Jayhawks get Xavier

[Pistons < Spurs]

KU beats out UK for Henry brothers

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | Print Entry

Kansas continued to cement its status as the top team for the 2009-10 season with the addition of Xavier Henry, which will reportedly become official at a Thursday news conference.

The Jayhawks had the spot once the entire starting five returned, including potential lottery pick Cole Aldrich and possible first-round pick Sherron Collins. Kansas, defending its national title, lost to Michigan State in the Sweet 16 after winning the Big 12 title outright.

A source close to Memphis said Xavier's brother, walk-on C.J. Henry, told Memphis coach Josh Pastner on Wednesday that he and his brother were going to attend Kansas next season. Xavier Henry was also considering Kentucky. C.J. Henry, who sat out this past season at Memphis, isn't on scholarship because of a financial package he received from being in the New York Yankees' minor league system.

Xavier Henry, ranked No. 3 in the ESPU100, initially chose Memphis and then-head coach John Calipari over Kansas in the fall. He signed with the Tigers and can't sign two national letters of intent, so technically he's not bound to Kansas either.

Assuming he's sticks with KU, though, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Oklahoma City will give the Jayhawks a third scorer to go with Collins and Aldrich, making the team even more productive offensively. C.J. Henry would likely be a backup point guard and doesn't cost the Jayhawks a scholarship.

Henry's decision could have a positive impact on a good friend of Kansas coach Bill Self, former assistant Norm Roberts of St. John's. KU was also recruiting shooting guard Lance Stephenson of Brooklyn's Lincoln High. But Henry's decision could mean Stephenson, No. 12 in our rankings, chooses the hometown Red Storm, a much-needed get for Roberts in his rebuilding process in Queens. Stephenson also has Maryland high on his list.

The other elite player still undecided is program-changing point guard John Wall of Raleigh's Word of God Christian Academy. Wall has a lengthy list that includes Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina State, Miami, Baylor, Florida, Oregon, Memphis and at times North Carolina and Kansas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4089425&name=katz_andy

[DMX7]

Coach Cal really destroyed Memphis. They're going after Juco players now... My have they fallen in just 1 year.

Is Memphis going to let him out of his letter though?

[Pistons < Spurs]

By picking the Kansas Jayhawks, 2009 recruit Xavier Henry (Oklahoma City/Putnam City) has made one of the preseason favorites considerably better.

Of course, this was Henry's second time through the recruiting process. In November, he committed to Memphis. He opened things back up when John Calipari took the head coaching job at Kentucky.

This decision came down to where Henry felt most comfortable. His brother C.J. also was familiar with Kansas; he had committed to the Jayhawks before electing to pursue a professional baseball career. C.J. will try to walk on at Kansas next season. (He has to file a waiver with the NCAA to play right away after redshirting at Memphis.)

Both Calipari and Kansas coach Bill Self cultivated relationships with Henry, and Henry's experience getting recruited by Kansas over the years was a positive one. Although he was very close with Calipari, he probably was more familiar with the players at Kansas.

Recent recruiting developments

Xavier Henry wasn't the only blue chip prospect to make a major decision Thursday. ESPNU 100 recruits Nolan Dennis and Daniel Miller both made commitments that could impact ESPN.com's final recruiting class rankings. On the Trail

• Basketball recruiting index

Henry, who announced his decision to attend Kansas on Thursday, is the nation's No. 3 recruit and one of the best perimeter scorers in the Class of 2009. With Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins returning to Kansas, Henry should be a complement to the Jayhawks' All-American upperclassmen. Henry's 3-point shooting ability will create space for Aldrich down low and give Collins another weapon to look for in transition and off penetration.

With so much returning talent in Lawrence, Henry won't be under a ton of pressure. He should slide right in at the on the wing -- playing next to Collins and Tyshawn Taylor.

Henry's athleticism and effort should help him be a great fit at KU. Kansas plays pressure defense, especially on the wings, which can lead to many transition baskets. In the half court, the Jayhawks often look to a high-low set that could give Henry plenty of open looks from outside.

Kansas also likes to run many high-ball screens, which should be beneficial to Henry; he can turn those opportunities into high-percentage shots. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Henry is his size. He stands 6-foot-6 and possesses an NBA-ready body (weighing in around 230 pounds). When he gets in the lane, Henry carries the defender on his hip and finishes through contact with ease.

Henry completes a stellar recruiting class for Self. The Jayhawks also will bring in ESPNU 100 prospects PF Thomas Robinson (Washington, D.C./Brewster Academy, N.H.) and G Elijah Johnson (Las Vegas/Cheyenne). Robinson is a low-post bruiser who hits the boards with tenacity. Johnson is a terrific playmaking guard who can play either the 1 or 2. In our most recent recruiting class rankings, Kansas checked in at No. 22, but will be significantly higher in our final tally at the end of the late signing period.

Henry's committing to Kansas means SG Lance Stephenson (Lincoln/N.Y.) will be headed elsewhere. Stephenson, one of the nation's top uncommitted recruits, was strongly considering Kansas when Henry opened his recruiting process back up. Now it looks to be a two-horse race between St. John's and Maryland for Stephenson's services.


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/columns/story?columnist=biancardi_paul&id=4091209

[Pistons < Spurs]

:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang:bang

Henrys may pass on KU


Touted basketball recruits Xavier and C.J. Henry will meet with their parents Tuesday night in Oklahoma City, Okla., to discuss whether they will honor their commitment to the University of Kansas or attempt to play at Kentucky.

Their decision could greatly impact the balance of power in college basketball next season. Most preseason predictions have Kansas as the No. 1 team and Kentucky No. 2.

Carl Henry, Xavier and C.J.’s father, told Kansas City radio station 610 Sports on Tuesday that his sons are having second thoughts about becoming Jayhawks following an article in Sunday’s edition of The Kansas City Star.

In the article, Carl Henry was quoted as saying his eldest son, C.J., was better than Kansas guard and national player of the year candidate Sherron Collins. He also said he didn’t expect either son to spend more than one season at Kansas, and that the reason the two didn’t enroll in summer school was because they didn’t like attending class.

Also, during his interview with the Star, Carl Henry reportedly hit “ignore” on his cell phone when a call came in from Kansas coach Bill Self.

Although he never claimed he was misquoted, Henry said he didn’t like the way he and his sons were portrayed in the article.

“The guy that wrote that story betrayed my whole family,” Carl Henry told 610 Sports. “He kind of made us look bad, like my kids are prima donnas and all I do is talk.”

The Star issued a statement through assistant managing editor for Sports, Holly Lawton.

“We understand this is a sensitive issue for the Henry family and the University of Kansas. However, the story was well reported and fair. At this point, no one is questioning its accuracy.”

The article has caused quite a buzz among Kansas fans, some of whom have criticized the Henry family on Internet message boards. Carl Henry said the scrutiny has caused his sons to reconsider their college options.

Xavier Henry, the No. 8-ranked recruit in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com, originally signed with Memphis, where his brother C.J. redshirted last season. Xavier, though, got out of his letter of intent when former Tigers coach John Calipari left for Kentucky. Calipari attempted to recruit the Henry brothers to Lexington, but they chose Kansas instead. Carl Henry and his ex-wife, Barbara, both played basketball at Kansas. Kentucky currently has one scholarship available.

“If it wasn’t for his momma saying, ‘I wouldn’t move down to Kentucky,’ then Xavier would’ve been at Kentucky,” Carl Henry said. “So Xavier said, ‘I’m going to Kansas’ even though that is what he wanted to do, to go to Kentucky and play under Coach Calipari. I expressed that to Coach Self and told him.

“Now that all this stuff has been said, his mom doesn’t care where he goes. So guess what? The kid may have a change of mind. That’s what I told Coach Self. If the kid has a change of mind, so what? So be it.”



http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-henrys063009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns