Kentucky assistant coach Jai Lucas with new UK commit Daimion Collins
Kentucky has been on quite a recruiting role recently with verbal commitments from junior point guard Skyy Clark, senior power forward Daimion Collins and senior wing Bryce Hopkins to go along with the earlier verbal commitment from senior point guard Nolan Hickman Jr. No wonder assistant coach Jai Lucas admitted Monday when I asked him about recruiting that he thought UK had a “good little mojo going” that he hopes will continue as the Cats continue to pursue prospects Jaden Hardy, Hunter Sallis, Moussa Diabate and Brandin Podziemski.
Lucas, who came to Kentucky from Texas a few months ago, said “really” good players want to play with other good players.
“A lot of time in recruiting, a lot of people think that it’s all individualized and some of it is but at the end of the day, it’s about winning games and winning championships and to do that you get a really good player,” Lucas said.
Lucas’ relationship with the 6-10 Collins is seen as a major reason he went from having Oklahoma and Texas as his top two schools to picking UK after Lucas changed job. Clark said UK assistant coach Joel Justus was perhaps the biggest single reason he picked UK.
Calipari tells his staff to obviously find good players but to find players “that fit him and fit the culture” at UK. He said recruits have to be willing to work hard, love the game and understand the sacrifices it takes to play with other talented players at UK so everyone can succeed.
“You can do that by sacrificing. And I think that’s a big part of it is understanding what type of kids will fit well with him (Calipari). And when you find that, that’s how you are able to win games,” Lucas said.
The new UK assistant coach said the play of former Wildcats in the NBA bubble was “huge” for recruiting.
“It’s been one thing that can really put a spotlight on us here at Kentucky … just the production rate of when they get there and how early they are able to perform. A lot of that comes from being here for that year,” Lucas said. “With the environment they’re put in and the coaching, and how Coach Cal coaches them and just everything they go through it really prepares you for that.
“When you get there, you are able to perform and then that’s how you’re able to stay for a long time.”
Clark noticed, too, and told us on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports he paid close attention to the Cats in the bubble before committing to UK.
“That was a huge factor,” Clark said. “I want to win more than one championship. Like Jamal Murray, he was killing the bubble. All the Kentucky guys were. You had to notice.”
