<
>
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
Get ESPN+

Recruiting Q&A: Kentucky coach John Calipari

As the early signing period begins in college basketball Wednesday, few coaches will be under more scrutiny than Kentucky coach John Calipari. Calipari has built a reputation as one of the foremost recruiters in the history of the sport, assembling teams that have reached six Final Fours, including one national title, and yielded a total of 31 NBA players. ESPN National Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi sat down with Calipari to discuss his philosophies on the trail, the challenges he faces in identifying talent that will uphold the Kentucky standard, and the way the recruiting climate has changed since he became the UMass head coach at age 29 in 1988: