John Calipari identifies pros and cons of NIL, transfer portal

On3 imageby:Chandler Vessels07/13/22

ChandlerVessels

John Calipari hasn’t had many issues with the new changes regarding the transfer portal and NIL. The Kentucky basketball coach has seen both work in favor of his blue blood program so far, and pointed to advantages basketball has compared to football.

“(The NIL)’s different in basketball,” Calipari told reporters. “I’ve got 12 guys, we can do this. Companies are going directly to them. If a guy is a first round draft pick, the marketing agencies will do for those kids.”

The Wildcats saw last season’s Naismith Player of the Year winner Oscar Tshiebwe opt to return to school for another season. Many have speculated that NIL opportunities played a role in his decision, and he has a valuation of $109,000 according to On3. Other players such as North Carolina big man Armando Bacot, who has an NIL valuation of $131,000, also opted against the NBA draft to stay in college.

As for the transfer portal, John Calipari had plenty of success last season by bringing in Tshiebwe, former Georgia point guard Sahvir Wheeler and former Davidson guard Kellan Grady. This offseason the Wildcats added Illinois State transfer guard Antonio Reeves. But while the portal has certainly been kind to Kentucky, Calipari wonders whether it necessarily benefits players as a whole in the long run.

“You talk about transfers, most of them transferred because they weren’t first round draft picks,” the coach said. “That’s just a fact. They’re going to a place to try to break through. But for us, it’s not hurt. It’s helped. I knew the transfer portal and I knew name, image and likeness would be fine. Obviously, we’ve got facilities and other things we’ve gotta step on the gas with. But I’m not sure the transfer portal is the right thing for the kids. How do you transfer three times and then graduate? You’re not gonna graduate. First sign of trouble you run. Well, thank goodness Emmanuel Quickley didn’t run. Thank goodness PJ Washington didn’t run. Thank goodness Willie Cauley and Nick Richards didn’t run. They stayed and fought and all got drafted. That’s what you’re trying to teach.”

Calipari will hope he can continue to keep his transfers to a minimum in an era where it is only becoming more popular. This offseason, he convinced former five-star forward Daimion Collins to return for his sophomore season. However, he also lost forward Dontaie Allen.