1. 11-12 Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Teague (Won a championship, so duh)

2. 10-11 Knight, Lamb, Jones Fresman year Final 4, Soph year Champions

3. 14-15 Towns, Booker, Ulis (38-1) Freshman year Final 4

4. 13-14 Harrisons, Randle, Young Freshman Title game Soph Final 4

5. 09-10 Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe Region Finals

6. 12-13 Noel, Goodwin, Poythress (ehh)

7. 15-16 Murray, Labisseire, Briscoe Beat Duke...but to these criteria they haven't done much yet.

 

If they are ranked by what they did at UK. Case closed! These are correct, but at the end of this year, I feel this years team will be in the top 3.

2009-2010 was the most important class. John Wall was to UK what Jamal Mashburn was to UK for Pitino.

Thats sort of what I have been saying all along about the 09-10 team. Yeah they didn't win a title, but they brought the swagger back for UK basketball and laid the foundation for what the empire has become. Their importance for the program I feel had the greatest impact.

2009-2010 was the most important class. John Wall was to UK what Jamal Mashburn was to UK for Pitino.

 

Agree in many ways, but I don't think Cal could have coaxed any of those guys to UK if the school was still on probation. Cal is absolutely what UK needed for this time period, but what Pitino did under those circumstances stands alone in the world of salesmanship.

You gotta add Kyle Wiltjer to the 2011 - 2012 class too. He was a 5 star recruit & McDonald's All-American.

 

In my mind 2011-2012 definitely takes it.

 

But 2009-2010 was crucial in us moving to the direction to get many guys after them.

And let's not forget that Sam Malone & Brian Long were a part of the 2011-2012 class too. They stuck around as four year players and might have helped with our GPA & APR!

 

:sssh:

You gotta add Kyle Wiltjer to the 2011 - 2012 class too. He was a 5 star recruit & McDonald's All-American.

 

In my mind 2011-2012 definitely takes it.

 

But 2009-2010 was crucial in us moving to the direction to get many guys after them.

 

I only listed the first 3 players off the top of my head for each recruiting class. Just trying to give you all a frame of reference so you wouldn't have to think about who was in each class. But not it's not like Kentucky fans struggle with remembering teams. You could definitely add Wiltjer to 11-12 I could have also added Lyles to last years team, but I just made it three for each year to make it consistent.

My only point with the 09-10 class is that had they not laid the foundation, I think it would have been much more difficult for Cal to bring in the 5 stars every year. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten Davis, MKG,etc. 2 years later if it wasn't for Wall and Boogie.

My only point with the 09-10 class is that had they not laid the foundation, I think it would have been much more difficult for Cal to bring in the 5 stars every year. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten Davis, MKG,etc. 2 years later if it wasn't for Wall and Boogie.

 

I agree and disagree... Is that possible?

What I mean, you're right about that class setting the table for the return of UK...

But, with or without Wall... Cal has never had trouble recruiting top notch players anywhere... He did it at Umass and even at Memphis of all places. Cal is unreal when it comes to getting great players.

I agree and disagree... Is that possible?

What I mean, you're right about that class setting the table for the return of UK...

But, with or without Wall... Cal has never had trouble recruiting top notch players anywhere... He did it at Umass and even at Memphis of all places. Cal is unreal when it comes to getting great players.

Cal does have a great knack for recruiting great players. But at Memphis he would typically get 1 guy every year. His first year at Kentucky he got 5 to come and play for him, including 2 who have egos larger than life and got them to agree to give up shots for the sake of the team. With Davis and MKG they were unselfish by nature and Cal knew they wouldn't worry about shots. But how he got Boogie, Wall, and Bledsoe from ripping each others heads off has to be one of the greatest coaching jobs ever. Maybe that speaks more to Cal's coaching ability than it does the players. But honestly, there is so little difference between the classes Cal has brought in that it doesn't really matter, except for 12-13. If one or two things go their way, they all could have won a championship.

WHO CARES? Rank them any way you want. ALL of them had special qualities. The sheer talent brought to Lexington every year is nothing less than incredible. Cal just keeps that door swinging wide open. No matter those that leave, their is another crew behind them. Since Cal's arrival the CATS are in the national title conversation EVERY year. Lets just keep it going.

WHO CARES? Rank them any way you want. ALL of them had special qualities. The sheer talent brought to Lexington every year is nothing less than incredible. Cal just keeps that door swinging wide open. No matter those that leave, their is another crew behind them. Since Cal's arrival the CATS are in the national title conversation EVERY year. Lets just keep it going.

How dare you! This is groundbreaking stuff we are talking about here. Haha.

Cal does have a great knack for recruiting great players. But at Memphis he would typically get 1 guy every year. His first year at Kentucky he got 5 to come and play for him, including 2 who have egos larger than life and got them to agree to give up shots for the sake of the team. With Davis and MKG they were unselfish by nature and Cal knew they wouldn't worry about shots. But how he got Boogie, Wall, and Bledsoe from ripping each others heads off has to be one of the greatest coaching jobs ever. Maybe that speaks more to Cal's coaching ability than it does the players. But honestly, there is so little difference between the classes Cal has brought in that it doesn't really matter, except for 12-13. If one or two things go their way, they all could have won a championship.

 

I feel ya for sure... I think schools like UK, Duke and NC have a decided advantage because they are the top "brands" if you will... That said, you gotta have a good coach on the floor and in recruiting.... Gillispie and even Tubby to a certain extent proved that UK's name alone won't get the best guys every year.. Cal is the man!

All of his classes rank either great or phenomenal...no doubt.

My only point with the 09-10 class is that had they not laid the foundation, I think it would have been much more difficult for Cal to bring in the 5 stars every year. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten Davis, MKG,etc. 2 years later if it wasn't for Wall and Boogie.

 

I think you're definitely right about how crucial that first recruiting class was. It set the stage for what was to come for Kentucky Basketball. I think Coach Cal would even tell you that.

 

I wish we had one more championship to show but I'm certainly not upset. It's been a fun ride!

Lot of different ways you can go with this one.

 

Based on importance or star power then you can go 2009.

 

Based on results you have to go 2011.

 

Based on legacy you could go 2014.

 

Based on quality depth and # of players ranked top 25 you can go 2013.

 

 

 

So it all depends on how you look at it. No matter what though I have a feeling this 2016 class is going to surpass all of them.