Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Analyzing John Calipari’s Recruiting

Mar 15, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari watches his team play against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. The Commodores beat the Wildcats 64-48. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, the NBA and the Philadelphia 76ers  welcomed Nerlens Noel to the new generation of NBA millionaires. Also, Archie Goodwin was drafted by the   Oklahoma City Thunder (and traded to Phoenix)  and became the 17th player John Calipari has sent to the NBA in his four seasons.  Thirteen of those players have been drafted in the first round.

And finally, after that record, John Calipari is finally starting to get recognition as a person that changes lives and prepares young men for a future in the NBA.  Rather than a coach that is always up to no good, on the takem too involved with World Wide Wes, or whatever random complaint his detractors throw out.  Instead, Calipari should be recognized as the master recruiter he is.

"How does Calipari do it? There has always been an outsized interest in exactly what his “secret” is. Back at Memphis, it was assumed — because Memphis hadn’t had much success for a long time before Calipari showed up, at which point he started convincing guys like Derrick Rose to sign on — there was something nefarious afoot. Many were convinced he had to be cheating, one way or the other. What he was really doing was offering players like Rose and Tyreke Evans a chance to play in a style that would best enhance their athletic advantages over opponents. He was trying to get dudes drafted.Since he arrived at Kentucky, the value proposition has only been enhanced by the UK infrastructure — Rupp Arena and the player dorms and the support and all the rest of it — and Calipari has honed his message to young players and their families: If you come play for us, you don’t have to choose between a national title run and an NBA lottery slot. We know how to get you both."

Recently, ESPN writers Eamonn Brennan and Myron Medcalf  had a conversation on the state of recruiting at Kentucky and Calipari was the hot topic.  Brennan introduced a theory that has been floating around the impact that Calipari has on these kids and how he recruits to break generations of poverty for some families:

"Not only is that probably true, it is based in a kind of respect toward players and their families, particularly those who are struggling, that simply wasn’t the norm in the old-school, hard-nosed, Bob Knight-dominated 1970s and ’80s. It’s a respect that says, “We get it. Right now, your priority is the NBA. Of course it is! It should be! Let’s talk about how we can get you there fastest.”People ask how Calipari does it, and while every player and family is different, I really don’t think it’s that complicated.His Kentucky program has become the shortest route between high school and the NBA, an elite one-year graduate program. Just as important, in doing so, he hasn’t treated that desire, or his ability to succeed by exploiting it, as any less noble than the classic model.“A cycle of a family, of either poverty or lack of education, it’s done now,” Calipari said in 2012. “I’m having an impact — 15 players, 15 millionaires in three years.”What’s the secret? It’s not much of a secret now, is it?"

It’s a fascinating theory and a fascinating story.  I give ESPN a lot of grief and feel that they are frequently biased, but this article is a must read and as far as I am concerned, hits the nail on the head when it comes  to Calipari.  Trust me, you aren’t going to see me raving on an ESPN piece, but this is a great piece and deserves your perusal.