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Calipari Era: Small Forward #1

By Austin Sutcliffe

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It seems like just yesterday I was racking my brain trying to think of a fifth person to play for Coach Calipari at the small forward position. Although the rankings did not start out too hot for the three spot, it does have an explosive ending.

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Before I introduce the number one Calipari small forward, let us visit who finished just second in last weeks rankings. He is a 6’7 Kentucky grown forward who sacrificed all that he could to win games for his team. He even survived the Billy Gillespie era… Mr. Darius Miller.

"One thing that makes Darius Miller unique is that he is actually from Kentucky. Yes, it is great getting five star athletes who are the best of the best, however it is always nice to have a home grown player to root for.Darius was a player that Calipari could count on for his leadership on and off the court. Shipping in and out McDonald’s All Americans, Darius was forced to step up and lead, weather it be a big shot from three against LSU or making the sacrifice to let Michael Kidd-Gilchrist start his senior year."

It takes a lot to top Darius Miller, but this player has done it once before battling for starting spots. He has the heart of a lion and the motor of the energizer bunny. The best Calipari small forward, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Let us not mistake Kidd-Gilchrist for something he is not. He is not your 20 points per game scorer, or your sharp shooter from the wing. His offensive game is his biggest struggle, but he does not let that detour him.

Kidd-Gilchrist is your “I wish I had a player like that” player. He welcomes the challenge of guarding the best player on the other team, he dives for every lose ball and runs as fast at the end of the game that he does at the beginning. He is all about the team, and doing whatever it takes to make the team win… sometimes even throwing in a powerful slam.

It is hard to find someone who is truly committed to winning and his teammates as much as Michael. After some staleness in the offense, he told Calipari before a game to let Miller get the start instead to boost his confidence. A rarity in any sport.

His unselfishness, along with 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game were enough to help bring the trophy back to the Old Kentucky Home. With championships brings love from the fans, and not many players received the same amount the Kidd-Gilchrist did from the big blue nation.

Even though he got everyone’s hopes up by saying he was coming back after a tough game against Vanderbilt, fans knew the reality of this stars future. Kidd-Gilchrist would go on to be the second pick in the NBA draft behind teammate Anthony Davis.

He is still finding his craft in the NBA, but has shown spurts of greatness. Regardless of what lies ahead, he has confirmed his spot a top of the Calipari rankings as the number one small forward.

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