VTTW Board Index

Our Robert Hubbs did not crack the list, but Calipari signed five McDonald's AA to his Kentucky team. http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/content/dam/allamerican/pdfs/2013FinalTeamRosters2.pdf (http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/content/dam/allamerican/pdfs/2013FinalTeamRosters2.pdf)

Two things:

One, Hubbs was snubbed. He was a top 24 player in three of the four main recruiting services (was 34th in ESPN) and should have made the roster.

Two, Calipari will continue putting his starting lineup together on the recruiting trail as long as the NBA draft eligibility rules remain as they are. He has proven an ability to get Top 10 recruits eligible to get into school, get them in classes that keep them eligible for the one semester of "academic" work they have to do to play in the spring, and get them ready for the NBA draft. He gives them a chance to play together as a high profile team and then make the jump. I don't blame a kid for wanting to play for him at this point because he's the best at what he does.

Now, what he does is horrible for collegiate athletics. The rule needs to be changed to the baseball rule (jump after high school or commit to three years in college). That would be better for amateurism, better for making coaches accountable for academics, and better for the kids (like Nerlens Noel) who are forced into college and don't need or want to be there.

I give Calipari credit in two ways: (1) He has cultivated his reputation of working with top young talent to the point where I don't think he even has to break rules anymore. I think he has in the past, but at this point his reputation and history draw the top recruits to him. (2) He is probably the best in the business at getting young kids with huge egos to actually play hard and as a team with a short amount of practice time. His teams play hard defense, which tends to not be a defining characteristic of young elite players.

Calipari doesn't give two shizzles about the integrity of collegiate athletics. He's in it to win and get guys into the NBA, and he openly states that.

Of course he doesn't and the rules enable him. I very badly want to see the rules changed because I think it's been horrible for college basketball.

Ironically, it's the injury to one of Cal's own players that seems to have reignited the discussion re: the NBA's one-and-done rule.

yeah I am with you. When one program can sign 25% of all the 5 stars incoming, it becomes all about money.

What about World Wide Wes and Nike?  They have nothing to do with his success?  :confused:

I think they were crucial in him building his recruiting machine, and that his relationship with Wes was certainly dirty. But at this point I don't think he really needs much help anymore.