The 'Kentucky Combine' is another example of John Calipari being ahead of the curve

Once again, John Calipari is proving that he is one step ahead of the curve when it comes to running a players-first program.

This afternoon at 3:00 pm marks the start of the two-day Kentucky combine. At least 23 NBA teams will have representatives at the Joe Craft Center as the five members of the Kentucky basketball team currently eligible for the NBA Draft -- Josh Harrellson, Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, and DeAndre Liggins -- will have an opportunity to interview with and work out for scouts.

The Kentucky coaching staff worked closely with the NCAA to determine what needed to be done to keep Knight, Jones, and Liggins eligible should they opt to return to Kentucky, meaning that no UK coaches will be involved as the workouts will be entirely run by NBA personnel.

Its genius.

Its no secret that the best recruits in the country view college basketball as nothing more than a one-year hiatus before they make their way to the NBA. And at a time when the rest of the coaches are moving up the early entry deadline to benefit themselves at the cost of their players, Calipari is doing everything in his power to make sure that his kids get the opportunity to make the most informed decision in regards to their future.

That's why Calipari is able to land just about any recruit that he wants. These kids know that he is going to push them to enter the NBA Draft if it is right for them. They know that he is going to prepare them for a career after their time, however, short, is done on a college campus.

Most importantly, however, Coach Cal knows that by running his program this way -- by establishing a track record of supporting his players and turning them into professionals as quickly as possible -- he is going to be able to have the ear of every top recruit in the country.

The criticism of running a program with this methodology is that Calipari will almost always have a team full of supremely talented freshmen. Winning with freshmen, critics will tell you, is not possible at this level of basketball. I wonder if those critics realize that in his two years at Kentucky -- in which six freshmen and eight players overall have declared early for the NBA draft -- Calipari has led his team to the Elite 8 and the Final Four.

Butler is the only other team that has been to the last two Elite 8's, having played in the last two national title games.*

*(The irony of this fact is that Butler is the polar opposite of Kentucky when it comes to recruiting. Brad Stevens lands the players that fly under the radar and builds a team through experience.)

Oh, and for what its worth, Trevor Lacey, a top 40 recruit from Alabama that is still uncommitted for the class of 2011, is currently on the Kentucky campus on a visit.

Coincidence?

Doubt it.