ESPN compares the 2013 UK and Kansas classes

Everyone knows that on paper, the 2013 UK recruiting class is the best in history. But what about on tape? Going position by position, ESPN Insider Paul Biancardi compares UK's 2013 recruiting class to Kansas', which, of course, recently added Andrew Wiggins. He breaks the comparison down into four categories: guards, forwards, centers, and "x-factors." He gives Andrew and Aaron Harrison the edge over Kansas' Conner Frankamp (PG), Brannen Greene (SG), and Frank Mason (PG) because of Andrew's fearlessness and Aaron's 3-point shot and midrange game. The tandem of Andrew Wiggins and Wanye Selden edges out Randle, Young, Lee and Willis in the forwards category, and Dakari Johnson's physical presence is more impressive to Biancardi than Joel Embiid's raw potential. The X-factor for the Cats? John Calipari, who is the best coach in the nation at getting young talent to mesh: "Luckily for Kentucky, there may be no one better in coaching than Calipari when it comes to shaping elite freshmen into a winning team in a short amount of time." Biancardi says the X-factor for the Jayhawks will be the power balance between Andrew Wiggins and Perry Ellis. Because Bill Self is good at defining roles and handing out responsibilities, Biancardi calls this a draw. It's not often that the team that lands the number one player in the class doesn't end up having the number one class in the nation, but that's the case this season. Biancardi concludes that UK's incoming freshmen aren't only better than Kansas', they're unprecedented:

Kentucky’s 2013 class, however, is historic. It is unprecedented in basketball recruiting to land so many talented players with such a high ranking -- five in the top 10 and six in the top 25. If Calipari can get the talent to mesh, Kentucky’s class of incoming recruits has the potential to win the SEC and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

[ESPN Insider: Tale of the tape: UK vs. KU 2013 classes]