http://www.coachcal.com/?p=5083&preview=true

How awesome is this? Not only does it allow the players to stay in familar surroundings, keep normal routines and do all of their workouts, interviews and tests on campus, they also don't miss classes, rack up travel expenses, risk potential unsupervised contact with agents, boosters, etc...

With Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, Enes Kanter, DeAndre Liggins and Josh Harrellson all eligible for the draft (the first three which are probable lottery picks, Harrellson a possible early 2nd round and Liggins a mid-late 2nd rounder), the scouts from all 30 NBA teams were given invites to UK's Joe Craft Center for two days of workouts with these five players. All scheduled events were done supervised by the school AND worked around each athlete's school schedule.

The way Calipari is talking, this isn't just a one-time thing either. Sounds like he plans on making it a yearly event, and I would not be surprised if other schools started to A) come to UK to workout for scouts instead of traveling across the country to visit NBA teams or B) hold their own private workouts like college football teams do. It would not surprise me in the least if in coming years, Calipari invites NBA eligible players from schools in-which he has a positive relationship with the current coach AND it makes sense financially/geographically for that player(s) to come to Lexington rather than go to other locations for NBA workouts.

Quite simply, this is a great idea and it isn't getting the pub it should. For once, it's all about the student and minimizing unneccesary expenses/risks that become issues every season.

Seems like a great Idea that will quickly become a recruiting tool....

True, but I don't think he really needed that assistance to land players. What's lost is the benefit it has to the student athletes by keeping them in class, on campus and away from any vices that may hurt their status as amateurs.

Azubuike24;754364 wrote:Harrellson a possible early 2nd round.

I would be very surprised if Harrellson even gets drafted. Other than that, agree with everything you said. Seems like a great idea.

Talks about Harrellson are that a few teams have a specific need for a player like him. If I were ranking players on pure value/potential, he wouldn't be projected early 2nd, but I think there are 3-4 teams who want a player who fit his specific skill set and would be willing to take him in the 2nd or add a pick in the 2nd to take him. If all those teams pass, he could very well go undrafted.

Azubuike24;755032 wrote:What's lost is the benefit [. . .] on campus

Just pointing this out, if say someone from OSU were to head to this "pro day" they wouldn't be on campus.

Well obviously my point was referencing the UK players who practice and play pick-up games there everyday. It's a great facility. They all have their own "suites" per se in the facility. Now if it expands and players come from outside of UK, they won't be on campus, but I don't see how that's really relevant to my post. It just makes sense that given time constraints, if all 30 NBA teams were to come to UK for the part of 2 days, over a long weekend, it might be easier for players from nearby schools to drive up for workouts instead of flying to Chicago, staying in a hotel and racking up expenses.

Having NBA scouts on campus does not sound like a good thing IMO. Where scouts are, agents lurk. This will make it difficult for UK to comply with NCAA policies in various ways. Hopefully they can control this and not let it be a program destroyer.

It's not as if agents wouldn't approach the players without the scouts coming. They're top-notch talent; they're going to be targeted by agents regardless. It doesn't change anything that UK players have gone through since John Wall first stepped foot on campus.

Not sure this is that big of a deal to be honest. I mean, its done in college football on a regular basis by all the big time programs. They all have pro day workouts on campus. I am surprised it hasn't gone on in bball. Personally, the whole not enough time to "test the waters" is BS IMO. In this day and age, its not difficult to have every tape from every game these guys play, dating clear back to high school. Yes, the individual workouts help...but it doesn't make or break anything.
BTW, I'll be shocked if Harrelson is drafted. Yes, he had a better than expected senior year...but he isn't an NBA player. Overseas is more likely his path to continue to play ball.

swamisez;758039 wrote:Having NBA scouts on campus does not sound like a good thing IMO. Where scouts are, agents lurk. This will make it difficult for UK to comply with NCAA policies in various ways. Hopefully they can control this and not let it be a program destroyer.

Lets see Calipari and NCAA policies....is there something i'm missing here....HMMM

Kentucky's basketball program, right now, I'd guess spends more money and time complying with the NCAA than almost any other school. I'd bet their compliance expenses when it comes to basketball is greater than anyone else for the sport by a long shot.