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Just as it appeared Kentucky had secured a reunion with Orlando Antigua, Illinois is making a late push to keep the coveted assistant coach.
According to KSR’s Matt Jones, Illinois has made a counteroffer that would make Antigua the highest-paid assistant coach in all of college basketball.
Adam Zagoria says it’s a deal that would pay Antigua over $1 million per season.
Two sources tell KSR that Illinois has made a “substantial” counteroffer to Orlando Antigua to keep him in Champaign
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 22, 2021
If Kentucky matches, he will likely end up in Lexington. The offer would make him the highest paid Assistant coach in College Basketball
One source said the Illinois offer is for 4 years at more than $1M per https://t.co/NkADjCrbgj
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 22, 2021
This shouldn’t come as a surprise based on what Kyle Tucker reported at The Athletic earlier today. Tucker says that Kentucky was already set to give Antigua a deal that could make him the highest-paid assistant in America, so it looks like that’s exactly what must be done to get Coach O back to Lexington.
The deal with Antigua, an ace recruiter who was a key cog in the glory days of the Calipari era at Kentucky, is all but done and could make him the highest-paid assistant in college basketball.
Kentucky is already in a battle to land fellow Illinois assistant Chin Coleman, and it looks like another battle is heating up to secure Antigua’s services.
Seeing as how Kentucky has already lost Tony Barbee and Joel Justus, it’s hard to see John Calipari letting Antigua slip away this late in the game.