Even With NIL Concerns National Analyst Says UK Basketball isn’t Losing its Luster

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What Kentucky basketball is doing, or not doing, with NIL continues to be a huge topic in the Bluegrass with UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart saying coach John Calipari’s team is doing better NIL-wise than any other basketball team, Calipari saying he will not guarantee NIL money and Calipari losing players in the transfer portal but unable to attract new transfers.

So what is the national perception of Kentucky basketball and NIL?

“I think with NIL a lot of teams are still trying to figure it out. There is a lot of money being thrown around and not regulated. Teams can scoop up players in the portal or lose them,” Krysten Peek, national basketball writer for Yahoo/Rivals, said.

“Kentucky is not losing its luster at all. It has a crazy recruiting class coming in. Cal and his track record and what he does to get players to the NBA is incredible and recruits pay attention. That has not changed.”

Peek said she hears “different” stories about what players are making at different schools and how much money some teams are willing to spend.

“There is not a definitive number and this is so complicated that a lot of schools are basically using a general manager to handle NIL deals,” Peek said. “NIL certainly has changed the transfer portal but high school players still see what John Calipari can do for getting them to the NBA.”

Calipari is also trying to enhance his reach with the recent group he’s put together to help provide financial support for the UK basketball program and players.