Speaking on his weekly radio call-in show Monday, Kentucky Coach John Calipari said he would seek to add a minimum of five and as many as six freshmen this recruiting year.
UK already has two incoming freshmen in the fold: wing Stacey Poole, Jr., and big man Enes Kanter, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound native of Turkey.
Calipari noted the need for more talent when asked by host Tom Leach how many players Kentucky might lose to this year’s NBA Draft.
Calipari strongly suggested that junior forward Patrick Patterson played his last game for Kentucky against West Virginia in the East Region final Saturday.
“Patrick has done everything he needs to do,” the UK coach said of Patterson’s readiness to enter the NBA Draft. “The others should take a look.”
The others include freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, both of whom were named to The Associated Press first-team All-America team on Monday. Both are projected to be among the first picks taken in this year’s NBA Draft and are widely expected to leave Kentucky.
Freshmen Daniel Orton and Eric Bledsoe expressed during the East Region tournament that they would be interested in entering the draft. In a recent mock draft composed by The Los Angeles Times, each was projected as a lottery pick.
In looking for recruits, Calipari said he wanted players who would not be afraid of the promise of high-quality competition and expectations at Kentucky. “It’s on here,” he said.
Nor did UK want a player who wanted to be a basketball diva. “If you want to be the guy, don’t come here,” Calipari said.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
5 comments ↓
I think it does a disservice to build up every player as a top draft choice. It detracts from the team effort.
It was encouraging to hear the coach say that “if you want to be a the guy, don’t come here”. He is looking for team players. All will have an opportunity to grow to their fullest potential.
I doubt that we will see another team as special as this one anytime in the near future. We will not have to worry about 3 or 4 draft choices. They will have to work harder to achieve as much as this team.
I think next year’s team, if Bledsoe returns, will be hungrier than this team. They feel that their mission is not complete. I would not be surprised to see Patrick return for his senior year. I expect next year to be even more exciting.
Welcome to the era of one and done. This is the new normal. Next year we may be closer to North Carolina than to Duke.
cal and other college coaches need to try to keep from recruiting the ONE AND DONE’S because every year you are recruiting and every year you are rebuilding instead of just building.Coaches need to go after to flite talent but the kind who are not nba ready at age 18 or 19.they need to get kids who will commit to 4 years at college level.then you can build a really competitive team. by the way I DESPISE DAVID STERN AND HIS CRAP LEAGUE !!!!!!!
Orton has shown nothing in his few minutes off the bench this year to warrant a lottery pick. He has size and undeveloped potential. He’s the No. 27 overall prospect, according to ESPN.com. And he didn’t exactly improve his draft status during the tournament.
And I’m not sold on Bledsoe being a lottery pick either. Potential, yes, but as we witnessed, he’s had far too many poor performances to be considered a top draft choice. There are any number of small guards who have proved themselves worthier.
I think Tipton is overselling this.
I believe that Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe should return to develop their skills. I don’t believe they are ready for the NBA. I see them winning the NCAA Championship next year and increasing their NBA stock.