Memphis head coach John Calipari is reportedly considering bolting for Kentucky.
Coach John Calipari is spending Monday meeting with Memphis officials and contemplating what is expected to be a multiyear, multimillion-dollar offer to coach Kentucky, a source close to the situation said.
Calipari had a morning meeting with his players Monday to discuss his interest in the Kentucky opening, and players left convinced their coach would leave their program for Kentucky’s, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported, citing a source close to the situation.
Calipari met with Kentucky officials on Sunday at an undisclosed location, at which time he was given an outline on the length of a deal and contract dollars to succeed Billy Gillispie, the source said.
But more than the money, Calipari has to decide if he wants to leave a program in Memphis that he has transformed into a national championship contender for one of the most tradition-rich programs in the sport that has recently fallen upon hard times.
Calipari’s top recruit, DeMarcus Cousins, has made an oral commitment to Memphis, but because national letters of intent do not have to be signed until next month, Cousins could easily follow Calipari to Kentucky if he were to become the Wildcats’ coach.
Memphis is also a top destination for point guard John Wall, so he might follow Calipari to Kentucky as well if the coach decides to take the job. He has had great success at mid-major schools like UMass and Memphis, but can he have the same success one of the country’s proudest basketball programs? He’s a terrific recruiter and a good defensive coach, so I think he’d get Kentucky back into the top 10 in two or three years, tops.
