys since 2015:

Skal
Boston
Sharpe

And now we know why Cal isn't getting to Final Fours anymore.

Two busts and a ghost never seen playing.....Gold standard fellas

 

[Allcats08]

Like I said, I personally as a fan am fine with Toppin and Oscar. Yes. Agree. Of course. The point really is the greater, overarching theme here and it is that Cal's recruiting has regressed. There's just no way around that. Maybe you would rather have transfers. I don't believe that Cal would rather have transfers.

Well I mean sharpe was a part of this class. We had 3 top 5 guys at a point. Wouldn’t say regressed

 

[Bassworship]

Cal's best teams at UK have had really good Freshman.

Good. We have 2 of those coming in this class.