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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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NEW ORLEANS – MARCH 20: Eric Bledsoe #24 and John Wall #11 of the Kentucky Wildcats react after a foul against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second round of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the New Orleans Arena on March 20, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kentucky defeated Wake Forest 90-60. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS – MARCH 20: Eric Bledsoe #24 and John Wall #11 of the Kentucky Wildcats react after a foul against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second round of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the New Orleans Arena on March 20, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kentucky defeated Wake Forest 90-60. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

2. Class of 2009

John Calipari’s first Kentucky basketball recruiting class is arguably his best. That year’s class set the tone for the type of product that Calipari wanted to have at his program. Just like De’Aaron Fox, John Wall, the top overall recruit in that class, was the perfect point guard to run Calipari’s offense.

Wall was joined by DeMarcus Cousins (2), Daniel Orton (22) and Eric Bledsoe (23). Four of the top 25 players, according to Rivals, committed to play for Coach Cal in his first year at Kentucky. It could be argued that the Class of 2009 was Calipari’s best. Though they’e No. 2 on this list, there’s no denying that they’re the most important class Cal has ever brought to Lexington because this class set the tone for what was to come.

Kentucky basketball fans had grown weary of Billy Gillispie’s failure. Billy G was run out of town and replaced by Coach Cal. Calipari immediately went to work, flipping both Wall and Cousins, who’d previously committed to Cal while at Memphis.

Eric Bledsoe joined Gillispie-recruit Daniel Orton, and the Cats dominated the 2009-10 college basketball season. A terrible outing by Kentucky in the Regional Final against West Virginia doomed a Final Four for that year’s team.

Wall, Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins all fouled out. The Wildcats had 16 turnovers and shot an abysmal 12.5% from downtown in that game. The Wildcats picked the worst time to play their worst game. The game this past season against Kansas State is eerily similar. Regardless, the 2009 recruiting class was top notch.

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