While the number may see low for talent from a border state, you'd have to imagine not a lot of top-flight kids got out of the state to begin with with two major programs (although truthfully, Louisville wasn't on the MAJOR scene until the 1960's-70's but were a NAIB (now NAIA) power, and two solid Mids with WKU and Murray.
Those kids that did go elsewhere likely went to the SoCo (pre-SEC/ACC) or SEC/ACC first--and that likely was magnified when you add in that BU's team was integrated from 1953-on.
Jim Les has been recruiting Kentucky the last few years, more than in the past, and more than previous coaches. But we either lost out or dropped off the following good recruits (click on name to see more)- Ricardo Johnson and Josh Sewell in 2010, Vee Sanford and C.J. Penny in 2009, Shelvin Mack in 2008, and Steffphon Pettigrew in 2007.