"The Calipari Effect"

Do you realize that if Billy Gillespie was still coaching the Wildcats that this years incoming recruiting class would look like, Dakotah Euton (NR 2*), KC Ross Miller (Rivals #148 3*), Dominique Ferguson (Rivals #40 4*) and lord knows who else. To make matters worst you more than likely would not have Darius Miller or DeAndre Liggins returning to the squad for their Junior seasons. Ferguson was touted as the prize Gillespie recruit after he sealed a commitment from the Indianapolis product as a junior. Dominique's game at the time was enough to have him as a top ten player, and a guy UK fans couldn't wait to get on campus. Flash forward to now, Ferguson sits at 40th in the land according to Rivals, and that more than likely being a generous spot. Instead of working to improve his game at one of Indiana's brightest basketball schools, Ferguson's attitude resulted in him switching schools and enrolling at Virgnia's Hargrave Military Academy. Many question where Ferguson's head is at, and the questions aren't going away after he committed to play for Isiah Thomas at Florida International. Euton on the otherhand, a Kentucky product, will play his basketball at Akron. Ross-Miller, will likely end up playing a couple of games at Rupp Arena, but will be doing it as a LSU Tiger. Upon John Calipari's arrival in Lexington, he decided not to go after any of the recruits, at the time the decision not to continue the recruitment of Ferguson was questioned, but now it is just an after thought as it appears Dominique may only cause friction for what ever squad he ends up playing for. The main reason though people have forgotten all about Gillespie's prize recruit; {and at the time the highest rated recruit to give a verbal to Kentucky since 2004's Joe Crawford (Rivals #9)}simple, I call it the "Calipari Effect"

John Calipari has always been a great recruiter. From his days at UMASS, where he brought in and led to the Final Four, star center and long time NBA vet, Marcus Camby. To Memphis where he brought in future NBA'ers like Dajuan Wagner, Rodney Carney, Joey Dorsey, Chris Douglas-Roberts, number one draft pick and NBA Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose, and number four NBA pick in last years draft, Tyreke Evans. In the past Cal brought on a reputation of bringing in questionable guys with questionable character, however, there was no question whether or not some of these guys had talent. Obviously, they did. The most important thing though was he was getting all of this talent to come to Memphis, yes, that Memphis. Then something big happened. Something that some said would shake up the world of college basketball as we know it, and its happening now. The prophecies are being fulfilled, and now the nation can bare witness to what happens when you mix one of the all time great recruiters with the all time greatest college basketball program.

John Cal made quick work when he first arrived to Lexington. He sent some players out the door, then brought in what was considered one of the greatest classes of all time. For the first time since recruiting services put out rankings, Calipari landed the nations two top players (according to Rivals.com) in the class of 2009, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Ironically enough, Wall and Cousins may both be selected one and two respectively in the upcoming NBA Draft, having only spent one season under Calipari at Kentucky. For Wall, this is nothing new. Calipari's previous two point guards were one and doners and top five picks as well. Rose being the number one pick in the 2008 draft, and 2007-2008 NBA Rookie of the Year. Tyreke Evans, the number four pick in the 2009 draft, and Rookie of the Year candidate this season. Wall will make three straight, and more than likely give two out of the three number one pick honors, and quite possibly make it a clean sweep or at least 2/3 for the Rookie of the Year Award as well. It's just what Cal does, he develops point guards and gets them into the league. If those three aren't examples enough, then you can look to Eric Bledsoe who was the 23rd ranked player according to Rivals (3rd best PG)coming out of high school. Bledsoe a guy many thought would never come to Kentucky because of John Wall, surprised everybody, and with Wall provided one of the most dangerous back courts in college basketball last season. He too only spending one year under Calipari felt it was time to chase his dream and enter the NBA draft, where he is projected to go mid to late first round. You can ask anyone in the recruiting industry if they thought Bledsoe would be a one and done player, and I would guarantee the answer would be no. Most felt he was at least going to be in Lexington for two or more years, but like Wall and Cousins, he too will be leaving after just one season.

Just when you thought Calipari was running out of freshman, Oklahoma City big man and Rivals 22nd ranked player, Daniel Orton also put his name in this years NBA draft. What makes that so special, well for one, Orton was not even a starter on this past season's Kentucky squad, and rarely penciled more than fifteen to twenty minutes a game. Those minutes were all Orton needed though to show what he could do, and obviously should be enough to ensure him as a first round pick in the draft. Orton rounds out a total of four freshman who will be leaving Lexington and playing pro ball, throw in Patrick Patterson, who was a Tubby Smith/Gillespie recruit, then you have five guys going to the draft, and five guys who will be first round picks.

So what does that say to current high school blue chippers? Obviously they are learning Calipari can get them to the next level, but what else is so special about Lexington, a place in which top 25 recruits had been rare over most of this decade? The answer is John Calipari himself. Already a recruiting genius, you give him a multi-million dollar practice facility to work with. The cathedral of college basketball in Rupp Arena. A trophy case filled with National Titles, along with more SEC's than you can count. A rep sheet that has your team with more wins than any program in college basketball. And last but not least, the heartbeat behind it all, a passionate fan base who spreads worldwide and bleeds blue. A fan base that puts 23,000+ in the seats for an exhibition game against Mountain Bible Prep. I mean it is what it is. Kentucky is bar none, one of the greatest programs going, regardless of wins and losses. Just from a business standpoint, Kentucky has more resources going for its basketball program than most universities have for their entire university. You give John Calipari the reigns to this giant, and what you get is the "Calipari Effect". Combined the two cannot be stopped, and this is what is happening.

