From Mark Story of the Lexington Herald-Leader: “…five players signed for UK by Billy Gillispie have now been chosen in the past three NBA drafts. Besides Miller, Billy G. signees Josh Harrellson and DeAndre Liggins both went in the second round of the 2011 draft and Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton both were first-round picks in 2010. Those five Gillispie recruits taken in the past three drafts mean Billy G. ranks ahead of coaching luminaries such as Billy Donovan (three), Thad Matta (three), Tom Izzo (one), Tubby Smith (one) and Rick Pitino (one) in the number of players he signed who have gone on to become picks in the past three NBA drafts. It’s interesting to speculate on how many of the “Gillispie five” would have been NBA draft choices if Billy G. had not been removed as Kentucky head man in favor, ultimately, of the more-accomplished Calipari.”
