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Always Be Closing: Top 10 College Basketball Recruiters

19 Comments

A great college basketball coach knows more than X’s and O’s. In the age of the one-and-done player, recruiting is just as important as player development and coaching since the elite players aren’t sticking around for all four years. With almost entire teams of freshmen going pro nowadays in college basketball (see: 2010 Kentucky), recruiting is a full-time job that is now more important than ever. So we decided to rate the ten best recruiters in the game today and try to pinpoint just what makes them so good.

10. Steve Fisher (San Diego State)

9. Billy Donovan (Florida)

8. Jim Calhoun (Connecticut)

7. Bob Huggins (West Virginia)

6. Bill Self (Kansas)

5. Tom Izzo (Michigan State)

4. Thad Matta (Ohio State)

3. Roy Williams (North Carolina)

2. Rick Pitino (Louisville)

1. John Calipari (Kentucky)

11:30 AM on 1/26/2011
  • Waitin’ on 8

    Pitino at #2 is laughable. How is Coach K not on this list? Please.

  • Waitin’ on 8

    Well, maybe Pitino was #2 when he was at UK, but lately… not a chance he’s #2.

  • factoid

    I would say Josh Pasner is up in the top 5 at Memphis and pitino would be around 9 or so. K should be up there at number 2.

  • Pittbill

    This is just an opinion of one very uninformed writer. Pitino can’t be on that list and neither should Huggins. All that Huggins did was get some top recruits to KSU when he could recruit while not on anyone’s payroll and out of the authority of the NCAA. He’s done nothing at WVU. And not having some like a Coach K or jamie Dixon on that list verifies that the list is a joke. Of the top 10 they named, only 5 belong there.

  • BirdMan

    What you clowns smokin? If Teague had stayed at UL, Rick would have 5 recruits in the top 100 for next year.

  • Sawyer

    The Squid “Calamari” should share the ranking with all of his bag men, including World Wide West.

    Question – can these rankings be removed from the board like the Final Fours Memphis and UMASS gave up when the Squid was cheating his ass off at those schools?

  • Waitin’ on 8

    Birdman… that’s just it… Pitino couldn’t land Teague… or Quincy Miller… or Deuce Bello… should I go on? Pitino can’t close deals…. so that’s what I’m smokin’.

  • Waitin’ on 8

    Birdman… Pitino and Top 100? How about Calipari and Top 10?

  • dsdonut

    All of them are dirty. With Izzo being the only possible exception.

  • BaintheA

    No love for Rick Barnes?

  • basketballfan

    dsdonut…….how are all of them dirty? lol funny you choose Izzo because he got introuble earlier this season and suspended 1 game. You must be mad that those coaches are taking talent from your school. Dirtiest coach up there is coach Cal. Pitino isn’t dirty, he just bangs women when he feels like it. Roy stays away from trouble making players. I agree though that Rick Barnes should be up there

  • Shorthair

    Where is Josh Pastner?

  • David Granger

    Can’t really argue against any on the list…but sure don’t understand how Coach K doesn’t make it. Year-in and year-out, Duke’s recruiting classes are among the best in the country.

  • ED

    What about the Jim Boheim at Syracuse???? They always have great talent and never seem to miss a beat.

  • soulcoach

    Calapari does not recruit at KY. He simply runs the rent a Wildcat for a year program and then goes out and does it again the next season. Student Athletes— you have got to be kidding !!! The only thing Coach Cal develops is his bank account and the schools he gets in trouble with the NCAA.

  • Krakow

    This is RECRUITERS dimwits!

  • geeack engov

    This is a big joke. Did you even look at who truly recruited the players of these teams or just the allure of the “big name” coaches to potential players? ‘Cause I’m not feeling this list at all! What about those other smaller name coaches that have given these big name coaches fits over the years with supposed lesser talent? To me, that is recruiting… finding the hidden gems and not the obvious.

  • kywarmachine

    People just hate on coach Cal. He has never been named in an NCAA report. It is not his fault Camby took money. It is also not his fault the NCAA clearing housr cleared Rose to play and then changed their mind a year later. Learn the facts before you call someone a cheater. Maybe he should recruit kids with more integrity, but to call him a cheater is jealousy.

  • Laoshe

    I’d have to agree with the poster who pointed out that some coaches at small schools who manage to out-recruit more name-brand schools schould also be recognized. Here’s looking at you, Mark Few.

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