Watch: Rick Pitino has classy message for new Kentucky coach

Kentucky announced on Friday that Mark Pope has been named the school’s new head basketball coach and it would be hard to find someone who is more excited about the hire than St. John's HC Rick Pitino.

Pitino, who coached at Kentucky from 1989-97, shared a video on social media Friday congratulating Pope – his former player – on landing the Wildcats job. Pitino mentioned how more high-profile names like Jay Wright, Dan Hurley and Billy Donovan were associated with Kentucky, but the 71-year-old believes Pope was the perfect candidate.

“The leader and captain of The Untouchables is coming home to lead the Wildcats,” Pitino said. “A lot of people out there talk about Jay Wright, Danny Hurley, Billy Donovan – they all had their trials and tribulations early on as well. But Mark Pope went into the Big 12 this year and beat Kansas at Kansas, beat Baylor at home, and in his first year got to the NCAA (Tournament). Mark Pope, offensively, no one does it better. … Mark Pope will go onto greatness, you can put it down.”

Pitino went on to call Pope “one of the premier young coaches in the game.” You can see the full video below: