Nine Years Ago Today: Knight and Kidd-Gilchrist both commit to Kentucky
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Feb 2, 2019; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts against the Florida Gators during the first half at Exactech Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
Over the past 10 years, there have been a lot of great days of recruiting for John Calipari and the Kentucky coaching staff, but nine years ago today might have been his best day.
During an ESPNU special, both Brandon Knight and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were planning on making their college announcements within two hours of one another.
Knight, a class of 2010 point guard, was rated as the number five player behind guys like Harrison Barnes, Kyrie Irving, Jared Sullinger and Josh Selby.
Kidd-Gilchrist, at the time of his announcement was the #1 player in the class, but obviously making his announcement a year early caused the rankings to shift. The New Jersey native finished as the #3 player in the class of 2011 behind only Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.
Watch Knight commit here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T516Yzsu9U
After that relive the moment of MKG making his announcement here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2lIS7rYWGQ
Could this be the single most important day of recruiting in the John Calipari era? It's no secret what these two players did while in Lexington.
Knight, had one of, if not the, best seasons for a point guard over the past 10 years. He helped lead a team that no one really gave a chance to to the Final Four, upsetting No. 1 Ohio State on the way.
For MKG, his defense and leadership was an integral part of the 2012 title team. The No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, he does still get overshadowed in a way by Anthony Davis.
Matt Jones wrote an article on their commitments before they announced and it was interesting to read. If you'd like to continue the time travel, you can click here to find it.
These two players are two of the most important in the Calipari era and they all became a part of the "Kentucky Effect" on this day nine years ago.
Feb 2, 2019; Gainesville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts against the Florida Gators during the first half at Exactech Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
Over the past 10 years, there have been a lot of great days of recruiting for John Calipari and the Kentucky coaching staff, but nine years ago today might have been his best day.
During an ESPNU special, both Brandon Knight and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist were planning on making their college announcements within two hours of one another.
Knight, a class of 2010 point guard, was rated as the number five player behind guys like Harrison Barnes, Kyrie Irving, Jared Sullinger and Josh Selby.
Kidd-Gilchrist, at the time of his announcement was the #1 player in the class, but obviously making his announcement a year early caused the rankings to shift. The New Jersey native finished as the #3 player in the class of 2011 behind only Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers.
Watch Knight commit here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T516Yzsu9U
After that relive the moment of MKG making his announcement here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2lIS7rYWGQ
Could this be the single most important day of recruiting in the John Calipari era? It's no secret what these two players did while in Lexington.
Knight, had one of, if not the, best seasons for a point guard over the past 10 years. He helped lead a team that no one really gave a chance to to the Final Four, upsetting No. 1 Ohio State on the way.
For MKG, his defense and leadership was an integral part of the 2012 title team. The No. 2 pick in the 2012 draft, he does still get overshadowed in a way by Anthony Davis.
Matt Jones wrote an article on their commitments before they announced and it was interesting to read. If you'd like to continue the time travel, you can click here to find it.
These two players are two of the most important in the Calipari era and they all became a part of the "Kentucky Effect" on this day nine years ago.
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