Kentucky Wildcats Officially Have Largest, Most Talented Roster Under Head Coach John Calipari


Kim Klement-USA Today Sports

The Kentucky Wildcats officially released their 2013-14 roster on Tuesday morning and head coach John Calipari sits atop a loaded group that is both his largest and most talented since taking over the program.

According to a release on Calipari’s website, the 16 players (both walk-ons and scholarship players) is the most that any Kentucky team has had since he arrived in Lexington. That certainly comes as no real surprise given the number of incoming freshman that should help mold this group in terms of talent.

Now while the Wildcats’ squad that won the National Championship back in 2012 may beg to differ, there simply be no denying that this team is Calipari’s most talented — ever. Yes, that includes all of his prior coaching stints. From sophomore returnees Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein, the Wildcats’ motor is additionally geared through a freshman core that could very well be the best recruiting class of all-time. Julius Randle, Andrew Harrison and Aaron Harrison headline a group that also includes Marcus Lee, Dakari Johnson and James Young.

The expectations for Kentucky this year are simple — National Championship or bust. After missing the NCAA Tournament this past season, the Wildcats are reloading with the likeliness of being labeled as the preseason No. 1 team in the country. Yes, that’s just how talented this roster really is.

Well regardless, things are set in Lexington and expectations of a monster year are on the horizon as the fall semester officially kicks in from an academic standpoint.

 

Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS and add him to your network on Google.

 


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