I'd say Pitino has done OK. Tubby did not recruit well at UK, which is why he became known as Ten Loss Tubby, and was encouraged to leave.
Any top 150 player, which is where we need to be recruiting to be competitive in the ACC, has played a LOT of basketball with other top players before they step on campus. Physically they develop in college, and college coaches teach scheme, but top basketball players are more prepared to be ready for the college game when they step foot on campus than are top football players. Recruiting is job one in every sport, but so much more so in basketball.