The University of Kentucky is known for their “one-and-done” culture. Recruit elite talent, go for broke the first year, repeat. John Calipari continues to do what works for him.
At the open practice held in Lexington, and televised on ESPNU, Calipari trotted out his hot new recruiting class that tops ESPN’s rankings for this past cycle. Right from the jump the highly touted freshman – De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo, and Malik Monk – made their presence known.
Those three freshman are all projected top 20 selections in the 2017 NBA Draft, according to DraftExpress.com. Adebayo is slated to go the earliest of the bunch at pick 10, followed by Fox at 12, and Monk just escaping lottery projection at pick 18.
“Kentucky is a team that is going to struggle to consistently make perimeter jump shots especially when teams play zone against them,” one NBA scout in attendance said. “Malik Monk is an NBA athlete who has a nice mid-range jump shot off the dribble. Fox has exceptional quickness and speed. Bam has an NBA body and is a powerful two footed jumper. [Derek] Willis is their best perimeter shooter. [Wenyen] Gabriel and [Sacha] Killeya-Jones both have upside and should be draftable prospects in a couple years.”
The full court scrimmage showed Fox being guarded by sophomore Isaiah Briscoe, who is touted for his defensive ability, and more often than not the freshman guard blew right past his elder counterpart.
On one particular sequence Fox beat Briscoe off the dribble, got towards the top of the lane and lofted a beauty of an alley-oop pass that was slammed home by his freshman teammate Adebayo. In that three second play – in practice nonetheless – scouts and viewers alike got a glimpse of the explosiveness these collegiate rookies can bring to the Wildcats.
Coach Calipari knows his team is flooded with talent, from top to bottom, and players will challenge for minutes every day. But his philosophy to make it gel is by having kids in the gym who fit his mold of success.
“Great kids who want to be coached, who are comfortable in their own skin, so they’re not worried about anyone else,” Calipari told ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla during practice. “This stuff here, it ain’t for everybody.”
For the big man, Adebayo, he understands his game is a work in progress. By advancing to the next level of basketball in his career he already pointed out the skills he believes he needs to focus on to make it a successful stay in Lexington.
“Spacing, learning how to play with other great players,” Adebayo told ESPN’s Andy Katz during practice. “Play hard on defense, block shots, rebound, and compete.”
And for the elite front court talent that came before him at Kentucky, Adebayo offers his gratitude in the guidance they provide to the younger players.
“They always played hard, they always come back to Kentucky and show love,” Adebayo said to Katz. “Talk to the younger players and tell them their experience.”
Monk enters his freshman campaign at Kentucky in similar fashion to the way Briscoe did just last season. Elite talent, immediate ability to contribute, but crowded by other players at his position. The sweet shooting 6-foot-3 guard showed up in the shooting drills and scrimmage, displaying that jumper that has him so highly touted to begin with. His scoring contributions to the Wildcats will surely be accepted with grace.
Monk’s demeanor was impressive as well. As practice concluded his asked Calipari if the players were allowed to go over to the NBA scouts, who took time out of their day to watch practice, and thank them for coming. Calipari responded immediately with, “Yeah, not a bad idea.”
The elite freshman class and the rest of the Kentucky roster are new to each other right now, having only being practicing together for a couple weeks. But their eyes are on the ultimate prize, and they know the work they need to put in to get there.
“We just gotta keep playing hard, keep playing together, and hopefully we can win a national title.” Adebayo said.
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