Rich Get Richer

[GoMarquette32]

ESPN #5 player in the nation, James Young (6 6 sg from Michigan) commits to Kentucky.  Good news is Jabari Parker doesnt have them in his top 5 but it sure looks like #2 ranked Julius Randle will end up going to UK.

[MattyWarrior]

I'm sick of hearing about Kentucky and ther #1 recruiting classes every year, w/o even trying he waits till October
and then picks who he wants.

[GoMarquette32]

The only thing that will be able to stop the UK dynasty they're building is the NCAA. Only a matter of time before Calipari's secrets are out.

[brewcity77]

I think UK gets Randle too, though I saw a tweet today from Evan Daniels listing Florida and Texas as the leaders. I'd love to see him in Gainesville, as it'd probably take them out of the race for Embiid.

[GoldenZebra]

UK currently has 3 out of the top 5 recruits according to the ESPN 100 for 2013, thats ridiculous. Its hard to believe Calipari is doing clean recruiting.

[bilsu]

The number one program all-time. They have a great basketball museum. They have new dorms for the players. I do not think it is that hard for Calipari to recruit players to go to Kentucky. I doubt he needs to cheat.

[Dawson Rental]

The number one program all-time. They have a great basketball museum. They have new dorms for the players. I do not think it is that hard for Calipari to recruit players to go to Kentucky. I doubt he needs to cheat.

All that and the incredible success Kentucky has had getting players into the NBA fast.  I agree, Calipari doesn't need to cheat, and would be nuts to do so.  This wasn't always the case at UK, but it is now.

[jmayer1]

The number one program all-time. They have a great basketball museum. They have new dorms for the players. I do not think it is that hard for Calipari to recruit players to go to Kentucky. I doubt he needs to cheat.

Calipari coaches at UK, not UCLA.

[KenoshaWarrior]

All that and the incredible success Kentucky has had getting players into the NBA fast.  I agree, Calipari doesn't need to cheat, and would be nuts to do so.  This wasn't always the case at UK, but it is now.

I also concur.  Guy has no reason to cheat. 

[brewcity77]

When I heard about Memphis alums discussing cheating at recruiting as though it was just business as usual, then saw the UK recruiting classes, I just don't think the mindset that cheating is okay is any different in Lexington. Cal cheated at UMass. He cheated at Memphis. Now people think he isn't cheating at UK because they have a great history?

What a joke. Of course he's cheating. Academics, paid players, probably some stuff other schools haven't thought of yet. And he's probably doing it so well that he has it set up so the blame falls on someone else allowing him to leave for UCLA without sanctions.

Cal is cheating. The sky is blue. Politicians are lying. The sun is still rising in the east. These are simple facts of life. I can't believe anyone would try to debate otherwise.

[forgetful]

When I heard about Memphis alums discussing cheating at recruiting as though it was just business as usual, then saw the UK recruiting classes, I just don't think the mindset that cheating is okay is any different in Lexington. Cal cheated at UMass. He cheated at Memphis. Now people think he isn't cheating at UK because they have a great history?

What a joke. Of course he's cheating. Academics, paid players, probably some stuff other schools haven't thought of yet. And he's probably doing it so well that he has it set up so the blame falls on someone else allowing him to leave for UCLA without sanctions.

Cal is cheating. The sky is blue. Politicians are lying. The sun is still rising in the east. These are simple facts of life. I can't believe anyone would try to debate otherwise.

I agree.  If cheating is common and people are paying players, why would a top recruit forgo money to play for UK, because of history.  They have no intention of staying more than 1 year.  They are in it for the money, and if Baylor would be offering them $'s now, why go to slick rick for free.

[LAZER]

Cal doesn't need to cheat anymore. I'm not saying he does or doesnt, but if you're a big time recruit and you want to do 1 year, you go to UK.  Put cheating, scandals, and everything else aside he's a hell of a coach and gets the most out of every single one of them.  He does it better than anyone else ON the court.  I can't stand the guy, but if I were a big time recruit (Diamond Stone) I'd be ready to sign on the dotted line right now.

[MerrittsMustache]

Calipari coaches at UK, not UCLA.

Speaking of cheaters...

[bilsu]

Calipari has a reputation and as a result of that he would be scrutinized by the NCAA more than the average coach. Yet, you do not hear reports of him doing anything illegal. You hear North Carolina having fake classes for players. Duke players getting loans to buy jewelry. When you start hearing the NCAA sniffing around Kentucky, then you can accuse him of cheating at Kentucky. However, I do not think having a school monopolise the one and dones is good for college basketball. I think the NCAA should be looking at rules that prevent any University from doing that. First of all, basketball player dorms should not be significantly better than the dorms for regular students. I have posted before that schools should be allowed to sign only three freshmen a year and one transfer(with a mximum of two transfers on a team in any season). This would make the four year player more valuable as your team would run out of players, if you repeatedly had players transfer out or go pro.

[GGGG]

Bilsu, I like the intent, but the problem I have with your regulations is that they are hard to enforce and have unintended consequences.  Like the "player dorm" issue.  Who is going to judge if they are "significantly better" or not?  At first glance, I liked your limits on new freshman signings, but is that really fair?  You are penalizing good schools who sign the best players.

I would let things be.  These things sort themselves out eventually.

As for him cheating...well...what happened at UMass is that Camby signed with an agent.  I doubt Cal had anything to do with that.  At Memphis, Rose cheated on his SAT.  Did Cal know about that?  Unknown, but I would guess yes.  It's not as though he has a history of using boosters, etc.

[jmayer1]

Speaking of cheaters...

Very true

[MerrittsMustache]

I'm not a Calipari fan AT ALL but when you see him interviewed, it's obvious why so many players like him and want to play for him. Even though he's clearly full of it, he still comes across as a very likable guy. It's as if he knows that you know that he's the ultimate schmoozer and he's completely fine with it. What often gets lost in the complaints about Coach Cal's slipperiness is that he's one helluva of basketball coach. It's easy to sit back and say that anyone could have success with the talent he brings in but that's simply not true. He brings in freshmen, most of whom have always been star and would be lottery picks out of HS, and turns them into team players who buy into his system. That's much, much easier said than done.

Having said that, I still would like to see John Chaney get at him and do some damage.

[bilsu]

There are certain coaches that have something extra that just impresses recruits. Al McGuire was that way. Also Rick Pitino, but I think he is showing his age. Certainly Calipari has it. I think Bill Self also has it and that is why I will be surprised if Embiid does not commit to Kansas.