John Calipari says every Kentucky player will declare for draft

Every year at least one Kentucky basketball player considers leaving school early to turn pro, and since John Calipari took over the program in 2009, more often than not there have been several Wildcats considering whether to declare for the NBA draft at this time of year.
It’s just part of the deal at Kentucky with Calipari annually pulling in some of the best recruits in the nation to reload after the attrition.

With those facts in mind, it should have surprised no one Wednesday when Calipari took to Twitter to announce that every eligible member of his team — even the walk-ons — would be submitting their names for draft eligibility this year thanks to new rules that allow players to test the waters up to three times and make informed decisions about their future.

Obviously some of those players will withdraw rather quickly, others will take longer and some will follow through and turn pro.

In the past, players who declared for the draft had to decide whether to keep their name in or withdraw and return to school months before the draft. Last year is was nearly 21/2 months before the draft. The new rule allows players to participate in the NBA combine and have 10 days after the combine to withdraw from the draft and retain their college eligibility. Most of the time that will be roughly a month ahead of the draft.

This is how Calipari explained his thinking on Twitter:

 

	John Calipari @UKCoachCalipari
Met with our team today. Told them that during the season it’s about the team and sacrificing for each other – which they did this year. 1:24 PM - 23 Mar 2016

	John Calipari @UKCoachCalipari
When the season’s over, it’s about each individual player and what’s right for them and their families. 1:25 PM - 23 Mar 2016

	John Calipari @UKCoachCalipari
With that being said, every player who is eligible for the draft, including our walk-ons, will submit their names for the NBA Draft ... 1:26 PM - 23 Mar 2016

	John Calipari @UKCoachCalipari
... in hopes of being invited to the combine in May. 1:26 PM - 23 Mar 2016

	John Calipari @UKCoachCalipari
The new rule states they can submit their name a total of three times. If they choose to withdraw, they have until 10 days after the combine 1:28 PM - 23 Mar 2016

	John Calipari @UKCoachCalipari
It's a true win-win for the student-athlete. 1:28 PM - 23 Mar 2016

Come will certainly say that Calipari is taking advantage of the new rule and flooding the system with Kentucky players and maybe even taking spots away from other players around the nation who are wrestling with whether to turn pro. The reality is he is empowering his players with information.

Now before we go getting all up in arms about Calipari's latest bold move, let's remember what the man was hired to do. He is supposed to recruit the best players he can, win championships and look out for what is in the best interests of those players and the school at all times. That's exactly what he is doing here.

If a player declares for the draft and doesn't get an invite to the NBA combine in May, the player can pretty reasonably assume they won't be drafted and they can withdraw and get back to studying for finals, improving on the court and focusing on next season.

The rule was put in place to provide the best guidance possible to prospects who think they have a shot and also to keep as many players as possible from making huge mistakes and losing out on the chance to remain in school.

And let's be honest, NBA teams spend millions on scouting. If players from even the smallest colleges who might have a remote chance of making it in the league decide to enter the draft, teams are going to make sure they get a look at them. So it's very unlikely Kentucky players are robbing anyone of an opportunity.

Calipari is likely to see three of his players drafted this year. Freshmen guard Jamal Murray, freshmen big man Skal Labissiere and sophomore guard Tyler Ulis are all considered first round draft picks by most draft analysts including ours.

Calipari already has another stellar recruiting class joining the program this summer and some of those players are sure to be one-year-and-done college players with whom he will go through this process again next year.