Kentucky Basketball: Taking a Look at the Incoming Freshman Class

John Calipari has established himself as one of, if not the most, elite recruiters in the entire country throughout the last decade. Throughout his time at Memphis and now as the leader at one of the country's most prominent basketball institutions, the University of Kentucky, Coach Cal has consistently reeled in a collection of some of the greatest talent the country has to offer. 

However, the 2011 class may eventually turn out to be his most talented to date, consisting of the first, third, seventh and 18th ranked players in the country (According to ESPN). Yes, the 2009 class was laced and laden with terrific NBA talent, such as John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe, but the 2011 class appears to be more complete at nearly every position.

The talent that Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer possess is matched by no other class in the country, and every player has the talent and attributes needed to produce the moment they first step on the floor for the Kentucky Wildcats and Coach Calipari. 

Anthony Davis: The Most Talented Player in the Country, Bar None

Anthony Davis burst onto the scene after growing nearly 10 inches between his sophomore and senior seasons of high school at Perspectives Charter High School in the Chicago area.

The astronomical growth that occurred for Anthony resulted in a versatile skill set that is not seen very often within the basketball community. Davis has developed the ability to score off the bounce, slashing to the basket, off put back opportunities and any other manageable method of placing the ball in the basket. That various array of skills on the offensive end is not the only portion of Davis' game that has developed him into the most lethal high school player in the entire country.

Davis' ability to affect a game from the defensive side of the ball may be what makes him so coveted. While lacking a hulking frame, Davis uses his tremendous wingspan and impeccable timing to alter and block shots of opposing offensive players on a consistent basis. An amazing natural ability that a player who was playing point guard just two short years ago should be so adept at achieving.  

The most tantalizing aspect of Anthony Davis is the untapped potential that exists within a player of his ability. The tremendous growth spurt, while allowing Davis to mature into a rare combination ballplayer, has allowed him to acquire an exorbitant amount of undeveloped talent that is waiting to be unleashed on the world.

Davis will be an immediate impact player for the Wildcats, especially with a skill set perfectly suited for the dribble drive offense, but if Calipari is able to harness that aforementioned undeveloped talent, he has the potential to be the best player in the entire country next season. 

MIchael Gilchrist: The Integral Piece to a Championship Puzzle

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, formerly known as Michael Gilchrist, has been in the glaring spotlight of college basketball recruiting junkies throughout his high school career. Once labeled "the best high school player in the country, regardless of class," Gilchrist has been destined to be a great basketball player throughout his young life. 

Gilchrist not only possesses the talent, but a drive and determination that is severely lacking within today's coddled society of elite high school talent. Gilchrist not only produces on the offensive side of the ball, but brings a toughness and demeanor on the defensive side of the ball that makes him a lethal weapon on all areas of the hardwood. His hard work and effort heavily outweigh any deficiencies that exist within his all-around game.

The most significant part of Gilchrist's game is the unteachable intangibles that he brings with him to the floor every single minute of action. The leadership and tenacity that Gilchrist unleashes for 40 minutes make him an integral piece to the championship puzzle. 

Marquis Teague Continues the Successful Lineage of Kentucky Point Guards

Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, Brandon Knight and Marquis Teague? John Calipari and the University of Kentucky faithful have high hopes that Marquis Teague will soon hear his name in comparison to the former great point guards that have preceded him in Calipari's system of freedom. 

Teague has the talent and ability to firmly place his name among those elite players, but the similarities may stop there. He is not molded in the same form of any of his predecessors and has a unique skill set that will allow him succeed during the dribble drive sets of Coach Calipari.

Teague is virtually unstoppable in one-on-one situations and has an uncanny ability to maneuver through defenses with ease. He is also a tremendous passer, both in the open-court and the half-court, but he does have a tendency to struggle against zone defenses when teams choose to apply that form of defense.

His struggles versus the zone stem from a mediocre, albeit improving, outside jump shot that allows teams to slack off into a zone to defend his tremendous penetration abilities. 

Marquis has the talent and ability to lead this Kentucky offense from the outset and, with improvement throughout the season, will be an elite point guard at the collegiate level in 2011. 

The Water Cooler, Kyle Wiltjer, Adds a Different Dynamic to an Dynamite Class

Kyle Wiltjer, while not the most dominant athletically, may be the most important piece of the Kentucky Wildcat's prized 2011 recruiting class. He may be the most polished offensive big man in the entire country, and he brings a unique skill set with him across the country.

Wiltjer possesses a wide array of post moves, varying from the up-and-under to a tremendous baby hook that is virtually unstoppable by the opposing defense. However, the most important aspect of his game is his pick-and-pop ability and shooting range that extends well beyond the collegiate three-point line. 

During many situations last year, Kentucky fans would watch Josh Harrellson receive the ball at the top of the key and hesitate to shoot the ball from that distance, but Wiltjer will be a completely different breed of animal in those offensive sets. Wiltjer will take the outside shot and make the defense respect him off the roll, forcing the defense to converge and opening the lane for cutting teammates and even more penetration.

This shooting ability instantly adds another aspect to the Kentucky offense that we have not seen during Calipari's two years on the sidelines in Lexington and makes UK that much more difficult to guard.

Wiltjer does have several attributes that may also hinder his playing time early in the season. He must improve his defensive foot speed and lateral quickness, which will allow him to stay in front of his defender on a consistent basis. That is the only area of the game that is currently a struggle for the extremely skilled Wiltjer. 

Kentucky Final Four Bound: It Certainly Seems Logical

Last season was a season of wonderful achievement for Coach John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats. They made a marvelous run throughout the postseason and advanced much farther than many expected, finally reaching the Final Four for the first time in 13 seasons.

Coach Cal was able to achieve that goal with a minimal roster and an impressive freshman class that consisted of several key players. Brandon Knight was the only key freshman to elect to enter the NBA draft following the season, and with Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb returning, there is a solid nucleus in place. 

Accompanying the incoming talent with the savvy veterans who are now in place, Kentucky has developed a roster that will be atop many preseason top 25 polls and are one of several early favorites to return to the Final Four once again. 

The question that should be asked heading into the season is, "Will this excellent group of freshmen be able to lead Kentucky and John Calipari to a championship?" This will lead to the majority of the answers being a resounding, "Yes!"