John Calipari is in all likelihood the best recruiter in college basketball, and he has been for years. The guy shops for five-star recruits like he’s picking produce at the market. He puts in work and gets nearly anyone he wants, and that does not sit well with some other coaches.
CBS Sports college basketball reporter Gary Parrish told a great story on his radio show Tuesday on 92.9 FM in Memphis about the time Calipari confronted a coach who was bitter the Kentucky maestro stole his recruit.
According to Parrish, Calipari missed out on a player he was targeting, so he jumped in on the recruitment of another player late in the game. Meanwhile, the other coach had been vigorously recruiting the player for years, attending tons of his games and really putting in an effort. Cal recruited the player for about two weeks and got a commitment from him. That ticked off the other coach royally, so in his disappointment, he vented to other people in the sport that Calipari must have cheated to steal his guy.
Well, Calipari wasn’t about to let all that pass without saying something. He supposedly confronted said rival coach.
Here’s how Parrish told the story, as transcribed by Kentucky Sports Radio:
“100% true, John confronts this guy in Vegas, because he heard the guy was yapping. He confronts him. Cal approaches the coach and says something like ‘Listen, I know what you’ve been saying,'” Parrish says.
“No, I haven’t been saying–,” the coach supposedly denied things.
“I know you did, I know you said what you said. I’ve heard it from enough people, but I want you to understand one thing. Yes I am the type of guy who can come in at the last minute and take any player I want from you. You can spend your whole life recruiting a kid and at the end of the day, if I want him, I’ll get him. If we want him, we’ll get him. Don’t ever get that confused. Be appreciative every time I don’t come in and get your guy. Don’t accuse me of cheating when I do.
‘I didn’t say–‘
‘Yes you did say that. And it’s fine, but just understand, nothing stupid went on. It’s just that I’m me, and we’re Kentucky and we can come in and get that kid whenever we want.”
Talk about putting someone in his place. I might feel somewhat badly for the other coach, but that’s part of the business. Calipari put in tons of work over the years in order to earn his reputation. Plus, it’s not like he doesn’t do any work; he is a tireless recruiter and knows how to cater to the top players. He’s earned the right to snag recruits late.
