1 / 12

Best NBA Players John Calipari and Rick Pitino Coached in College - As No. 8 Kentucky tips off against fourth-seeded Louisville in the NCAA Tournament’s must-see Sweet 16 matchup of Friday night, two components remain evident: John Calipari and Rick Pitino are two of the best coaches in the country. Saluting Coach Cal and Pitino, BET.com compiled this list of the 10 best NBA players whom they coached in college.(Photos: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

2 / 12

Derrick Rose - Before becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and going on to being named Rookie of the Year (2009) and NBA MVP (2011), Derrick Rose was the main cog in Coach Cal’s dribble-drive offense at Memphis.(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

3 / 12

John Wall - Another John Calipari-coached No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft (2010), John Wall made it to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team in 2011 and was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his young career this year.(Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images)

4 / 12

Demarcus Cousins - Under Coach Cal at Kentucky, Demarcus Cousins averaged 15 points and nearly 10 rebounds and two blocks per game in helping to lead Kentucky to the Elite Eight of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He was then named to the NBA’s 2011 All-Rookie First Team after being the fifth overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

5 / 12

Anthony Davis - After playing a year for Coach Calipari at Kentucky and leading the Wildcats to the 2012 NCAA Tournament championship victory, Anthony Davis became the No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft. Davis enjoyed his first All-Star selection this year.(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

6 / 12

Marcus Camby - Before Coach Cal started recruiting blue-chip talent at Memphis and Kentucky, his first big-time star was UMass standout Marcus Camby. The 6-foot 11-inch defensive standout was the second overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft after winning the Naismith College Player of the Year Award. In the pros he was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in the 2006-07 season.   (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

7 / 12

Eric Bledsoe - Bledsoe played beside John Wall on another one of Coach Cal's stacked squads at Kentucky. After a few seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Bledsoe has become a valuable guard with an explosive upside for the Phoenix Suns.(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

8 / 12

Jamal Mashburn - After three solid years (1990-93) at Kentucky playing for Coach Rick Pitino, Jamal Mashburn went on to be a prolific NBA scorer in 12 seasons in the league. Mash's achievements included a 2003 NBA All-Star appearance. (Photo: Craig Jones/Allsport/Getty Images)

9 / 12

Antoine Walker - Way before Antoine Walker became one of the many faces for pro athletes going bankrupt, he enjoyed a solid basketball career. Walker won an NCAA championship with a Rick Pitino-led Kentucky in 1996 and was a three-time NBA All-Star. Not bad.(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

10 / 12

Ron Mercer - Ron Mercer’s career never reached superstardom in the NBA, but he was a serviceable player for eight seasons after winning a national championship at Kentucky.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images)

11 / 12

Tony Delk - Tony Delk won an NCAA championship with Antoine Walker while playing for Rick Pitino at Kentucky. The athletic guard spent 11 seasons in the NBA as key role player on several teams. Not a shabby basketball career.(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

12 / 12

Derek Anderson - Derek Anderson was a part of Kentucky’s 1996 championship-winning team as well and went on to play in the NBA for nine years.(Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)