A behind-the-scenes look at John Calipari Fantasy Camp

If you either win or you learn in basketball, I was the Albert Einstein of the 2023 John Calipari Fantasy Experience held from August 25-27 in Lexington.

My third consecutive year at camp, I went in with expectations of a three-peat after cutting down the nets inside Rupp Arena in 2021 and 2022. Coached by Seth Greenberg in year one, then Jerry Wainwright in year two, I had 38 years of head coaching experience putting me in position to succeed and leading my teams to victory. Greenberg somehow coached me to a 20-point, 10-rebound effort at Rupp as a Calipari Fantasy Camp rookie and that’ll go with me to the grave with my title trophies tucked in each arm.

A winless weekend

History was definitely made in year three, but of the disaster variety, for lack of a better term. Four games with zero wins, all by double digits. My hard screens, rebounds and putbacks with the occasional mid-range jumper simply weren’t enough to make up for scoring woes and minimal depth overall — losing a double-digit scorer to a season-ending lower extremity injury on day one was a killer.

It was the same story all four games (and losses): competitive going into the half before the wheels inevitably fell off down the stretch. Our head coaches for the week, Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham and Brennan Canada, did their best. The Wildcat trio drew up some beauties to get the ball moving and set up scoring opportunities with some five-out, get action, Horns, backdoor cuts and screening the screener — they threw the kitchen sink out there. The standout officiating crew couldn’t even move the needle for me, avoiding (deserved) illegal screen calls all weekend.

The personnel was what it was and we couldn’t get the job done. Title streak over, tank effort complete. Prime position for a rebuild, minor setback for a major comeback.

Working with the current Wildcats

But our individual team shortcomings mattered zero in the grand scheme of things compared to the real takeaway from the weekend: this group of Kentucky Wildcats is flat-out awesome. By far the best I’ve seen in three years doing this, a unit from top to bottom that just gets it. Involved, invested and full of joy, their interactions with each other, campers, family members and kids were nothing but positive from the time the event started Friday afternoon at Rupp through the net-cutting ceremony inside the Joe Craft Center on Sunday.

Jerry Wainwright, who has been around basketball since the 1960s, had to stop his stand-up routine at dinner Saturday evening to share his gratitude and respect for the players and their above-and-beyond efforts. John Calipari was different with a microphone in his hand, too. The phrase, “Great players, even better people” was muttered at least a half-dozen times, raving about their servant leadership and big hearts, love for the game and appreciation for this opportunity at the University of Kentucky. He talked about it privately, as well, using his exclusive meet-and-greet time during his office tour with campers to share just how much he loves coaching this team and the life it’s given him being around them. Others around him have noticed it, too — mostly because they’re having just as much fun. It’s a youthful energy and camaraderie that is simply contagious.

Title work ethics

It’s hard to pinpoint what it is exactly. Maybe it’s the simple fact that they’re mostly freshmen with similar interests and maturity — goofiness is a blanket trait for them all. Or it’s the fact that you truly cannot get these guys out of the gym. Several folks around the program passed that message along throughout the weekend. And my eyes told me that, as well, watching players like Rob Dillingham, Antonio Reeves and Aaron Bradshaw voluntarily getting extra shots up during downtime at camp.

A few quick notes on those three:

• Calipari says Dillingham has gained 13 pounds since the GLOBL JAM while maintaining the same shiftiness that makes him dangerous.
• Reeves is shooting video game numbers in workouts — like 75% from three on The Gun level. The fifth-year senior is pushing to be a coin-flip 3-point shooter in his final go-round
• Bradshaw remains in his boot, but is itching to get it off and rejoin his team at full strength. There is overwhelming confidence inside the basketball facilities that the five-star freshman will suit up for Kentucky, almost certainly to open the regular season with no games missed. Being around him all weekend, it’s clear the kid wants to be out there and will be the second he’s cleared.

The hunger is there, the collective group coming from winning backgrounds. They all want to continue that trend in Lexington.

What about Big Z?

Then there’s the elephant in the room, Kentucky’s final missing piece to the puzzle: Zvonimir Ivisic. No, he’s not on campus to open the fall semester, but the program is anticipating his arrival this week. His locker is ready to go, No. 44 reserved for the 7-foot-2 big man.

Things look good regarding academics and amateur eligibility — just one final housekeeping hurdle to sign off on before he can join his teammates in Lexington. Movement is expected in short order to get Ivisic on campus for classes.

Roster buzz

While the focus is on Bradshaw and Ivisic with help from Ugonna Onyenso — like Oscar Tshiebwe, he was unable to participate due to visa restrictions — buzz continues to grow about Tre Mitchell and the importance of his addition this offseason. Those around the program rave about his basketball IQ, passing and face-up game, as he showed at the GLOBL JAM. But more importantly, there’s a buy-in with the West Virginia transfer. He wanted to be here and made that clear upon entering the portal. Whatever the program needed, Mitchell was willing to provide it, and he’s shown that well beyond what we saw on the floor in Toronto.

Speaking of the frontcourt, Calipari again talked about shot-blocking and how his best teams had elite rim protectors during his office tour. He said between Bradshaw, Ivisic, Mitchell and Onyenso, the pieces are there to have that once again. Big-picture, he added that every title-contending roster has at least three guys capable of getting you a bucket with the game on the line in March. That’s there, too.

Walking in a Kentucky basketball player’s shoes

As for the event itself, it doesn’t get any better than what the ProCamps staff puts together year in and year out. It’s called a Fantasy Experience for a reason: you get to live the life of a Kentucky basketball player for a weekend, playing at Rupp and the Joe Craft Center with access to all of the team facilities. The coaching staff sits courtside giving pointers — John Calipari said I played well, but Bruiser Flint gave me a hard time for not diving on a loose ball while Chuck Martin said my on-ball defense had to improve — and the gear you receive is pretty sweet. Official Nike Kentucky jersey, team shirts and sweatshirts with a pair of Air Max 270 sneakers inside a Nike duffle bag, presented inside the locker room at Rupp? Can’t beat it.

No, my squad didn’t win a single game all weekend. Dreams of a three-peat not just unfulfilled, but downright obliterated. Walking off the floor watching another team cut down the nets to One Shining Moment hits deep, but it also puts a chip on my shoulder for next year. I got content with winning, settled while others were hungry to earn a title. It won’t happen again.

A win-at-all-costs mentality

My consolation prize? A behind-the-scenes look at a Kentucky team with genuine love for one another and cohesion unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years. Players that truly get it, what it means to be a Wildcat and the honor and responsibility that comes with the job. Guys itching to get on the floor and prove something, no one tripping over nickels to get a max contract in the league. Everyone in that building — Calipari and the assistant coaches included — with the same win-at-all-costs mentality. There’s real optimism the title ingredients and recipe are there.

Now it’s time to present the dish. In the meantime, training for next year’s Fantasy Camp championship run begins today.