Is UofL’s 2015 Recruiting Class Pitino’s Best Ever?

[Cardiotonic]

Ethan Moore

With the on-and-off again recruitment of Maverick Rowan behind us, the question can be asked; is this Pitino’s best recruiting class ever at UofL? Coach P has pulled in Top 10 classes three out of the last four years (4th in 2011, NR in 2012 signing Trez and Mangok, 9th in 2013, and 10th in 2014 according to 247Sports). Currently, two major recruiting services – 247Sports and Scout – rank this year’s haul at No.7. The issue with these Top 10 classes have been the lack of instant impact recruits. The 2015 class appears to be different with Adel, Lee, Lewis, Mitchell and Spalding poised to make an impact from day one. While not ranked in the ’15 recruiting haul, Damien Lee was rated as the No. 1 grad transfer, while Trey Lewis was tabbed as the 16th best by ESPN.com. Based on those rankings, let’s give Lee 5-stars and Lewis four. Coach Pitino has raved about his incoming recruits – minus the redshirting McMahon – numerous times as the team prepares for its Puerto Rico trip. He loves the leadership of Lewis and Lee and the potential of Adel, Mitchell, and Spalding. The aforementioned five will get a lot of playing time this season, so the question won’t be answered fully until March.

*247Sports ’15 Class profile

Deng Adel – 4-star; 38th overall; 6th best SF

Ryan McMahon – 3-star; 179th overall; 50th best PG

Donovan Mitchell – 4-star; 35th overall, 9th best SG

Ray Spalding – 5-star; 26th overall, 8th best PF

*Scout ’15 Class profile

Deng Adel – 5-star; 23rd overall; 5th best SF

Ryan McMahon – 2-star; Not Ranked

Donovan Mitchell – 5-star; 17th overall, 2nd best SG

Ray Spalding – 4-star; 31st overall, 5th best PF

 

[Cardiotonic]

On

Ethan Moore

With the on-and-off again recruitment of Maverick Rowan behind us, the question can be asked; is this Pitino’s best recruiting class ever at UofL? Coach P has pulled in Top 10 classes three out of the last four years (4th in 2011, NR in 2012 signing Trez and Mangok, 9th in 2013, and 10th in 2014 according to 247Sports). Currently, two major recruiting services – 247Sports and Scout – rank this year’s haul at No.7. The issue with these Top 10 classes have been the lack of instant impact recruits. The 2015 class appears to be different with Adel, Lee, Lewis, Mitchell and Spalding poised to make an impact from day one. While not ranked in the ’15 recruiting haul, Damien Lee was rated as the No. 1 grad transfer, while Trey Lewis was tabbed as the 16th best by ESPN.com. Based on those rankings, let’s give Lee 5-stars and Lewis four. Coach Pitino has raved about his incoming recruits – minus the redshirting McMahon – numerous times as the team prepares for its Puerto Rico trip. He loves the leadership of Lewis and Lee and the potential of Adel, Mitchell, and Spalding. The aforementioned five will get a lot of playing time this season, so the question won’t be answered fully until March.

*247Sports ’15 Class profile

Deng Adel – 4-star; 38th overall; 6th best SF

Ryan McMahon – 3-star; 179th overall; 50th best PG

Donovan Mitchell – 4-star; 35th overall, 9th best SG

Ray Spalding – 5-star; 26th overall, 8th best PF

*Scout ’15 Class profile

Deng Adel – 5-star; 23rd overall; 5th best SF

Ryan McMahon – 2-star; Not Ranked

Donovan Mitchell – 5-star; 17th overall, 2nd best SG

Ray Spalding – 4-star; 31st overall, 5th best PF

Only time will tell.

