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KT Turner discusses recruiting pipeline in Texas

Alex Weberby:Alex Weber06/16/22
kt-turner-discusses-on-court-role-with-kentucky
Matthew Visinsky | Getty Images

Kentucky Basketball has its newest assistant coach. After recruiting specialist Jai Lucas departed to join Duke’s younger staff at the conclusion of the 2022 season, John Calipari needed to find another talented recruiter to replace the one he’d just lost to a rival program. One that will battle Lucas and the Blue Devils for players consistently. So Calipari opted to hire notable recruiter KT Turner from Porter Moser’s staff at Oklahoma, where he served just one year under the start of the Moser era.

Prior to his stop in Norman, Turner spent a year at Texas in 2020-21 before Shaka Smart left for Marquette. Before that, he spent seven years at SMU and was the associate head coach for four of those.

So he’s a staple of the rust belt basketball scene, with particular experience recruiting Texas players. A state Kentucky has hit hard in recruiting over the years. During his opening press conference following his move to Lexington, Turner expressed his appreciation for Texas as a basketball state and intends to maintain Kentucky’s pipeline down there.

Turner’s comments on Texas Recruiting

“Basketball has become huge in Texas,” Turner said. “There’s a ton of talent down there.” Then offered up the controversial take that “it’s not a football state anymore.” It’s all about hoops now too. A trend he credits to several factors, one being the camps and leagues that are getting kids started in the game at an early age, and training with world-class trainers. Also, that so many people are moving from other states to Texas over the past few years — especially families with younger kids — which has led to an influx of basketball talent among the youth programs.

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All this added talent to a state the Cats already hit hard on the recruiting trail. Turner mentioned guys like Julius Randle, De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Maxey who came from Texas. But there are probably a handful more in addition to them. The Harrison Twins, PJ Washington, Sahvir Wheeler on the current team, to name a few. “Kids in Texas love Kentucky,” according to Turner.

John Calipari has always emphasized recruiting with his programs. Texas may be the single most successful state Cal has recruited from since taking the UK job. With the move to hire a star recruiter from the area, he aims to keep the pipeline strong. The extra talent acquired over the last few years could make the state’s classes even deeper.

Kentucky has set itself up in great position in a premier recruiting state with KT Turner. In fact, they just hosted the top player from Texas in 2023 in power forward Ron Holland. Off to a terrific start.