So to create no misunderstanding as I'm not familiar with the term "blue-chip" team and google suggested blue-chips are high profile recruits. But Kentucky is totally crowded by these prospects. So I guess google tricked me as it doesn't make any sense. And Kentucky has a long basketball tradition if I'm not mistaken. I find it hard to believe that Cal would have problems establishing a project that combines collegiate athletes and sure fire NBA prospects. Imo the reason why he has to rebuild every 2nd or 3rd year is because the "worst" player he recruits are borderline NBA players. And those will take their chances after a chip of course. Replace those with hungry "real" student athletes, who actually want to graduate and have a "smaller" pro career the next 10 years and I think he'd be way more successful. But that's of course a question of team philosophy. Maybe he is even more happy to overrecruit the top prospects to not let Smart/Sullinger situations happen more often as he seems to be genuinely more invested in his players than the organisation he represents.
With all due respect, he does. People have short memories. In the past decade Cal has a higher winning% than any other coach. Last year was the anomaly, not the norm.
Ever hear of Dominique Hawkins? Jon Hood? Derek Willis? Jared Polson? How about Brian Long??
These are all kids on next years team that will likely never play in the NBA but were recruited to be solid 4 year guys.
I think the real issue with Cal's rep is the media spin. He is so dominant in recruiting that there's no story... therefore a negative spin is put on it. Funny that he gets questioned for recruiting stables of one and dones but EVERY one of those players were being hotly pursued by Duke, UNC, Louisville, Kansas, UCLA... etc. Then the spin becomes these other teams are doing it 'the right way.'
LMAO!
Oh, and yes, a "blue-chip" prospect is what google said.. I meant to say "blue blood" programs... the perennial powerhouses.