When John Calipari arrived at Kentucky, he took over a program that had just finished .500 in the SEC and missed the NCAA Tournament. In just a few months, he completely transformed the roster into one that became a national title favorite and won an NCAA-best 35 wins.
With renewed success, a rejuvenated program, and the “cool” optics of John Calipari and his then style of play, Kentucky was the place to be and at the top of every recruit’s list. As was the case of Will Barton, former Memphis guard and NBA veteran Will Barton.