John Calipari Teleconference on NBA Notes -- LIVE

[Darrell KSR]

* Willie is unique, 7'1, and can fly down the court. Will be really good. Fans are going to love him whereever he goes.

[Darrell KSR]

* NBA has gone to "small ball" because of the way players move. Willie moves like a 6'7 guy.

* Karl Towns--had no real post game, and we forced him to be a post player, who could play out on the floor.

[Darrell KSR]

* Del Harris was the first person to tell Towns that he wasn't going to be a player who sits back and shoots 3's. He can shoot 3's, and has more ball skills than Cal allowed him to show.

((Note--so far, Calipari is 2-for-2 touting his player development. This is a pretty good marketing technique. No shock, huh?))

[Darrell KSR]

* Cal jokes--says one day he'll be viewed as the only person to be able to hold Karl Towns down under 20 points.

[Darrell KSR]

* Willie was a positionless player, like the rest. Not one particular style. He is just coming into who he is.

* Willie's balance need to improve, finishing at the rim--these guys will zero in on this in one summer and fix that.

[Darrell KSR]

* Devin Booker, of Moss Point Mississippi - saw him play in Global games, barely got off the bench. I was concerned about his defense. He ended up being a much better defensive player than I ever imagined. He's almost 6'7. This kid shoots 18" on the elbow and let it go. We wanted to improve his getting the shot off more quickly. Also didn't want him to be a stand-still shooter. Made him drive and create, forced him to defend.

* Compares him to shooting Klay Thompson-ish.

(3-for-3 in touting developing players. Hello, any high school players out there who may be listening--or reading stories later. Need your game developed? And marketed? Cal's your man.)

[Darrell KSR]

* Aaron Harrison - not worried about him. 6'6, he'll be drafted and be in the league for awhile. He makes big shots.

* Andrew has played well--I think he'll bounce into the late 1st round. Might be late 2nd.

[Philly Cat]

FWIW, on Twitter right now, a writer for the Sixers' fan site is also live-tweeting Cal's comments. Kentucky Effect, y'all.

[Darrell KSR]

* Trey Lyles -- physical enough to guard his position right now. Phil Jackson told Cal after watching practice that Trey Lyles was the kind of player for the triangle.

[Darrell KSR]

*Lyles--if a fight breaks out, he won't move, but the stuff is in him. If he gets in a competitive environment, it comes out.

[Darrell KSR]

*Isaiah Briscoe question asked -- he'll add physicalness and maturity to the U19 FIBA basketball team. Going against different, older players. He'll be a guy like Eric Bledsoe, can play pick-and-roll, can play the 1, can play the 2, I am excited about him. Playing for that team will be a great experience for him.

[Darrell KSR]

* Terrence Jones on the edge of being an all-star.
* Touting the 2010 team, 3 basically with max 2nd NBA contracts
* 2015 v 2012 -- appears 4 lottery picks, 5-6 in 1st round

* It's not just making NBA--UK players will be all-stars in NBA. Mentions Nerlens Noel, Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsole. These guys are on bring of being all-stars.

* AGAIN, touts at Kentucky, the players play "positionless basketball." If this were a "Hi Bob" Newhart drinking game, everybody would be plastered by now.

[Darrell KSR]

Question now from: Talker4466229, Danville, KY

(Larry's level with computers--just barely below mine....lol....supposed to type in your name there, Larry.)

[Darrell KSR]

* Dakari Johnson--NBA teams didn't realize how BIG he was, how SMART he was, and how YOUNG he was. Says he'll go late 1st round, maybe early 2nd, but thinks late 1st round.

[Darrell KSR]

* Karl Towns is an unbelievable teammate. # 1 pick, played 24 minutes, didn't care that Aaron took all the shots. Great teammate. He likes Minnesota. He's fine with it, wants to build something there.

[Darrell KSR]

Jerry Tipton question - "John, how do you convince players to accept Fewer numbers, less gaudy numbers, when they could've made a bigger impression in a different setting?"

Cal (handled this question well)--

"Really, they couldn't have (made a bigger impression elsewhere). Volume shooters do not impress the NBA. 99% of the NBA are role players. What we did was show efficiencies, and it proved to be right, which is why 4 guys are in the lottery, and 5-6 in 1st round. What percentage of rebounds do you get? What is your defensive playmaking? These are all the things that the league is going to analytics."

"Now, your ego is better. I would say this to you, Jerry. Devin Booker, where he's projected--he didn't start. Is it more important to play 35 minutes a game and start, or is it better to get better?"

[Darrell KSR]

Love the comment -- volume shooters do not impress the NBA. That's a marketing point.

[Darrell KSR]

* Calipari talked to Dakari after he was out of shape at the combine. He got serious, lost weight, looks great, and he will be fine. Lost 18 pounds.

** END OF TELECONFERENCE **