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@PaulBiancardi what u think about ky next year class and who u got staying
— Jeremy (@jsadams83) February 17, 2014
Kentucky has the nation's No. 2 recruiting class. And this class, put together by John Calipari, is different than his past ones.
This bunch is highly ranked, with size and talent, but the difference is that this class has more skill on an individual and collective basis than in years past.
All four signees were recently named McDonald's All-Americans.
At 5-foot-9, Tyler Ulis (Matteson, Ill./Marian Catholic) might be the smallest point guard Calipari has ever coached, and he will be the best pure point guard he has ever landed. All his other great leaders were scoring guards with size, athletic ability and the mindset to score first and pass second. Ulis is just the opposite.
Devin Booker (Moss Point, Miss./Moss Point) is an outstanding long-range open shooter.
Trey Lyles (Indianapolis/Arsenal Technical) and Karl Towns (Metuchen, N.J./St. Joseph) can score inside and outside the paint, which allows them to play a high-low game. Both big men can pass against a set defense, which speaks volumes of their instincts for the game.
Of course, there will be a huge learning curve, as there is with every freshman group.
Who will decide to stay another season at Kentucky? It's never easy to figure out this early. But I would say the obvious ones are Marcus Lee, Dakari Johnson and Alex Poythress.
Who's leaving? Chad Ford has Julius Randle, Willie Cauley-Stein and James Young all in the first round on his Big Board
. The Harrison twins are playing much better, but it remains to be seen where they project in the draft.
