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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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LOUISVILLE, KY – MARCH 17: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the third round of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 17, 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – MARCH 17: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the third round of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at KFC YUM! Center on March 17, 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3. Class of 2011

It pains me to rank this class as No. 3. I really wanted to put them at No. 1, but honestly, the Class of 2011 was not Coach Cal’s best recruiting job. Amazingly enough, the team that won the National Championship isn’t even No. 2.

The Class of 2011 comes in at No. 3 on our list. Yes, the Wildcats won the National Championship that season. Yes, it starred three Top 5 recruits in Anthony Davis (2), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (3) and Marquis Teague (5). And yes, Davis and MKG were the top 2 picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. And still, they came in at No. 3. Again, this list is not about results.

Don’t forget, Kyle Wiltjer, who would later transfer to Gonzaga, was part of the 2011 recruiting class as well. Rivals ranked Wiltjer as the 22nd best player in the class. Don’t forget that sophomores Doron Lamb and Terrance Jones were a big reason why UK won the title in 2012. And don’t you dare forget Darius Miller, the senior that brought stability to the team.

All of Big Blue Nation will remember Davis as the Player of the Year who led Kentucky to it’s first National Championship since 1998. But, don’t forget how big a part Kidd-Gilchrist played in galvanizing this team.

MKG was the heart and soul of the 2011-12 Kentucky basketball team. Though he hasn’t had the success in the NBA that Davis has enjoyed, there was no denying Kidd-Gilchrist’s talent as a college basketball players.

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