"If you lie to kids, they’re not coming back": John Calipari draws line for transfer portal players with massive NIL demands 

John Calipari is one of the most decorated coaches in college basketball when it comes to developing players for the NBA. In his 15 years at Kentucky alone, he sent 50 players to the big league, including stars like Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. There is no doubt that "Coach Cal" prioritizes his player's future more than anything else.

However, the Arkansas coach expects the same dedication in return. Calipari shared his deal-breaker when recruiting players out of high school or the transfer portal on FanDuel Sports Network's "Golic & Golic."

"We had four guys return," he said Wednesday via On3.com. "If you lie to kids, they’re not coming back. If it's all about money, they won't stay with us. If it's about money, I'm not going to, 'Well, I'll pay you more.'

"I got a locker room. I can't have one guy making three times what everybody else in the locker room does. We're not going to do that to any of these kids," he added.

Earlier this year, John Calipari's Arkansas was estimated to have a NIL capacity of over $10 million – one of the highest in men's basketball. Some of the other such programs include Duke, BYU, Kentucky and North Carolina.

With that, his comments demonstrate the qualities he desires in a player. It also reflects on the changed landscape of college basketball, where players' college preferences have entered a more transactional and contract-driven phase.

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John Calipari has one of the best recruiting classes in the nation

Arkansas is a prime example that high monetary offers do not necessarily bring in top-ranked players. Despite John Calipari's reservations against the utilization of NIL, he bought in two top-15 high school players in the nation, alongside an international commit.

The Razorbacks welcomed IMG Academy's Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 5), OTE's Meleek Thomas (No. 13), Springdale's Isaiah Sealy (No. 107) and Lithuania's Karim Rtail this season. The four newcomers make for the sixth-best recruiting class in the nation, per 247Sports, behind powerhouses like Duke and UConn.

With Adou Thiero and Boogie Fland declaring for the NBA draft, John Calipari also engaged in the portal. He has roped in four four-star centers – including Nick Pringle and Malique Ewin.

How do you think the Arkansas Razorbacks will fare next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.