Just when you thought it was safe to bring out the summer grill and forget about some of these people, a few of our favorite college basketball names are back in the news.
**A Kentucky basketball blog says Xavier Henry is not happy at Kansas and that he could still end up at Kentucky. Henry initially committed to Memphis and then changed his mind after John Calipari took the Kentucky job.
Sources say Henry will not attend the first summer school session at Kansas but that Xavier and his brother, C.J., still plan on attending the school. Xavier also just worked the last four days at a Kansas camp with the players in Wichita. The family has made no official comment.
**Speaking of Calipari, an Open Letter to Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. on Kentucky.com blisters Calipari for the latest recruiting scandal and his track record in that department.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Furthermore, Dr. Todd, you better hope that Calipari’s recruitment of mega-prospects John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins — which began on Memphis’ recruiting budget and ended with signatures on Kentucky letters of intent — was on the up-and-up.
Every media outlet with an investigative capacity has incentive now to take a fresh look at how Calipari’s program was operating.”
Another column follows up on the “Outside the Lines” story that ran on ESPN this weekend.
Memphis Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins said it was “simplistic” to divide the college basketball world into good guys and bad guys.
“The fact is there’s a lot of people in the world who have mixed feelings about John,” he said. “So I think it’s simplistic to say the higher you go, the more shots you take. Because I can name people pretty darn high who don’t have the reputation John has.”
**Finally, the Washington Post has a rather unflattering story out today on Lance Stephenson. It all seems pretty accurate to us.
I hope, for his sake, Lance’s situation is settled soon and he finds a suitable place. Time is running short.
Kentucky people are cracking me up more and more every day. The original rumor came from a twitter account and it said Xavier was visiting UCLA. Of course Kentucky bloggers ran with that and decided he wanted to come live next to the NCAA camp in Lexington.
I’m starting to feel bad for Kentucky. Besides the lumps they’re taking for hiring Calipari, now apparently Wall is negotiating with a Greek team through Sonny Vaccarro. Thought being that he didn’t pass his SAT and knew with the Rose situation he couldn’t go that route.
http://kentucky.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1150&tid=128709120&mid=128709120&sid=888&style=2
Woops, thread deleted. Probably just a rumor…
Well, the Kentucky blogs are picking it up as something to discuss, for whatever that’s worth:
http://www.allkyhoops.com/2009/05/uks-2009-recruiting-class-and-dribble.html#comments
lol…..livininmn…..Just reading your post from yesterday. Obviously you have a slant too. So be it. We are all here to share our perspectives. But name calling does nothing for your reputation on this site and to think that if Memphis officials knew that the kid cheated on his SAT’s, and then the NCAA won’t do anything about it, well, that sounds a bit naive to me. You are welcome to your opinion, but that is mine.
And, factually speaking, Tucson is much, much closer to Nogales than Phoenix. Look it up on a map. I think you were perhaps confusing Tempe (ASU) with Tucson (Arizona).
Also, no doubt about it, you might not like it, but the best college ball, between the ACC and the Big East, over the last decade and more, is being played on the east coast. That’s not just my opinion, and I’m not saying that there are not other good teams around the country, of course there are, but just check out the RPI ratings. Year after year the ACC and Big East conferences come out on top.
Anyway, here is an article from today’s Washington Post. I thought it was somewhat interesting, so I thought I’d share it for others here.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content//article/2009/05/31/AR2009053102146.html
Adam Zagoria shows absolutely no journalistic credibility; I, actually being a sports journalist for a DC metropolitan area newspaper, would know to disregard a story from a Kentucky basketball blog hoping vainly, and making out of the ballpark remarks that out of nowhere, Xavier Henry is suddenly angry about being in Kansas. Obviously, Kentucky fans will make something like that up, because thats what they want to see happen.
The sheer amateurism of your blog, Mr. Zagoria, is too much for me to fathom.
Oooops, my bad. Didn’t mean to repost an article that was mentioned in the story above. Still, it is an interesting story and deserves a read.
Oh, c’mon. He specifically says that it’s unfounded blog BS. He’s writing in a BLOG not a PAPER so is allowed a lot more leeway on what is newsworthy. Step off the high horse.
