If you think Self, K and others aren't selling that UK's last three classes have not been NBA slam dunks, you are blinded by too much blue. All three were #1 classes, with loads of top ten and top twenty recruits. But too many injuries, and draft board slippers.
Here are 5 star guys....
2012
--Only Noel has succeed, and his stock fell when he got hurt. Cost him some cash.
--WCS also got hurt after his sophomore year, and other coaches are telling kids that is why he came back.
--Poy is coming back for year #4. He never expected that to have to happen. But little development, and then an injury
--Goodwin. Do I even have to say it.
2013
--Only Randle and Young got to go OAD - and Randle got hurt before he ever really played.
--Young got more NBDL than NBA minutes
--Harrisons - consensus top ten to bottom of the second round
--Dakari - top 20 (or better) expectation - stayed two years and there are threads all over this board asking why he is going so soon, that he isn't ready.
2014
--KAT - BIG PLUS, need to sell the heck out of that one. Got better, moved up
--Lyles - stayed the same, at best, definitely not climbing the boards
--Booker - another good story
--Ulis - nobody ever thought he'd be OAD
The other coaches are successfully selling that too much competition is causing two things to happen:
...break down injuries from over practicing with competition
...not enough PT to develop against top notch competition.
It isn't easy to swallow, but you can be sure the kids are hearing it.
Yes, seven are going into draft...but three are looking at round 2 at best.
None of them expected that when they got to Lexington.