Kentucky head coach John Calipari has garnered quite a bit of criticism for the way that he builds a team.
In essence, Coach Cal has embraced the art of the one-and-done. Cal and his staff (his staff never gets enough credit for the work that they put in on the recruiting trail, in my opinion) are able to routinely recruit the best players in the country because they know that once the season ends, he has their best interests in mind. Its no secret that Cal basically told John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins last year that they had no choice but to enter the NBA Draft, essentially forcing their hand on the decision.
As you might imagine, this process doesn't exactly go over well with the folks that are enamored with the 'good ole days' of college hoops, where players stayed for three or four years, earning their degree before they took off for the NBA.
Cal responded to his critics today on his website CoachCal.com:Being a Players-first program means:
I couldn't agree more with what Coach Cal is saying.
1. During the recruiting process, we don’t make outlandish promises about playing time, starting positions, minutes, shots, points or anything to these young men that we can’t keep. At Kentucky, you have to work for everything and compete every day at the highest level.
2. The second part is that once the season begins, we are teaching players to be the teammate they want to play with. Our whole focus is on team play. I want individuals to play well but I’m getting them to understand nothing of significance will be accomplished by themselves.
3. Lastly when the season is over, when our TEAM is done playing, my job is to help them make the best decisions, with the best information I can give them, for them and their families. I’m not trying to convince them to come back if that’s not in their best interest. Likewise, I’m never trying to shove anybody out the door.
During the season, college basketball is about the team. Its about a group of kids coming together, playing as a unit, and winning while performing at their highest level in whatever role they are assigned on the team. But once the season ends, it becomes about the individual. Entering the NBA Draft should be solely about what is best for that particular player and their family given the circumstances that they are living in.
Cal understands that.
And the best players in the country realize it. That is why every blue-chip high school player in the country wants to be a Kentucky Wildcat right now. Because they know that the Kentucky coaching staff will fully support and push for what is in that player's best interests.
Since Kentucky seemingly has their pick of high school prospects, it makes it all the easier for Coach Cal to support a player like DeAndre Liggins declaring for the draft to gauge his interest. He can withstand the loss of three of his most important players because he knows that he will be bringing another crop of lottery picks the next season.
Coach Cal recruits by selling a fast track to NBA riches.
You may not like it, but it works. He's been to an Elite 8 and a Final Four using the method, and he has his best recruiting class to date coming in next season.
How many schools can make those claims?
Friday, April 22, 2011
Coach Cal talks about his coaching methodology |
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2 comments:
Well said ... Kentucky is the only school really not sweating guys going pro.
But at the same time, I wonder whether a guy like Brandon Knight might have been better off going to a program that would have been built around him. He needs to improve his point guard skills for the next level, but that would be hard with Teague coming in.
Brandon Knight would not receive the interest he is as point gaurd if he had not gone to the final four. He deserves a lot of praise for leading the team there, but must also realize that would not have happened if he did not have Kentucky-calibre players around him.
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