It's all about controlling the conversation.
From the UK article on SKJ...
Using composite recruit rankings:
All Cal's own UK recruits that have been drafted were ranked as top 25 players out of high-school with the exception of Eric Bledsoe (#55). 12 of the 15 drafted Cal recruits were actually top 12 or better. "Lowly ranked" Willie Cauley-Stein (#39) will buck the trend this year.
Every one of Cal's 7 UK NBA lottery draftees was also a top 5 high school recruit. I don't count Kanter (HS#8) who never actually played at UK.
Every one of Cal's UK NBA lottery draftees also left after their freshman year - i.e. after 6 months of Cal "development"
If Towns (2014#7) and Lyles (2014#13) go in the lottery this year as expected then technically SKJ is correct. Cal will have succeeded in turning players "not in the top five" into lottery picks - and after just 6 months of skill development.
p.s.
To be fair, Calp played a part in developing inherited JUCO Josh Harrellson into a second round draft pick in 2011 - so there is that example, though I doubt he leads with it.
From the UK article on SKJ...
"The main thing about Kentucky that stands out to me is incredible skill development," Killeya-Jones said. "Obviously they're winning games and that's great and they're one of the best teams in the country, but Coach Cal does better than anybody at skill development. You've seen that with all the players at that school, players that look like me and play a similar position. He's taken players ranked lower, players not top five in the country and turned them into lottery picks and that's really intriguing."
Using composite recruit rankings:
All Cal's own UK recruits that have been drafted were ranked as top 25 players out of high-school with the exception of Eric Bledsoe (#55). 12 of the 15 drafted Cal recruits were actually top 12 or better. "Lowly ranked" Willie Cauley-Stein (#39) will buck the trend this year.
Every one of Cal's 7 UK NBA lottery draftees was also a top 5 high school recruit. I don't count Kanter (HS#8) who never actually played at UK.
Every one of Cal's UK NBA lottery draftees also left after their freshman year - i.e. after 6 months of Cal "development"
If Towns (2014#7) and Lyles (2014#13) go in the lottery this year as expected then technically SKJ is correct. Cal will have succeeded in turning players "not in the top five" into lottery picks - and after just 6 months of skill development.
p.s.
To be fair, Calp played a part in developing inherited JUCO Josh Harrellson into a second round draft pick in 2011 - so there is that example, though I doubt he leads with it.
