Connect with us

BB Recruiting

Former Wildcats Cashing In Big In The NBA, Earning $4 BILLION in Contracts

Published

on

Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari says his players at Kentucky have earned more than $4 billion in NBA contract revenue,
Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos

In his fourteen seasons as the head coach of Kentucky, John Calipari has had 47 of his players drafted into the NBA, including 35 first-round selections. That said, he has helped transform dozens of lives and families, especially financially.

In a recent SportsCenter interview, Calipari updated the amount that his Kentucky alumni have made in NBA contracts, and the number is quite astounding, to the tune of $4 BILLION dollars – yes, billion with a B – and that excludes endorsements. For reference, if Calipari’s Kentucky alumni were to pool their money together and form a company, they would be a top 3,000 valued global company. As for the reason why, he gives credit to the culture that he has built within the program.

Some top earners include Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Karl Anthony Towns. They have collectively made nearly $150 to $200 million annually. Davis just recently signed the richest contract extension in NBA history, earning him $62 million annually, and for reference that breaks down to:

Advertisement
  • $1.19 Million Per Week
  • $169,863 Per Day
  • $7,078 Per Hour
  • $118 Per Second

In 2027, former Wildcat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could make history by signing a $400 million contract extension in 2027.

Some would argue that Calipari is riding the coattails of five-star recruits. While it is true, that top prospects are more likely to go on to successful NBA careers, he has also helped develop players like Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyler Herro, PJ Washington, and Jarred Vanderbilt among others who have outperformed their high school recruiting rankings, and signed substantial contracts.

This amount also excludes the players he has helped make long international careers like Derek Willis and the Harrison twins, and now even NIL. This spring it was announced that Calipari has put together the La Familia Club which is expected to push Kentucky atop NIL in college basketball.

Having the ability to say that your players have earned billions of dollars in the NBA is certainly beneficial in recruiting. As long as Kentucky continues to put players in the league, expect that number to rise

Advertisement

BB Recruiting

Chin Coleman Talks About Kentucky’s 2024 Recruiting Class

Published

on

Kentucky Wildcats assistant coach Chin Coleman goes into detail about the 2024 recruiting class.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Kentucky basketball assistant coach Chin Coleman recently spoke with the media. While talking about the game, Coleman was asked about Kentucky’s current signees in the 2024 class, which now sits No. 2 overall, all of whom signed this in the early signing period.

Somto Cyril

“A freak of nature, Coleman says. He says he has to get better with his skill-set, but that he does things that no one else in the world can do: “He’s a freak of nature. Obviously, he’s gotta get better with his skill set, right, but he does things that no one in the world could do, not even guys in the NBA could do some of the stuff that he does in terms of pure shot-blocker, pure vertical spacer. He gets way over the rim, and that gives you something that a lot of teams don’t have.”

Boogie Fland

With Boogie Fland, he says he’s the best point guard in the country, and that he is expecting to give the keys to him when he arrives: “You talk about Boogie, who’s the best point guard in the country,” Coleman said. “We got the best, in Boogie, and we’re expecting Boogie to come in here and have the keys to the Lamborghini and drive it the right way.”

Advertisement

Jayden Quaintance

Talking about Jayden Quaintance, Coleman calls him a “prodigy”: “You have a prodigy, who is probably–arguably one of the best players in the country regardless of class. ’24, ’25, it doesn’t matter,” Coleman said. “He too has some force and some physicality, but he’s very, very, very, skilled. He’s 6-10 245-250, and he plays like a guard,” Coleman said. “The crazy thing about it is, two years, think about that. Jayden Quaintance for two years, that’s unheard of.”

Travis Perry

Coleman also dove in on Travis Perry, saying, “Hometown kid. His parents obviously share some relationships with the university. All he knows is blue. He wanted to go here no matter how many people recruited him. This is where he wanted to be.”


On the recruiting class as a whole, he calls it a “unique” class that is different in its own way. Kentucky is on a hot streak in the 2024 class and beyond, and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.

