LEXINGTON, KY. ? All indications suggest that University of Memphis coach John Calipari is Kentucky’s choice to lead its basketball program.

Kentucky president Lee Todd declined to confirm that Calipari was the leading candidate Monday. But when asked about the process, Todd said, “It’s going to move quickly.”

As reporters staked out his office, Calipari remained in Memphis, meeting with his players and presumably pondering his options.

Randy Fishman, a University of Memphis athletic board member, said Calipari had said openly from the beginning of his tenure that one of the few jobs that ever could grab his attention was Kentucky’s.

Memphis athletics director R.C. Johnson confirmed that he had given his Kentucky counterpart, Mitch Barnhart, permission to talk with Calipari about replacing Billy Gillispie.