New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick keeps a close eye on the nation’s elite programs during college basketball season and had a lot to say this week about Kentucky coach John Calipari, who has produced more first-round picks than any school in the country over the past decade and change.
Calipari doesn’t follow the same script as some nationally-ranked programs, who rely on depth and roster-building every season. Instead, he signs the best players he can and develops them knowing they may only stay one season in Lexington.
And it’s hard to argue with the results — four SEC Coach of the Year honors and a No. 2 or better finish in the the league 10 times in 11 years.
“Calipari, to me, has just done an amazing job in this era of being completely transparent about the program he’s trying to build,” Redick said this week on the The Old Man and the Three podcast. He’s saying, ‘you’re going to come here. I’m going to load up on one-and-done guys. I’m going to help you get to the NBA.’ He now has a track record where he’s done this for close to 15 years.
“It’s like a factory now. It’s a factory for one and dones. It’s amazing what he’s done.”
The Wildcats could see their 10-year streak of first-round picks snapped later this year unless Tyrese Maxey is the choice. Maxey is one of six former Wildcats who will be included in the draft and the only player projected in some first-round mocks.
College hoops analyst Andy Katz ranks Kentucky inside the Top 10 of his preseason poll ahead of the 2020-21 season, citing the Wildcats’ incoming group of talent.
“The Wildcats have the best recruiting class in the country and the potential to add three high-profile transfers, pending the waiver process,” Katz wrote for NCAA.com. “The Wildcats are picked high based on the projection of what they will look like by March.”
Earlier this week, Calipari made a friendly wager with TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley, whose alma-mater Auburn played Kentucky in Saturday’s football opener.
“Charles, I’ll shave this beard if Auburn wins, if you grow a beard,” Calipari said. “Kentucky’s winning that game.”
Come next week, Calipari will be clean-shaven.
