THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CORAL GABLES - John Calipari is heading to Kentucky to coach the Wildcats. And some of the members of this top-ranked recruiting class may be going with him.
Calipari flew to Lexington, Ky. Tuesday night to finalize details on the deal and Memphis has scheduled a press conference Wednesday to discuss the future of the program - which may not include some of the nation's top prospects.
Xavier Henry, a 6-foot-6 guard from Oklahoma City, Okla., signed a letter of intent with Memphis in November, but at a McDonald's All-American game press conference early Tuesday when Calipari's status with the Tigers was still in question, Henry said he could be looking for a new school if Calipari took the Kentucky job.
"If he did leave I would consider everybody," Henry said. "I would reopen everything. Take a whole new evaluation on everything, everybody, and try to make another good decision of where I want to go."
Henry, the No. 1-ranked player according to ESPN.com, picked Memphis over Kansas as he elected to play with his brother C.J., a freshman point guard at Memphis. Henry's parents were expected to move to Memphis to watch their sons.
"It's definitely disappointing," Henry said. "I prepared my family to all go down there and play with my brother, but it's just another bump in the road."
Henry is part of a Calipari recruiting class that is ranked No. 1 in the country by Rivals.com and Scout.com.
The smooth-shooting 225-pound lefty from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City, averaged 26.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.3 steals as a senior.
Henry, who would have to be granted his release from his letter of intent, is not the only Memphis recruit participating in the McDonald's All-American game who is in limbo. DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-foot-11 center from Mobile, Ala., would also reconsider his verbal commitment he made to the Tigers in early March.
"I'm really just kind of lost right now," Cousins said.
Cousins, the fourth-ranked player who patterns his game after Amare Stoudemire, picked Memphis over Kansas State and Washington, said he the Wildcats would be an option if Calipari took the job.
"I would consider Kentucky," Cousins said. "I would open it all the way back up."
Cousins spoke to Calipari Tuesday morning about his intentions.
"He basically just said he's considering the job or whatever, but he hasn't made a decision," Cousins said. "I'm basically waiting like everybody else to see what's going to happen."
Lance Stephenson, one of the nation's top undecided players, was also a hot topic on Tuesday, one day before the 32nd annual McDonald's All-American game.
Stephenson, who is considering Kansas, St. John's, and Maryland, was expected to announce his college intentions on Tuesday morning, but has delayed his announcement.
"It is a tough decision because this is my life,' Stephenson said. "I want to go somewhere where I'm comfortable and can play at."
The 6-foot-6 athletic forward from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. does not know when he will make his decision.
"I don't know right now," Stephenson said. "My father and I are going to talk about it and hopefully it is soon."
