John Calipari says he's 'overrated as a recruiter' after losing No. 2 prospect to Memphis

For years, John Calipari’s mantle as the top recruiter in college basketball has been under attack by Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski.

Now there’s a new player in town. Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway has taken over as head coach at Memphis, and he’s bringing the blue chips with him.

Memphis is loading up

Five-star center James Wiseman, the nation’s No. 2 recruit according to Rivals, committed to Memphis on Tuesday, choosing the Tigers over Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats.

Wiseman joins four-star prospects D.J. Jeffries and Malcolm Dandridge in Hardaway’s initial class at Memphis that has Beale Street dreaming of a new era of Memphis basketball.

Recruiting loss prompts Calipari statement

The recruiting loss prompted Calipari to opine on his own recruiting prowess with reporters on Tuesday.

“I’ve said it all along, I think I’m overrated as a recruiter,” Calipari told reporters. “We’ve had kids that made the decision to come here, and it’s played out well for almost all of them.

“I want to be able to sleep at night. I want to make sure I’m telling the truth. I want to make sure I’m sticking with guys.”

Don’t feel bad for Kentucky

Make no mistake. There is not a dearth of talent considering Kentucky. Far from it.

With a pair of five-stars and one four-star prospect committed for 2019, Kentucky’s class currently ranks No. 7 in Rivals’ team rankings. Since Calipari took over in 2009, the Wildcats have had a consensus top-two recruiting class each season.

And even tough Duke’s been on that top line more often than Kentucky in recent years, nobody has shed a tear for Calipari.

As nobody will be crying for Calipari after Tuesday’s recruiting loss.

Calipari’s recruiting pitch since arriving in Lexington has been player over program, even a program as hallowed as Kentucky’s. He makes a point to smile with players on draft night as Wildcats regularly hear their names called for lottery riches.

It’s a good pitch. And it’s the same pitch he was delivering on Tuesday with his false humility on his recruiting prowess.

Kentucky may have lost this battle. But that’s no reason to feel sorry for Calipari.

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