Veteran Connecticut prep coach knows he can always count on John Calipari

[William F Hansford]

John Calipari has had four straight No. 1 recruiting classes at Kentucky, but one legendary Connecticut high school coach still knows one “sore spot” when it comes to Calipari and recruiting.

“When he was a young squirt at Massachusetts, he recruited one of my players (Chris Watts) who was a very good point guard,” said Vito Montelli, the coach for the last 50 years at St. Joseph in Trunbull, Conn. “The kid went for a visit, but John’s staff decided he was too small, too thin and favored another guy. He came back and said, ‘Those guys do not act like they want me.’ They recruited another Connecticut boy who had some issues. My player goes to Providence and not only starts four years and has a terrific career, but plays in Europe for 13 years. He still has the NIT record for point scored.

“That’s all still a sore spot with John. I don’t like to remind John much about that because we are good friends and he’s had success wherever he’s gone. But he missed out on that one.”

Montelli, 80, has 878 career wins and won his 11th state title this season. He asked Calipari in March if he might speak at the team banquet and when he told Calipari the date was May 9, he found out Calipari was already scheduled to be in New York the night before.

“He said he would do everything he could to be there and he eventually confirmed he would come. That’s the kind of guy he is,” Montelli said. “We have over 300 at our dinner. We’ve never had more than 115 or 120. It was not only kids, but fans. The area people really came out.

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