When John Calipari took over in Lexington in 2009, he didn’t just bring wins — he brought stars. Dozens of Wildcats have become NBA lottery picks, All-Stars, and household names. But out of them all, there is one player who stands head and shoulders above the rest.
He only played one season at Kentucky.
He delivered a national championship.
He became the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.
And today, he’s an NBA champion and perennial All-Star.
So who is this ultimate success story of the Calipari era?
The Historic Season
In 2011–12, Anthony Davis stepped onto the court and immediately changed college basketball. With jaw-dropping defense, dominance on the glass, and clutch performances, he carried Kentucky to its first national title in 14 years.
That year, Davis swept nearly every award: National Player of the Year, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and Consensus All-American honors. No freshman had ever left such an impact on the game.
From Lexington to the NBA
After just one season, Davis was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. From there, his career exploded — Olympic gold, multiple All-Star appearances, All-NBA selections, and most importantly, a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Simply put, he’s the blueprint of what John Calipari promised Kentucky recruits: come to Lexington, dominate, and then become an NBA superstar.
Why He Stands Alone
Yes, Calipari has produced legends: John Wall, Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, DeMarcus Cousins, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the list goes on. But none of them checked every box at both the college and pro level quite like Davis.
For Kentucky, he brought the only national championship of the Calipari era.
For the NBA, he became one of the best two-way players of his generation.