Check out Coleman’s answer in the video below!

Advertisement

Continue Reading

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Targets Play In Made Hoops Derek Smith Invitational

Published

on

Kentucky basketball recruiting prospect AJ Dybantsa going up for a dunk,
NBC Boston

The city of Louisville had some of the nation’s top high school prospects in town this weekend at Saint Xavier High School for the Made Hoops Derek Smith Invitational. A few of the nation’s top high school teams were there as well, and they featured some very notable names.

Headlined by 2024 Kentucky signee Jayden Quaintance, who did not play in the event, there were a few major Kentucky targets in Louisville this weekend. The top player of 2025, AJ Dybantsa, who is a generational talent, put up a great game against Link Academy on Saturday, which features 2026 Texas signee Tre Johnson and 2025 Top-15 prospect Jasper Johnson.

Dybantsa finished with 25 points, and his teammate, 2026 Top prospect Tyran Stokes, is another major Kentucky target. He had 12 points. Jasper Johnson ended with 10 points for Link Academy, coming up short in the loss to Prolific Prep.

Advertisement

Sunday featured Prolific Prep vs. St. Xavier, where Dybantsa struggled, but Tyran Stokes made up for it. Dybantsa is known as an athletic finisher, who is long and can really score. That wasn’t clicking on Sunday. Instead, it was Stokes who was playing very aggressively attacking the basket. He even threw down a few monster dunks. Stokes had a full head of steam attacking the rim all day. Kentucky’s staff was in attendance.

Dybantsa spoke after the game on Sunday to talk about Kentucky and what it means to him to be offered by Kentucky.

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “High-major school, you know, multiple NBA players, a lot of college championships.” He spoke about playing with other elite talent right now, and eventually at the next level, “I know how to blend well. I know how to get my teammates involved.”

Dybantsa also went on to about what he is looking for his role to be at the next level: “Like a point forward or just play shooting guard at my height.” He then talked about things he has to do to be his best at the next level: “Get all my ball-handling right, limit turnovers, and just making the right passes.”

Advertisement

Dybantsa is a generational talent, and there was a lot of talent this weekend in Louisville. A notable win from the weekend was Fredrick Douglass’ close win against St. Frances, who is a nationally known team. A lot to like about this weekend in Louisville.

Continue Reading

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Offers “Prodigy” and No. 1 Prospect AJ Dybantsa

Published

on

No. 1 basketball recruit AJ Dybantsa wearing a Kentucky basketball jersey of Terrence Clarke.
Youtube

After extending an offer to its top prospect in the class of 2026 in Tyran Stokes, Kentucky has offered 2025 forward AJ Dybantsa, who is arguably the best player in high school basketball, regardless of class.

At just sixteen years old, Dybantsa is considered a generational talent who already has every high-major coach in awe over his play. He has a long list of high-major teams who have already offered him in addition to Kentucky, including North Carolina, Michigan, Alabama, Baylor, Auburn, and Texas among others.

While Dybantsa is far from a decision, Kentucky is certainly in a good position. Already having ties to his Nike EYBL team, Expressions Elite, Dybantsa was inspired by the late Wildcat Terrence Clarke. He talked about how close he was to Clarke with CBS Sports. “That was basically my cousin,” Dybantsa told CBS Sports. “We’re not related, but that was basically my cousin. Every time I seen him, I was little bro to him.”

Advertisement

What kind of player is Dybantsa? He stands 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, and is a phenomenal open-floor scorer with a bag full of tricks to create for himself. He can make threes, but still dominate with his back to the basket and he’s a terrifying cutter that plays above the rim. Oh, and he’s unselfish.

In short, he has a versatile foundation and an NBA All-Star ceiling as he continues to develop his skill set and physically. This past summer, Dybantsa’s profile was raised as the best of the NBA began to take notice, training with the likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Chris Paul. If you haven’t, you should take notice too.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending