Shabazz Muhammad to UCLA: Why Star Recruit Made Mistake by Not Picking Kentucky

Shabazz Muhammad decided on Wednesday to take his talents to UCLA, but the recruit should have elected to join John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats instead. His chances for collegiate greatness, NBA draft stock and future financial security would have been much greater if he did.

Muhammad, a 6’6”, 215-pound swingman, is the No. 2 prospect in the class of 2012 and should have followed Nerlens Noel’s lead by heading to Lexington.

Noel, a 6’10”, 215-pound shot-blocking center, knew that UK represented his best chance to win a national title and get a ton of exposure during the time he chooses to spend in college.

UCLA isn’t a bad choice by any means, and it’s historically a basketball power, but it pales in comparison to the recent greatness of Kentucky.

The Bruins are coming off a bad season in the terrible Pac-12, and they did not make any postseason tournaments. The Wildcats won the 2012 NCAA tournament.

Ben Howland’s group does not have a single NBA draft prospect, while Calipari’s roster has as many as six potential first-round picks, with four of them being lottery candidates.

Kentucky is simply a basketball factory, and players have been performing their best there, going deep in the tourney and going on to find success in the NBA.

If Shabazz wants to take care of his family and have a long pro career, he’s still going to be able to after attending UCLA, but it’s going to be harder for him to establish himself as a top lottery pick.