 

[lkc1234]

Ethan Moore

With the on-and-off again recruitment of Maverick Rowan behind us, the question can be asked; is this Pitino’s best recruiting class ever at UofL? Coach P has pulled in Top 10 classes three out of the last four years (4th in 2011, NR in 2012 signing Trez and Mangok, 9th in 2013, and 10th in 2014 according to 247Sports). Currently, two major recruiting services – 247Sports and Scout – rank this year’s haul at No.7. The issue with these Top 10 classes have been the lack of instant impact recruits. The 2015 class appears to be different with Adel, Lee, Lewis, Mitchell and Spalding poised to make an impact from day one. While not ranked in the ’15 recruiting haul, Damien Lee was rated as the No. 1 grad transfer, while Trey Lewis was tabbed as the 16th best by ESPN.com. Based on those rankings, let’s give Lee 5-stars and Lewis four. Coach Pitino has raved about his incoming recruits – minus the redshirting McMahon – numerous times as the team prepares for its Puerto Rico trip. He loves the leadership of Lewis and Lee and the potential of Adel, Mitchell, and Spalding. The aforementioned five will get a lot of playing time this season, so the question won’t be answered fully until March.

*247Sports ’15 Class profile

Deng Adel – 4-star; 38th overall; 6th best SF

Ryan McMahon – 3-star; 179th overall; 50th best PG

Donovan Mitchell – 4-star; 35th overall, 9th best SG

Ray Spalding – 5-star; 26th overall, 8th best PF

*Scout ’15 Class profile

Deng Adel – 5-star; 23rd overall; 5th best SF

Ryan McMahon – 2-star; Not Ranked

Donovan Mitchell – 5-star; 17th overall, 2nd best SG

Ray Spalding – 4-star; 31st overall, 5th best PF

His best class ever was at Kentucky. This class doesn't even compare with the one that won the 1996 NCAA Championship at UK.

 

[Shawn (uk7spd)]

His best class ever was at Kentucky. This class doesn't even compare with the one that won the 1996 NCAA Championship at UK.

Although the title doesn't specify, the article actually starts off by questioning whether it is Pitino's best class "at UofL."

 

[Cardiotonic]

His best class ever was at Kentucky. This class doesn't even compare with the one that won the 1996 NCAA Championship at UK.

LMAO.......you just can't help yourself.........Obsessed and ate up wow. LOL

 

[n4cer2ad]

LMAO.......you just can't help yourself.........Obsessed and ate up wow. LOL

Cardiotonic you nailed it, what does UK have to do with this thread.

 

[Cardiotonic]

Although the title doesn't specify, the article actually starts off by questioning whether it is Pitino's best class "at UofL."

Like I said "The sign of losers........hanging out on their rivals' boards ." Seems you've embraced being a loser and of course you'll post again in the next few minutes on your rival school's board, you're an obsessed loser go ahead embrace it because that's what losers like you do. LMAO

 

[jrpross]

Like I said "The sign of losers........hanging out on their rivals' boards ." Seems you've embraced being a loser and of course you'll post again in the next few minutes on your rival school's board, you're an obsessed loser go ahead embrace it because that's what losers like you do. LMAO

Maybe some people go to numerous other school's boards to see what the chatter is there, to see others' thoughts on their own team. I frequent the Duke, Kansas, UNC, and Arizona boards, not to start fights but to get another perspective on the rest of the NCAA.

As far as this thread goes, yeah I'd have to say that this is probably Rick's best class since he came to Louisville. 3 top 30(ish) recruits should give you guys a good team. I like what I've seen from Mitchell particularly.

 

[Cardiotonic]

Cardiotonic you nailed it, what does UK have to do with this thread.

Not one damn thing.

 

[J-Rye_UL]

You can't judge a recruiting class until their work in college is complete. No matter what the perception is of these players coming into college, that doesn't mean jack squat in terms of the value of the recruiting class. The 2010 class was "the worst recruiting class Pitino has had a Louisville" - bringing in 2* Russ Smith who he didn't even recruit and Gorgui Dieng who was the last minute backup plan after Fab Melo turned us down for Syracuse. That 2010 class with Russ and Dieng went from the worst on paper to the best Pitino has had at UofL. This 2015 class, which is off to a great start, has a LOOONG way to go before I'd consider it better than 2010.