Smart, thoughtful University of Kentucky basketball star Karl-Anthony Towns said in a recent interview that “when you try to make something grow quicker than it’s supposed to grow, it doesn’t come out right. It’s not as good. But when you let things happen naturally, the way it’s supposed to be done, you get way better results.” That’s a lot of wisdom for a freshman, which is all a true basketball star at Kentucky ever gets to be. Whereas players at other schools might enter sophomore year, players of Towns’ caliber at Kentucky enter the NBA draft.
That’s the way Coach John Calipari works it, that’s what Towns signed up for–and for Kentucky alum like NBA All-Star Anthony Davis it works out beautifully. Calipari and Kentucky win a national championship, send their elite guys to the pros, and restock just like your local fishing hole. As for trying to grow with unnaturally speed, as Towns describes, Calipari agrees. “It’s not fair what we ask them to do,” the coach says. But life isn’t fair, he may as well have added. Towns, who is 7-feet tall, is expected to be a top 5 pick in the NBA draft this summer. Right after Kentucky wins the national championship–if all goes according the unfair plan.
