During a break at the Southeastern Conference Spring Meeting in Destin, Fla., Wednesday, reporters caught up with Kentucky Coach John Calipari and asked for his reaction to The New York Times' story reporting an ongoing NCAA investigation into Eric Bledsoe's eligibility.

"I'm not," Calipari said before restarting his response. "We responded to it. I'm not going to respond to that stuff."

When asked about his name being linked to NBA coaching jobs, Calipari was direct.

"I made my statement," he said. "The only people who seemed not to believe me were you guys (reporters). But, I've said, I'm going to be at Kentucky next year. I don't need to say anything else."

Calipari compared being Kentucky coach to a high-profile political position.

"You've got your core group that absolutely loves you and the others are trying to unseat you," he said. "It's just how it is at the University of Kentucky. ...

"You try to win every game, not try to win most games."

Calipari noted how he aims for success on the court and in the classroom. Although his first Kentucky team posted two of the four worst semester grade-point averages since UK began tracking that number in the fall of 2001, Calipari said he expected the program to have a high Academic Progress Rate, "maybe as high as it's ever been," when the NCAA announces APR numbers for the 2009-10 school year.

"I'd rather not have (controversy in the program), but I can't control it if someone chooses to write something," the UK coach said. "I don't have any control."

Calipari donates $1 million

Calipari has donated $1 million to the Streets Ministries organization in Memphis where he once coached.

The money is payable over five years to the group, which works to help underprivileged children in Memphis.

According to The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, the money comes with no restrictions on its use.

Calipari said in a statement that he and his wife are constantly looking for alliances that serve their mission of helping underprivileged children in both Kentucky and Memphis.

Calipari coached Memphis from 2000 until leaving for Kentucky a year ago.

UK recruits to try out for USA team

Kentucky recruits Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague are among 19 high school players chosen to try out for a USA team that will play in the U-17 World Championships.

The players will attend the USA Basketball Men's Developmental National Team's training camp June 18-24 at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

The USA training camp will be used to select the 12-member 2010 USA U-17 World Championship Team and the four players who will represent the U.S. in the 3-on-3 basketball competition at the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games, according to a USA Basketball release.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.