Apparently Wall isn’t a rocket scientist after all. The question that most are asking is if his plea agreement for the breaking and entering will allow him to leave the country. It would be up to the judge but you generally get a lot of leeway for livelihood, which this would obviously be considered…
The interblogs are exploding today about this. Must be because the playoffs are finally over and Kentucky fans are trying to do something to keep them away from pesky work.
http://www.aseaofblue.com/2009/5/16/877440/the-dribble-drive-motion-offense-a#comments
Hmmmm……Well in Adam’s defense, I don’t think we are looking for newspaper quality credibility here. The site specializes in keeping day-to-day tabs on the college basketball recruiting scene, and that’s what we get, rumors and all. Granted, the site takes a lot more freedom than most newspaper blogs would ever think of doing.
Obviously some stories posted here are from more credible sources than other stories, but the source of the story is always mentioned and when an un-named source is used the reader can take that for what it is.
ImNotTelling:
I was a newspaper reporter for 10 years and I know enough to investigate leads when I get them. You’re telling me that if you saw an unsubstantiated blog report with big news, you wouldn’t report it out and make the necessary phone calls?
As it turns out, Xavier is not attending the first session of summer school and the family has not yet moved to Lawrence.
Does he still end up at KU? Probably, but you have to at least report it out.
Sounds like you’re one heckuva reporter, bro.
Adam’s right to report this. Have you gotten any more info than the blogs about Wall/Vacarro/Greece etc?
Also, when reading about Wall and Greece I came up with this gem:
http://www.truebluekentucky.com/index.php/forums/2-true-blue-hoops/393200-brooks-hansen-who-i-respect-and-trust-said-this-on-a-memphis-board.html?pth=395095&nth=393432
Apparently the big bloggers (which as we see in AZs post above are sometimes completely speculating) from both Kentucky and Memphis believe that the Calipari camp is afraid of what Memphis will reveal when they ‘cooperate’ with the Rose investigation. They believe this might be Memphis’s way out of the mud (while throwing Kentucky into the mud). It also could take a year or so for the NCAA to rule on Calipari and Memphis.
ImNotTelling:
The Henry news is also coming from a variety of blogs and sources, and the Kansas mainstream media is investigating it by making calls and texts.
You are either a moron or a very lazy reporter, or both.
I wanted to pass along that the article you linked here is about Kentucky’s 2009 recruiting class and how they will fit into the DDM offense.
Also, the site you referenced http://www.allkyhoops.com passed along the Xavier Henry rumor and clearly stated that it was just a rumor from another blog.
I just wanted to clear that up.
I think you do excellent work, Adam. I have always found your info to be credible. In fact, I am going to add your site to the favorite links section on my site.
Keep up the good work!
Just let it go. He obviously doesn’t understand the difference between a blog and an article. For the record, Xavier has been telling various folks that the rumor (false) started with this guy (a Kentucky fan who X also says he has never met):
http://twitter.com/mosesdupre
Xavier is apparently pretty light hearted (and amazed) by the power of social networking…
I do wonder about the Wall to Greece rumors though since they were started by the same site… Seems like that’s a real possibility since he hasn’t qualified and the NCAA will obviously be watching this one closely.
Bottom line is that WE as Kentucky Basketball will never recover if Calipari is found guilty of anything. Its a sad state of affairs for any team, let alone such a storied one as ours.
Please let Calipari be as good as we all hope…
How so?
Being a fan from AZ, I’ll admit I wanted to get Calipari after Lute Olsen retired. It’s well known that he is one of the slimiest coaches out there, but the bottom line is he got the best recruits. Unfortunately for you Kentucky fans, you took a risk on Calipari and now it might come back to haunt you.
Wall ….Cousins ….Dodson ….Bledsoe …… Orton …Hood …and now Xavier THE MAGNIFICANT SEVEN
Wall ….Cousins ….Dodson ….Bledsoe …… Orton …Hood …and now Xavier THE MAGNIFICANT SEVEN
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…. enjoy it while it lasts pastaboy, because Calipari is going to bring Kentucky down just as fast as he brought them up.
Looks like Meeks may stay in the draft so Cal let Xavier know he had a spot for him …….LOL ….you guys just don’t get it do you? …..Cal rules college basketball and now Ky. does to
Adam….I like you man, you’re fiery like I am! Anyway, I would like to know how credible you personally feel the Xavier Henry rumor is. From what I’ve seen and heard, there doesn’t seem to be much substance to this at all…..
The Xavier rumors are simply made up and not true. I could go post a blog on a KU website about Eric Bledsoe being upset and wanting to attend Louisville and it would take off! People love gossip. Especially Kentucky people who apparently have nothing else better to do.
Xavier Henry will be starting for the 2009-2010 NCAA Champion KANSAS JAYHAWKS!!
Adam, you do a great job bro. I visit your site everyday. Dont let some of these fools get ya down!
After John, the used car dealer, ruins another college program, maybe he should turn to helping the auto industry. I think the Henry’s are smart enough to stay away from this recent pending situation. Xavier and CJ want to play together in college(CJ is currently enrolled at KU). They had a chance to follow to UK, but maybe knew of pending problems. I think you will see Xavier and CJ in Crimson and Blue
Kentucky thought they were buying a Cadillac instead the bought a lemon.
UK can have the best recruiting class ever but once the NCAA investigates the SAT scores for UK recruits and the dealings of William Wesley – Kentucky will have to forfeit all the games Cal wins (like at UMASS & Memphis) and will face a long probation.
I think the Henrys remain at Kansas and most of the UK class will not be eligible.
I could post this on mu blog and somebody would believe it to be gospel.
I’d say the Xavier story has legs ……after all Cal was his 1st choice ….now he realizes that most of the guys followed Cal to Ky to win a NC and now he’s left behind with a stiff like Bill Self ……he wants to join Cal and be a part of history …..I wouldn’t be so quick to discount this story .
Haha a stiff like Bill Self? You mean a guy that has a National Title and Calipari doesnt? What an idiot you sound like pastaboy.
Even with Kentucky’s recruiting class, KU is still more loaded.
2 first team All Americans in Collins and Aldrich and the best coach in the nation…..Billy Self!
ROCK CHALK!!!
Why in the world would anyone be following Calipari for a chance to win a national championship? Has he ever done so before? Obviously that recruit wouldn’t be taking into consideration that even if they DID win a title, it would probably be vacated a few years down the road.
I apologize if I’d rather hear Adam’s take on this as opposed to you and the “Jordan Chapman homer UK blog”……..
Pastaboy if stiff you mean running a clean basketball program then yes Self is a stiff. By those standards Calipari a.k.a.”let it burn” a.k.a. “trainwreck” would be a wet noodle (something you can relate too). The Xavier story has legs as much the person slanting the story wants it to have legs. He was never “left” behind…the option to follow Cal was always on the table.
X just decided you don’t have to sell your soul (go to Kentuck) to have a shot at a national championship.
From TheShiver.com admin.
——————————————————————————–
Sorry, but I have been without a computer all day until now.
X texted this to me earlier….”I don’t even know who Moses Dupre is, so that should tell you something.”
I have no clue who he is either.
Link to site
http://messageboard.theshiver.com/showthread.php?t=3202&page=2
This all started with some dudes “Twitter” who lives in OKC supposedly. What gave this rumor any legs is that X isn’t attending Summer Classes, obviously a Kentucky skeezler wanted to stir up the water.
AZ,
So, I hear that there is ONE HONEST MEMPHIS fan ,after all.
And UK has reason to be concerned.
What if this HONEST MEMPHIS fans indicated that Cali was aware of the M- flow from UM to Rose? Yes, more than $2200.00
“both Kentucky and Memphis believe that the Calipari camp is afraid of what Memphis will reveal when they ‘cooperate’ with the Rose investigation. They believe this might be Memphis’s way out of the mud (while throwing Kentucky into the mud). “
No Calipari bashing on any Memphis dealings
John is the best thing to happen to the corruption happening with UK basketball for the past 60 years. He will be cleaner than Rupp, Sutton (who was thrown under the UK bus), etc. and anyone else involved with UK’s corrupt boosters and fans.
So let’s just bash UK with all their BTDs – Booster Transmitted Diseases
Never should have let go of Tubby….
All this over an eminem look-alike’s twitter remark. Good stuff.
Seems the Wall to Greece story has far better legs. I guess Adam picked the wrong unsubstantiated rumor to lead his story with.
Well, this IS actually news:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4222106&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_4222106
Apparently Memphis knew as of May 2008 that Rose’s score was likely to be invalid. If Cal skates and leaves Memphis holding the bag would anyone blame them if they told the NCAA where the bodies were buried?
So now the Kentucky blogs are saying that both Wall and Cousins are heading to Europe because of the Rose fallout. Honestly, if they haven’t qualified by now maybe it’s not the worst idea.
