John Calipari says 2023 recruits' success in high school stands out to him

John Calipari has earned his fair share of criticism lately with how things have gone at times at Kentucky. However, one area that he has consistently excelled in is out on the recruiting trail.

His haul in the 2023 class is no different with five commitments from top-notch prospects. Even so, he says this group takes it to another level considering how much they impacted winning at the high school level and how connected they already are with one another.

“This class is important and critical to what we are trying to do here at Kentucky,” Calipari said in a FOX Sports interview with John Fanta. “What makes me love this group is that they were all playing for state championships in high school. They all come from winning.”

“And here’s another thing: they all like each other. They’re in a group text together. Before they get here, they like each other. That’s big for where we want to go,” said Calipari. “By genuinely caring about one another, there’s a nice connection in place that feels different.”

The class for the Wildcats is led by a trio of five stars within the Top-10 of On3’s Industry Ranking. Justin Edwards (No. 2 overall, No. 1 SF), Aaron Bradshaw (No. 3 overall, No. 1 C), and DJ Wagner (No. 6 overall, No. 1 CG) were all considered to be massive recruiting wins. Robert Dillingham, another five-star, Top-15 recruit, and the No. 2 CG in the class, is also headed to Lexington after spending the year with Overtime Elite.

Finally, Reed Sheppard, a legacy recruit for the Wildcats, will play for his home state’s school. He finished as a four-star prospect and the No. 1 player out of Kentucky.

Collectively, the five recruits make up the No. 1 class in the nation per On3’s Industry Team Rankings.

In the end, Calipari is just trying to get UK back in the race for national titles. With an old-fashioned top-ranked recruiting class headed to the bluegrass again, that accomplishment is exactly what many will be expecting from this group, regardless of how difficult that may seem, before their time in the program is said and done.