The Rivals Rankings of Calipari's Recruits

Earlier today Rivals released their final rankings for the Class of 2016.  Five early signees finished as five-star prospects, with the potential to add one more to the illustrious list. Calipari's recruiting success has been so extraordinary, it has become difficult to appreciate the significance of signing five (maybe six) five-star players in one class.  But just how crazy has Cal recruited at UK? I've compiled a list of his recruits with their final Rivals' ranking to help you better understand the scope of Calipari's recruiting success.  As a point of reference, remember the insanity that surrounded Jai Lucas and Patrick Patterson?  Lucas was a 4-star, the No. 42 player in America, and Patterson was a 5-star at No. 17 in America.

2016

6. De'Aaron Fox, 5-Star Point Guard 7. Bam Adebayo, 5-Star Power Forward 9.  Malik Monk, 5-Star Shooting Guard 13.  Wenyen Gabriel, 5-Star Small Forward 24.  Sacha Killeya-Jones, 5-Star Power Forward

2015

1.  Skal Labissiere, 5-Star Center 9.  Jamal Murray, 5-Star Shooting Guard 10.  Isaiah Briscoe, 5-Star Shooting Guard 48.  Charles Matthews, 4-Star Shooting Guard

2014

5.  Karl-Anthony Towns, 5-Star Power Forward 13.  Trey Lyles, 5-Star Small Forward 21.  Tyler Ulis, 5-Star Point Guard 29.  Devin Booker, 4-Star Shooting Guard

2013

2.  Julius Randle, 5-Star Power Forward 5.  Andrew Harrison, 5-Star Point Guard 7.  Aaron Harrison, 5-Star Shooting Guard 9.  Dakari Johnson, 5-Star Center 11.  James Young, 5-Star Shooting Guard 19.  Marcus Lee, 5-Star Forward 115.  Derek Willis, 3-Star Small Forward NR. Dominique Hawkins, 3-Star Point Guard

2012

2.  Nerlens Noel, 5-Star Center 8.  Alex Poythress, 5-Star Power Forward 14.  Archie Goodwin, 5-Star Shooting Guard 40.  Willie Cauley-Stein, 4-Star Center

2011

2.  Anthony Davis (behind Austin Rivers?), 5-Star Center 3.  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 5-Star Small Forward 5.  Marquis Teague, 5-Star Point Guard 22.  Kyle Wiltjer, 5-Star Forward

2010

3.  Enes Kanter, 5-Star Power Forward 6.  Brandon Knight, 5-Star Shooting Guard 13.  Terrence Jones, 5-Star Forward 21.  Doron Lamb, 5-Star Shooting Guard 33.  Stacey Poole, 4-Star Small Forward

2009

1.  John Wall, 5-Star Point Guard 2. DeMarcus Cousins, 5-Star Center 22.  Daniel Orton, 5-Star Center 23.  Eric Bledsoe, 5-Star Guard 40.  Jon Hood, 4-Star Shooting Guard

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A few things to consider:

• Cal's had at least two Top Ten players in every class, except 2014.
• There have been at least three 5-Star players in every class.
• Of the eight recruiting classes, five have featured the No. 1 or No. 2 player in America.
• There are 25 McDonald's All-Americans out of 39 total recruits, or 64%.
• The last time Calipari brought in a "5-Stars Only" recruiting class, Kentucky won a National Championship.
• Excluding last year's class, at least one player from each class has played in a Final Four.
• The only people that were ranked lower than Jai Lucas: Derek Willis, Dominique Hawkins and Charles Matthews.