“But I know people, so we just talked in those terms. One of the things I just asked him was does anybody work harder than him? They said no. In practice? No, he's it. I said well, then you have a right to lead by example and try to help, be a servant leader. You don't need to drag and have them there for you. Just how can I help you play better? What can I do? What more can I do? Is there anything else? So we just talked in those terms.
“But it was a good conversation because he's just a wonderful young man.”
Question: Have you ever had an athlete from another sport reach out to you like that?
Calipari: “You know what, I'll have — I'm trying to think. Yeah, I've had some —sometimes they're afraid. This kid had the courage to come in and say can I meet with you?
“But I meet with coaches of different sports. I've watched them teach. They'll come in and watch me. They may have me talk to their athletes. I had golf teams over my house last year when Bob Rotella was in. We talked to the golf team, and then Bob did his thing with them.
“I've done it before. I just want our football team to win, and that's what he wants, and they're right on the cusp of that.
“He's just is there anything to get us to that, to eliminate those five plays that are costing us games right now. Whether it was at Mississippi or this game, he just was I want to win those games. We could have won those games. We were right there to win those games. That's how bad he wants to win.
“He's searching out the basketball coach, is there anything you can give me that may help me, may help my teammates? Pretty powerful stuff, really.”
Question: Is he going to play basketball for you?
Calipari: “I did ask him that. That did come up as he walked out of my office.”
Question: What did he say?
Calipari: “He said I'd love to do it. But I've never watched him play basketball. I think he's a lefty. Is he a lefty?”
Question: His first love is basketball?
Calipari: “Do you know how many players in this state grow up saying I want to play basketball at Kentucky. So when you say your first love, I'm the biggest fan of Kentucky basketball ever. Do you know how many of those people I've met?”
Question: He's from Tennessee though.
Calipari: “Where's he from? No, I know, I know.”
