John Calipari discusses late roster additions, new roster-building timeline

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Kentucky basketball will rely on freshman production this season, which is nothing new under John Calipari. However, multiple late roster decisions have transformed the team from a relative unknown to a unanimous Top 25 selection in the preseason.

Calipari went through a number of hurdles and got a couple breaks to go his way.

Despite transfer portal rumors swirling around Ugonna Onyenso and Antonio Reeves over the summer, both returned for the 2023-24 season. Two unheralded freshmen signed with Kentucky – Jordan Burks and Joey Hart – and have gotten rave reviews.

Then things got more interesting for Kentucky as the landed a pair of bigs to bolster their depth and potentially cover for an injury to five-star freshman Aaron Bradshaw.

Tre Mitchell was the first to arrive, after a second transfer window was opened at West Virginia following the resignation of Bob Huggins.

“I wish what happened at West Virginia did not happen, but we were the beneficiary of it,” said Calipari. “But it wasn’t planned, you’re talking about it all happening within a week.”

The fast pace of Mitchell’s transfer was contrasted by the slow process played out with Zvonimir Ivisic. The international prospect faced a number of hurdles before he was able to sign and enroll, leading fans to wonder how important he was.

“Because it took so long to get him here, every week that went by he got better, and better, and bigger, and a bigger impact,” said Calipari. “Then ‘oh my gosh he’s King Kong.’ And all the sudden, each week that went by, he got better and better.”

John Calipari’s issue not unique

John Calipari does not want people feeling sorry for him as he builds the roster in a new way, and does not want people questioning whether he is the only coach doing it. He cleared the air on a new status quo in college basketball.

“Everybody’s going through the same thing, you had teams that had eight, nine players late in the summer,” said Calipari. “So we’re all going through the same thing. The one thing that’s happening to everybody right now is new teams, like they’ve got seven or eight new guys, and I’ve been through that once or twice in my career. It’s exciting because it’s so new to you as a head coach and to them, but it’s also difficult for them to come together.

“We’re all battling the same thing. I don’t know of any coach – well we’ve got a couple probably – who have teams back, and they have a big advantage. And they should.”

At the end of the day though, Calipari remains confident he built the best roster possible and can compete with anyone.

“The reality of it is, the guys we got late were good players and will be valuable to our team.”