In this years class, Calipari has already locked up Rivals #1 player, Brandon Knight. Knight a two time Gatorade National Player of the Year, and only the third player in history to be able to say that. You want to know how special that is, well one of the other two is Lebron James. Cal has also brought in Turkish phenom Enes Kanter, a kid destined for a long stint in the NBA. Earlier this month Kanter broke Dirk Nowitzki's Nike Hoop Summit scoring record by putting in 34 as the world team lost to Knight and team USA. What Kanter showed the world though was that he could play, and more than likely that he will not be playing in Lexington for long, not with Calipari coaching him at least. Joining the two will be wing players Doron Lamb (Rivals #21 5*) and Stacey Poole Jr (Rivals # 27 and 4* fringe 5*). Also on the radar is five star top fifteen players Terrence Jones, and CJ Leslie. One thing to keep in mind is that rivals has not updated their rankings to what will be their final rankings, so some of these players are subject to increase their rank even higher. Another to keep in mind is John Calipari has only been coaching the University of Kentucky for a little over thirteen months. Sometimes it takes coaches years to build a solid foundation. Calipari has already built a star studded foundation, lost it to the NBA, and is building another.


The most impressive thing to date though is what Calipari is doing in the class of 2011. Thursday, Pike High School (Indianapolis) star Marquis Teague (Rivals #2), and brother of Atlanta Hawk/Wake Forrest star Jeff Teague, announced he would be playing his college ball at Kentucky. This was a commitment that showed the basketball world just how powerful the "Calipari Effect" really is. Teague had long thought to been Louisville bound. Card coach Rick Pitino had been recruiting Marquis for over two years, even hiring one of Teagues high school coaches as an assistant on the UL coaching staff. Adding to the bond was the fact Teagues father and uncle had played under Pitino at Boston. Needless to say, the relationship was strong. It looked inpenetrateable, but Calipari broke through the force field, and stole one from Pitino. A blow that could ultimately be the demise of Pitino at Louisville. I mean Teague was the big fish that Rick P had to catch, and not only did it get off the line, but will be floating around in Kentucky's exotic, well purified tank. The Teague commitment really showed how strong of a recruiting team Calipari and Kentucky make.

Joining Teague is St. Patrick New Jersey wing Michael Gilchrist. A player many tabbed the best in high school basketball, regardless of class. Gilchrist is the undisputed number one prospect in the class of 2011, and its not looking like that will change. Like Teague, Gilchrist is headed toward NBA greatness, but not before a stop off in Lexington, to see a guy who will get him polished up and ready. Remeber earlier I said Calipari was the first to get the top two players in the same class to play for the same college team? Well in 2011 it will be happening again, for the second time in two years. You have something that was unheard of, Cal lands at Kentucky and it is a normal occurrence. There's still a long way to go though, but instead of having to worry about losing these two players to other teams, the only worry is who will be joining them, and that's not really a worry. Before it is all said and done, Kentucky will likely add rivals #3 overall player Qunicy Miller, and possibly Rivals #9 overall player Anthony (Tony) Wroten Jr. Both Miller and Wroten have gushed about Kentucky. Miller who has already been offered will likely choose between Duke, UK, and North Carolina. If he does what many thinks he will do, that will give Kentucky the first ever class with the top three players respectively. Although an offer has not yet been presented to Wroten Jr, if there is, indications are that he would accept. If your keeping score, that's 4 top 10 guys in the same class, following two previos top 3 classes. Cal could also look to add guys such as Michael Chandler (Rivals #10, #2 center prospect), Adonis Thomas (Rivals #11, #4 Small Forward prospect), Johnny O'Bryant (Rivals #12, #3 PF prospect), Demian Leonard (Rivals #14), or Quinn Cook (Rivals #20). All who list Kentucky, and all who are showing a lot of love toward Kentucky and Calipari. What we are about to see in the 2011 class is something that has never been seen before in college basketball. The likelyhood of having the best freshman class in the history of college basketball is almost certain. Although only speculation, there could be no player in that class ranked under twentieth in the nation, in a class that could include four to six players. That is crazy, I mean just sit back and think about that for a minute, crazy.

If you think the magic will stop there though, it doesn't look like it. Instead the "Calipari Effect" seems to be spreading, and if you are a budding young high school star, it may be coming to a living room near you. The more kids see others like them be successful, the more they want to follow in the same footsteps. It's like outlining a path to greatness for someone, then all they have to do is follow it. That is what is happening at Kentucky. No longer will we have to celebrate finally landing a couple top 50 players. Instead, we can talk about how our recruiting classes only consist of guys who are in the top 50. Many stated when the hire was made that in a couple of years that it would not even been fair. Well, its looking like it will not be fair, but as a Kentucky fan, how can you not want anything else? While other coaches are filling kids heads with things they can or cannot do for them. John Calipari can simply say, if you come here, and if your willing to work, I can put you in the league, we can win championships. Although the championship part hasn't happened yet, its looking like it may happen soon. As for the NBA part, Kentucky fans get used to having to keep up with multiple NBA teams, cause thanks to the "Calipari Effect", UK will be well represented in the league for years to come. Cal knows how to get through to kids, he relates to them, and they respond back. It's like a new fad, all the top kids want to play for Kentucky now, and believe me, its not a coincidence.