John Calipari recently went to Texas to watch guard Cason Wallace practice. (Mallory Derrick/Richardson Talon News)
For a few days it looked like the momentum had swung Kentucky’s way and was going to be a verbal commitment from Dereck Lively, the No. 2 player in the 2022 recruiting class. However, instead of UK, he announced Monday he would play his college basketball at Duke.
It was the first major setback for Calipari in the 2022 recruiting class and made me think back to a question the UK coach was asked a couple of weeks ago about UK’s recruiting momentum.
“I think we’ve had the No. 1 or 2 class every time I’ve been here, but you may be right, we may not have the momentum. I think we’ve missed on some guys, which I’ve always said it, we will. We don’t get everybody,” Calipari said.
“I was talking to a coach yesterday and (UK assistant) Orlando (Antigua) was in there listening, and it was basically so and so promised the kid he would start, and the coach said, ‘Look, I’ve got to do it because other people are doing it.’ And you guys (in the media) know I don’t do that.”
That got Calipari on a roll.
“There are some kids that want to be told you’re going to start, you’re going to shoot the ball 20, 25 times a game, you’re going to be the main guy, that kind of thing. Most of it isn’t truthful. It’s embellishing. Sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t,” Calipari said.
“I’m just not willing to do that, and we will lose guys like that. I’ve said this my whole career: I’m overrated as a recruiter, but that’s fine. But I’m overrated that way.”
Calipari said he wants players who want to be part of the culture built at Kentucky based on a “competitive environment” where players learn to be great teammates.
“Feing responsible for you, being in the greatest shape of your life where someone else is playing. You’ve got to come in here and fight, which means, when you leave, that’s why our guys do so well. They learned to fight. They weren’t guaranteed anything. They had to take what they wanted. They had to bet on themselves,” the Kentucky coach said.
Calipari says sometimes when UK doesn’t get a player it is because Kentucky walks away.
“There are times you’ve got to walk away from guys because you got information. You know what, let’s just walk. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad kid. They may want something that I’m not willing to do or I’m not willing to say. He may want us involved so that he can say, ‘Kentucky wanted me. That verifies me as a player,'” Calipari said.
“Well, if that’s the case, that’s fine. Let’s walk away. And now you don’t get dragged down rabbit holes where you don’t need to be.
“The kids that we’re talking to, most cases have said their dream was to play here for me. You know what, we’ve just got to hope that they’re not talked out of it. That’s what I would say.”
6 Responses
I’m so tired of every interview Cal gives its always I, Me or My and never We or Us. He’s one of the most insecure people in college sports. Cal is really good at a lot of things that go with being the coach at UK but as a Coach during games he’s terrible. He never makes any "in game adjustments" that change the momentum of the game for UK. The only time adjustments get made that change the flow/momentum are the times he gets kicked out of the game and the assistants take over. He’s had great assistants (Robic and Barbee) that know X’s and O’s as well if not better than anybody in the country but he refuses to listen/use their knowledge strictly because of ego. He’s constantly trying to prove that he can coach (definitely not his strength). The biggest part of being a good Coach is utilizing the people around you that have strengths in areas where he’s weak. He refuses to do that because it always has to be about him. I’ve also seen how he’s treated some of his staff. He’s not the "good guy" he tries to portray to the public.
I couldn’t agree with you any better than your comment…well said (just like I also always thought about Coach Cal), and was on point!
Are you serious???
Nobody would be considering Kentucky if it wasn’t for Calipari!!!
I guarantee Kentucky wasn’t having multiple back to back #1 recruiting classes nor were they in the running for NCAA Championships every year either until Calipari got there!!!
Calipari could show up at Lexington Community College and do the same damn thing!!!
Coach Cal
What do you think about Texas and Oklahoma entering the SEC who do you believe will be our greatest threat this season
You might as well said, I know about basket than Coach Cal, or I just don’t like him or the way he coaches. Opinions are like, you know everyone has one, and you and I can express ourselves and still be friends, even though we disagree. Peace.
Spencer nailed it. Kids come here b/c of their so called draft stock. Calapari has pretty much ruined UofK traditions. Sr. Day
Blue/White scrimmage calls Rupp Arena "wildcat arena" to protect one player. Is 1 & 7 while entertaining a Final 4. Has never had a jersey retired in Rupp. Ticket prices the average person can not afford. Highest pay in the the league (10 million/year). UofK fans could care/less about the NBA and will not promote a G League team in Rupp which would work. Captain egomaniac, that’s his name. Love to see a coach like Davenport, Horn or Pope more focused on a national title than Mr. 1/done. You can only put 5 guys on the court at once so guys are gonna leave playing time or not. And they will especially with the new portal. Also add alot of these players are still growing and not fully developed which leads to injuries.