John Calipari on Tyler Herro at Kentucky: 'The kid lived in the practice facility'

John Calipari saw the early signs of the player that Tyler Herro would eventually become during the guard’s freshman year at Kentucky. When Herro was a freshman on the team in 2018-19, Calipari remembers that he practically lived inside the gym.

The guard would go on to average 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in being named to the All-SEC Freshman team. He also helped lead Kentucky to the Elite Eight that season.

Herro was selected 13th overall to the Miami Heat in the 2019 NBA Draft and has carved out a role as a key piece for the franchise since then. Calipari opened up on his experience coaching Herro recently on the Pat McAfee Show.

“His dad told me — and when I listen to his dad I’ve gotta take it with a grain of salt — ‘You’ll have no one work harder than him,'” he said. “And a couple of F-bombs in there if you know his dad, Chris. The kid lived in the practice facility. Literally never left the gym.

“I don’t believe in the McDonald’s game, Four-star or whatever. Ends up being a player that Pat (Riley) absolutely loves in Miami. I was lucky because the dad was the one that said, ‘I want him playing for you.’ When I went and met the dad and mom and saw Tyler, I’m like, ‘I love this kid.'”

Herro has since grown into a starting spot with the Heat and averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists this past season. He is one of many high-profile recruits from Calipari who went on to have success in the NBA along with Julius Randle, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devin Booker and several others.

He has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons but never failed to make an impact during the times he was available. He signed a contract extension with Miami in 2022 to keep him through the 2026-27 season, signifying the franchise’s belief in him as a long-term piece.

Calipari has since moved on from Kentucky to take the head coaching job at Arkansas, where he will look to build the same reputation for turning players pro. The Razorbacks are coming off of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 and have a completely revamped roster with some of the players who Calipari recruited to Kentucky.

We’ll see how well it works out for the coach this coming season, but players like Tyler Herro prove a reminder of the talent he attracts.