The future of the Kentucky Wildcats is currently in flux after the John Calipari-led team was once again eliminated in the early rounds of March Madness. What makes this year’s foray more painful is that their early exit was caused by a senior who has a long shot of making the NBA.
Plenty of questions are being asked out of Calipari right now, and there is an increasing number of voices who are calling for the program to axe the long-time coach despite his expensive $33-million release clause.
While firing Calipari will provide some much-needed fresh air for the Wildcats, it also brings the future of the roster into doubt. If they send Calipari packing, will they be able to handle the exodus that follows it?
Kentucky Wildcats will likely lose their outstanding recruiting class if Calipari leaves
Calipari indeed managed to transform the Kentucky Wildcats around with a couple of key recruits. However, Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald Leader notes that the team had the building blocks Billy Gillispie left behind.
Moreover, any other blue-chip program would fire a coach that has underperformed in the tournament they prioritize as the most important. The fact that the Lexington-based team are still hesitant on pulling the trigger shows just how long of a leash Calipari has on the program.
The biggest reason why the Wildcats are finding it tough to show Calipari the door is his talent as a recruiter. Roberts listed off the number of impressive commits he got:
The Cats also have the No. 2 recruiting class in the country, with six commitments for the 2024-25 season: versatile big man Jayden Quaintance (No. 8 in the 247Sports rankings), small forward Karter Knox (No. 20), shooting guard Billy Richmond (No. 21), point guard Boogie Fland (No. 25), center Somto Cyril (No. 45) and point guard Travis Perry (No. 72).
The fact that he has the second-best recruiting class despite the team’s inability to show up in the big games shows just how great of a marketer Calipari has become to high-school recruits.
Roberts also laid out what will happen if the Wildcats decide to part ways with Calipari:
Quaintance, who won’t be eligible for the NBA draft until 2026 due to his age — making him a possible two-year star at UK — will look elsewhere. Fland will, too. Richmond’s father played for Calipari at Memphis, another family connection leading to a recruiting commitment. Cyril probably wouldn’t end up in Lexington. Knox has ties here — his brother is former UK standout Kevin Knox — but it’s more likely than not he’d play somewhere else if Calipari isn’t the Wildcats’ coach. Relationships rule in recruiting. These players — like the majority of Cats over the past 15 recruiting cycles — didn’t commit to the University of Kentucky. They committed to John Calipari. Without him, they’re gone.
It may be unfair for Kentucky fans who want to see a new man take charge. However, until the program decides that they can live without these recruits, Calipari will likely stay for at least another year.
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