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Kentucky basketball: John Calipari’s 5 best recruiting classes

By Drew Koch

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 07: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to De’Aaron Fox #0 and Malik Monk #5 during the game against the Valparaiso Crusaders at Rupp Arena on December 7, 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – DECEMBER 07: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to De’Aaron Fox #0 and Malik Monk #5 during the game against the Valparaiso Crusaders at Rupp Arena on December 7, 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5. Class of 2016

Coming in at No. 5 is the Class of 2016. Among the players in that year’s class were De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo. Fox (6), Adebayo (7) and Monk (9) were all ranked in the Top 10 by Rivals. Also in the Class of 2016 were Wenyen Gabriel (13) and Sacha Killeya-Jones (24).

Looking strictly at the numbers, that year’s Kentucky basketball class was loaded. The 2016-17  team finished 1st in the SEC with a record of 16-2 in conference. The team as a whole notched 32 wins and fell in dramatic fashion to eventual champion North  Carolina in the Regional Final.

From a recruiting standpoint, Cal got exactly the type of players he needed to run his dribble-drive offense. Fox was the perfect point guard to run Calipari’s offense. Throwing the lob to Adebayo or kicking out to a wide open Monk or Derek Willis is precisely how Cal wants his teams to operate.

Fox, Monk and Adebayo were all lottery selections in the 2017 NBA Draft. Gabriel stuck around for his sophomore season, as did Killeya-Jones. Gabriel entered his name into the 2018 NBA Draft, and due to lack of playing time and an influx of incoming talent, Killeya-Jones decided to transfer.

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