Jerry Stackhouse shares the story of hiring Brad Calipari

Jerry Stackhouse got his first win over Kentucky last season, a 68-66 victory in Rupp Arena. Nine days later, he got his second as the Commodores ousted the Cats from the SEC Tournament. Stackhouse had last year’s team’s number. Now, he’s got a secret weapon to prepare for this year’s Wildcats: Brad Calipari.

John Calipari’s son joined Stackhouse’s staff as Director of Player Development over the summer. The former Kentucky walk-on and graduate assistant was previously the special assistant to the head coach at LIU Brooklyn. Shortly after the news broke that Brad would be a Commodore, he accompanied Kentucky on its trip to Toronto for the GLOBL Jam, spending time with his dad and hanging out with the team at Drake’s house.

Yesterday, Stackhouse was asked about Brad at SEC Basketball Media Days, specifically whether the youngest Calipari shared any of his dad’s secrets or info on the Cats.

“Brad, he spilled the beans on everything,” Stackhouse joked. “We got it all. We got all the scouts and everything right now. We’re going to leave the Kentucky scout completely to Brad.”

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Stackhouse: “Brad is a guy on his own merit”

Jokes aside, Stackhouse said Brad has been a great addition to his staff and shared the story of hiring him. When a position opened up, he reached out to Micah Lancaster, a basketball trainer in Grand Rapids, Michigan who worked with Stackhouse to mentor Brandon Ingram years ago. Lancaster also worked with Brad Calipari while he was in high school and college.

“He was like, ‘Man, I don’t know what your relationship is with his dad, but Brad Calipari is a really good skill guy,'” Stackhouse recalled. “‘He kind of came through our program and whatnot.’ I’m like, ‘All right.'”

Stackhouse said that Dwane Casey, John Calipari, and “a couple of other people that I really trust” also reached out on Brad’s behalf.

“So I brought him in and interviewed him. Just thought he was all about the right things.”

Brad has fought the narrative that he’s had things handed to him because of his famous dad his entire life, going as far as to tattoo “Earned not Given” on his chest. Stackhouse said that so far, Brad is making the most of his biggest opportunity yet.

“Brad is a guy on his own merit. He’s really worked his butt off. He’s doing a great job with our guys. We’re excited to have him as a part of our staff.”

Let’s just keep the basketball talk to a minimum at the Thanksgiving and Christmas table, please.

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