John Calipari Kentucky Basketball Coach To Decline Cleveland Job Even With LeBron James! Returning Freshmen Will Bring Wildcats A Championship?

John Calipari is known as the best recruiter in College Basketball. This year, he might have outdone himself when most of last year's historic freshman class chose to stay in school instead of joining the NBA Draft. He claims that he will not accept the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching gig even if he knew LeBron James would return.

Calipari cites his returning freshmen and sophomores from the top recruiting classes of the past two  years. The Harrison Twins, Dakari Johnson and Marcus Lee as well as returning sophomores Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein will make Kentucky the clear favorites to win it all this year.

From The Courier Journal: "They came back because it was good for them and their careers and they knew they needed more developing and coaching. That was by me. That's what they wanted," "So that made it a tough deal to say, 'I'm just going to leave these guys here.' With who? It may be somebody I don't know that wouldn't do the things for them that they needed to do.

"Now, obviously coaching at Kentucky is special. It is unique and special. But this, for me, becomes about these kids. I have no desire, nor am I out looking for (jobs). I got the job. I got the job. What would move me to stay was these kids need me here. That's what I'm doing. At the end of the day, that was what (kept him at UK). It wasn't money."

When Calipari was offered the Cleveland job which he declined, LeBron James had not yet announced his decision to go back home. Observers thought it would have been the clincher, but Calipari denies it:

"No. No. I don't think so. Because he and I have a great relationship, but it's not based on me coaching him.  We've got a relationship. I've known him for years and years. We've always been friends. But it was never based on that. I've said that. I've had a chance to coach Derrick Rose, John Wall and DeMarcus (Cousins), Anthony Davis and Michael (Kidd-Gilchrist). And I'm leaving names off, but I've coached some of the best players in basketball, and it is a thrill. There's nothing better than that. Especially when those guys are all good guys.

"Well, LeBron is also that kind of player and that kind of person. But again, leaving guys who made decisions based on what's right for their career was something I couldn't have gotten by anyway."

Kentucky still has a top three recruiting class, with only Duke and Kansas doing better. But Duke and Kansas gave the top three picks to the NBA along with another first rounder. Kentucky lost Julius Randle and James Young, but they have more than enough to replace them.

This is the team with the most collective experience that Calipari will coach. Last year, they lost the Championship game toUConn. They are a better team this year, and only one step to take.