A recruiting class can make or break your chances in competing for a National Championship at the college basketball level nowadays.
In the past, fans became accustomed to not even seeing freshmen touch the court, no matter how good they were.
However, now we live in a world where we witness star freshmen sitting on top of the college basketball world.
Kentucky and John Calipari are both prime reasons why we have seen the college game evolve.
Wildcats’ fans have now come to grips with the reality that most recruits that come to Lexington will be a definite one-and-done (at least, hopefully fans have).
Therefore, Kentucky has had to go along with a reloading nature, not a rebuilding stage, like others; then again, there is not another Kentucky.
This brings up the next class that Calipari now has to work on: the Class of 2012.
This class has a lot to live up to, especially with those that have preceded, including players like John Wall, Brandon Knight, and, soon-to-be Michael Gilchrist.
But is the Class of 2012 one of the small bumps in the road in the next decade for Calipari and his team?
The players that Calipari seems to be coveting are looking at other places to go to school, whether it be their favorite team or just because campus is a mile up the road.
I found this on a [URL=”http://www.truebluekentucky.com/index.php/forums/2-true-blue-hoops/531031-ricardo-ledo-to-providence.html?pth=531087&nth=531148″]message board[/URL] a couple of days ago, and I agree with a lot of what it has to say:
[QUOTE]
Its my perception, I don’t work on the UK staff. But we have a premium section here at TBK and an Insiders Recruiting forum that lists our primary targets do we not? There are other knowledgeable guys out there that MM has vouched for, I read them too. So the question is:
Perry Ellis…Primary Target (Y/N)…A must get for Kansas (Danning Manning has been to almost every gameof Perry’s).
Ricardo Ledo…Primary Target (Y/N)…Providence commit.
Rodney Purvis…Primary Target (Y/N)…UL commit
Brandon Ashley…Primary Target (Y/N)…UK or West Coast???
DeJaun Coleman…Primary Target (Y/N)…Syracuse lean, attends all their home games, Boeheim wants bad.
Archie Goodwin…Primary Target (Y/N)…UK leads?
LJ Rose…Primary Target (Y/N)…UK or Duke???
Kyle Anderson…Primary Target (Y/N)…East coast lean???
Drummond…Primary Target (Y/N)…A UCONN must get.
If you have recruiting info you can put in the Premium section I would be glad to read it. If you do not know who Cal has targeted (maybe Cal doesn’t know yet) then why argue? I’m not down on recruiting or the 2012 class. I’m just pointing out that Cal will lose players he wants. I guess your position is he rarely loses players he wants BADLY. That’s fine…In 2012 is there a must have guy for Cal?
[/QUOTE]So, who will Calipari get in 2012?
As of right now, he doesn’t look to be getting some of the top talent that others thought he would.
Right now, I would say to keep an eye on L.J. Rose, Archie Goodwin, and Brandon Ashley, along with Perry Ellis and Kyle Anderson being outside chances.
Also, do not stay sold on Ricardo Ledo and Providence.
I know he wanted to stay at home, but you never know with kids changing their minds these days.
Nevertheless, it should be very interesting to see what the year 2012 brings for Kentucky basketball.
Follow Garrett Tucker on Twitter [URL=”http://twitter.com/GTuckersports”]@GTuckersports[/URL] for more info on Kentucky and college basketball recruiting.