FWIW, everyone in basketball should have seen this coming. If Vacarro was a stock, I’d be buying all day long. He seems to always be the leader of the band on basketball trends…
Of course take that for what it’s worth. They’re saying Cousins is looking at Germany which I don’t think there’s a big American contingent and I’m not sure the competition is up to the Greece/Italy standards there so I’m not sure I’m buying it. Maybe for the right money though…
according to a Louisville Cardinal site ……Xavier is upset with “promises” made by Bill Self ( the stiff) …..and …..he has NOT signed any schorarship papers or another LOI ( which he couldn’t anyway) …so is essentially like a free agent now …..also he is convinced Meeks will stay in the draft ……looks like the Magnificent Seven will ride again
Interesting, as a Louisville fan myself (and StJohns of course) I frequent their boards and haven’t see this. Could you link (and also explain how on earth a Louisville fan would be in the know about a Kansas player from Oklahoma City). TIA.
AZ,
JUNE 6 is the big date…..OPEN meeting for the public??
Looks like there will be a CONNECTION between Memphis and Cali….violations.
William Wesley, an enigmatic figure believed to wield a mysterious influence in recruiting circles, stood in the Memphis team picture when the Tigers won a regional finals to advance to the 2008 Final Four.
Geoff Calkins, a columnist for the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, recalled that scene Friday when asked about a stinging comment he made earlier in the day about John Calipari.
“John runs programs where [B][SIZE="3"]scoundrels[/SIZE][/B] have the run of the place,” Calkins said on ESPN’s Outside the Lines.
The NCAA asked Cali to appear at a hearing on the allegations before the Committee on Infractions June 6.
Calkins linked the openness of Calipari’s program to the allegation of a person outside the official party having [B]a seat on the chartered plane or a room at the team hotel.[/B]
“None of this is particularly shocking at all,” Calkins said.
“But it’s not just scoundrels. It’s some of the [B]highest and mightiest of Memphis[/B].”
Calkins recalled a Memphis area developer in line at the end of the Memphis home game shaking hands with the opponents.
“If you’re a friend of John’s, you can sort of do whatever you want,” Calkins said.
Calipari, who conducted an interview on Wednesday from Destin, Fla., for the ESPN program, suggested that the NCAA allegations were a byproduct of success.
“The higher you climb, the more they’re taking shots at you,” he told ESPN basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes. “It’s the price you pay for the space you occupy.”
Calkins did not accept that argument.
“I don’t think people are going after Roy Williams,” the columnist said of the North Carolina coach. “I don’t think people go after Mike Krzyzewski (of Duke). I don’t think people go after Tom Izzo (of Michigan State), and he’s as high-flying a college basketball coach as there’s been in recent years.”
ChrisMullin,
Can you post the link where you are seeing the Cousins rumor?
Thanks!
Fyi X. Henry has signed a scholarship in grant agreement with Kansas and NCAA By-laws would require him to pay his own way this year if he were to transfer. Also CJ is currently enrolled student at KU(he attended the first summer session) and since he has used his one time “non recruited exemption” he would have to sit out a year if he were to attend another school(something he has stated will not happen).
AZ,
In order to protect the ONE HONEST Memphis fan ….we have the columnist be the FACE of the honest Memphis fan.
Memphis columnist says program is full of ‘scoundrels’!
Yikes, way to kill a good internet rumor.
Wanted to make sure I had all my facts straight before I launched a fire suppressor. Do you have a link to the Cousin’s Stuff?
Seems like they might not even play a game together before he brings them down. The world is cruel like that, the faster you rise the easier it is to fall.
Probably just speculation at this point though they claim ‘sources’. Who doesn’t claim sources these days. I say if you’re posting on a message board just leave out the sources since no one’s going to believe them. Anyway, this is the thread on CatsPause (behind rivals premier wall though):
http://kentucky.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1150&tid=1287418&mid=128741812&sid=888&style=2
Where did you find the info about the grant agreement. My recollection was a scholly wasn’t binding for the player though you’re right on about the brother. Once he attends class he can’t transfer again without penalty- this actually happened to a hair-brained baseball playing friend of mine.
Ha, this Dupre cat is smooth. He’s now backtracking and complaining about all the rumors he actually started:
Right now look for xavier to suit up for the jayhawks unless u here different from me or somebody else.
22 minutes ago from web
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That’s not true. The family gave self 12 days to work things out. To say xavier to uk is totally premature. Ill keep u updated.
24 minutes ago from web
*****interesting timeline that 12 days, lol
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folks, some of u need to calm down! u r taking what i said and think xavier is headed to uk
28 minutes ago from web
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This all despite that Xavier told Rivals.com that the rumors are BS and he’s never heard of or met this Dupre character. The attention probably seemed cool until he realized that his actual photo was on the twitter site and he now had 2 giant fan bases watching his account and reading his speculation as fact.