Kentucky Wildcats Scouting Combine 2014: Recap, Twitter Reaction and Analysis

Since Kentucky's basketball program has been a de facto training ground for future NBA lottery picks since John Calipari took over as head coach in 2009, it's surprising that it took this long for the team to hold a scouting combine for NBA teams and scouts. 

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported in September that Calipari organized the event, which kicked off Friday at Kentucky's practice facility in Lexington, and was using it as a way to give NBA teams an early look at players they will be scouting all year and a way to show future recruits what life as a Wildcat is like:

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The event is a chance for Calipari to impress a throng of top high school recruits on campus visits and once again frame his program as college basketball's best NBA feeder system. Kentucky is expected to be a consensus preseason No. 1 in the polls.

After the combine, Calipari plans to shut out NBA executives and scouts from his practices for several weeks – perhaps even months – into the season, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

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Calipari said during the event, via Aaron Torres of Fox Sports Live, that he understands there will be criticisms of the event simply because he's doing it:

Jay Bilas, who was calling the action on ESPNU, said on the broadcast just how unique this setting and event were, via David Scott of ESPN Public Relations:

Wojnarowski had more on the atmosphere:

Considering how highly regarded Kentucky is and that it will likely start the year as the top-ranked team in the country, this was a must-see event. We watched it and have a recap of the unique event, including analysis from around the Internet, coming right now. 

You can understand why there might be a few nerves in the gym, because Evan Daniels of Scout.com reported that more than 90 scouts from the NBA were in attendance:

Since it was televising the event, ESPNU was nice enough to tweet out a picture of what drills the Kentucky players would be going through:

One of the great freshmen to watch at Kentucky this year is center Karl-Anthony Towns. He didn't disappoint in the five-minute shooting drill, per Calipari's official website on Twitter:

Towns, like so many freshmen Calipari brings in, doesn't seem long for Lexington. He's already ranked third on Chad Ford's Big Board for ESPN (Insider required). As long as the 7-footer develops like everyone expects, no one in Kentucky will be complaining if he's one-and-done. 

One of the few Wildcats to return for his junior season, Willie Cauley-Stein is slowly moving up draft boards following his strong performance last season before being injured toward the end of it. It also helps that he's a strong defender who can block shots with ease. 

The one big question about Cauley-Stein moving up to the next level is whether his offensive game will develop. It's just one practice in a controlled environment, but his jump shot did get noticed by Brett Dawson of Rivals:

There's so much depth on Calipari's roster that Cauley-Stein doesn't get the minutes you would expect for a 7-foot player, so it's imperative that he makes the most of his opportunities, whether it's starting or coming off the bench. 

Arguably the biggest returning player this season is Aaron Harrison. The sophomore guard became a Kentucky legend last March when he hit three game-winning three-pointers in the NCAA tournament but still has work to do refining his game for the next level. 

One thing that there doesn't seem to be a clear consensus about is how big Harrison is. He's listed at 6'5", 212 pounds on Kentucky's official website, but Sean Deveney of The Sporting News talked to a scout who believes the 19-year-old is bigger and more explosive than we're being told:

If Harrison really is bigger and more physical this year, this roster could be even more dangerous than it appears on paper. We know he has the touch from the outside and isn't afraid to shoot the ball in a big spot, so there's not a lot of work that his game needed anyway. 

The biggest takeaway from Kentucky's showing Friday, even more than being a nice showcase for NBA executives to look at what these players can do, is Calipari's roster is stacked with very few weaknesses and as much depth as he's ever had. 

There are nine players on the roster who were McDonald's All-Americans coming out of high school, four players listed at 6'11" or taller and more talented returnees than Kentucky usually gets back. Its still a young roster that will need to develop as the year goes on, much like last year, but the raw talent is incredible. 

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