The Great Salesman

When John Calipari agreed to become the head coach of UK Basketball, even the program's biggest haters couldn't deny what a remarkable combination it was: The NCAA's hottest coach and best recruiter, brought together with the most succesful and storied team in America.

How good of a salesman is Coach Cal? He makes roughly $4 million per year to coach the Cats, but I personally belive he could make more money by selling cars or real estate. That's how good he is. Bring a man of his recruiting caliber to a school that can practically recruit on it's own just by it's namesake, and you get what we currently have at the University ofd Kentucky. Kentucky's practice facility, arena, fanbase, and history are second to none. Calipari's ability to put young men into the NBA is second to none. And now these two special forces are working together to make history and to make magic for the Commonwealth.

The Big Blue Nation let out a collective gasp when the Cats were eliminated in the Elite Eight and a mass exodus occured in which 5 players departed for the NBA. How did Calipari respond? By signing the #1 point guard in the country, the #1 shooter in the country, and arguably the best big man in the country (via Turkey, of course)....

Last year's class of Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton, Dodson, and Hood can be argued as the best recruiting class ever. The '10 class is looking to be almost as good. Rivals.com listed Brandon Knight as the #1 high school player in the nation in their latest update. They have Doron Lamb ranked #21, but he is regarded as the best shooter in the country. Enes Kanter isn't ranked at all, but many believe he is a better big man than Jared Sullinger who is the #3 player in the country and the MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game.

It doesn't stop there. Mike Gilchrist verbally committed to the Cats last week too. Gilchrist was considered by many to be the best high school player in the country this past season...as a sophmore. Some experts have said he is the best high school player to come out of the northeast since Kobe Bryant. Wow. UK is also in the lead for #3 player Quincy Miller, #9 player Anthony Wroten Jr, and is running in a two team race with Louisville for #2 player Marquis Teague. If Cal can sign all these guys, the 2011 class will without doubt be the top recruiting class of all time.

3 seasons at Kentucky. 3 of the top 10 recruiting classes in the history of college basketball. If Calipari doesn't hang Banner #8 (and more), it certainly won't be due to a lack of talent.