Could Xavier Henry be headed to Europe?
Xavier and his father Carl Henry told the Kansas City Star that a month after Xavier committed to play for Kansas the family looked into a deal that would have sent Xavier to Europe next season.
“You don’t have to take any classes,” Xavier told the newspaper.
The deal would’ve paid Xavier $1 million, but the snag was that they would not have known which team he would play for (Say what?).
“I’m the one going over there with him,” Carl said. “I’m not going over there where they’re fighting.”
In a separate interview with TheShiver.com, Carl confirmed that both Xavier and C.J. Henry would play for Kansas next year. He said both are hard at work for basketball season but are not working out with the team or attending summer school.
In August, they plan to work out with NBA players in L.A.
“We are going out to L.A. in August, like the 2nd-9th, to work out with a lot of pros out there. Paul Pierce, Derrick Rose, Sheldon Williams, and Tyreke Evans. I know a lot of those guys from my days and we think it will be great for them to work out with those guys,” Carl Henry said. “Blake Griffin and his brother Taylor both went out there and worked out in the past too.”
They will head to Kansas in mid-August.
“I think classes start somewhere around August 19th. I think we are heading up on like the 17th or so,” Henry said. “Both boys have been enrolled in classes.”
Americans heading to Europe instead of American colleges is a hot trend. Brandon Jennings did it last year and was the No. 10 pick of the recent NBA Draft.
Jeremy Tyler, a 6-10 big man from San Diego, will skip his senior year of high school and play two years overseas — potentially in Israel — before entering the 2011 NBA Draft.
Even Epiphanny Prince, a former Rutgers women’s player who once scored 113 points in a high school game, is leaving Rutgers to play overseas.
The recent news about Henry has even sparked some conspiracy theorists to mention to me that perhaps Lance Stephenson is holding out on his commitment to see exactly what Henry does.
If Henry were to go to Europe, Lance could theoretically wind up back at Kansas, his first choice all along.
More likely is that Stephenson, whose sexual assault case was adjourned until July 15, will end up at Cincinnati or somewhere else.
As for Henry and those in his class, Jeff Goodman has a 2010 mock NBA draft out and Henry is No. 6 behind John Wall, Derrick Favors, Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu and Renardo Sidney.
Devin Ebanks of Long Island City, N.Y. and a rising sophomore at West Virginia is No. 20; Tyshawn Taylor, Henry’s teammate at Kansas and a former standout for Bob Hurley at St. Anthony of Jersey City, is No. 26; and former Manhattan Rice and current UConn star Kemba Walker is No. 29.
Jeff, no fan of Lance Stephenson, has him as a “Wild Card.”
One NBA Draft expert told me Stephenson would have been a “late lottery” pick in this year’s draft had he been eligible, which he wasn’t because of the NBA age limit.
I’ll bet your account to log in to this website that he goes to KU.
Again idiocricy comes out, not “good” players which is vague and hard to define. You use subjective terms like “good” that are open for interpretation, not me. I said “one and done” since your a little bit of a tard, ONE AND DONES are a reference to College Basketball players who attend college and play basketball for one year, and then leave for the NBA. Put that in your “stupid emulsifier” and get back to me. I would love to hear your response.
Quit lying, you’re a Calipari fan and then a fan of wherever Calipari is coaching. Since Coach Cal is no longer at Memphis, quit pretending you care about the program here.
Nice post, ruckus,
Even though you called me an idiot for not knowing that pasta uses twisted and vague “facts” (which I DO know, I just enjoy making an ass out of him), I am willing to take the hit as long as it means ultra pasta-bashing.
And his response will probably just say “you’re stupid” because he can’t think of anything to come back with.
I don’t know if recruiting a one and done player is a strategy or just merely going after the best players you can get ……at a mid major school Cal couldn’t really be that choosey ……he didn’t have the luxury of a Carolina , Kansas , or Ucla …where top kids line up to get picked . Whatever his recruiting philosophy is …I’d say he’s done pretty well lately with a 136 and 13 record and 2 one seeds and 2 two seeds ….2 elite 8′s one final game and a sweet 16 in 4 years ……. at a mid major school in a high crime city …… like I’ve said before …next year we’ll see how he does playing all those top 50′s and in a BCS conference …yada yada yada …..my prediction is you ain’t gonna like what you see ….. btw the stupidity emulsifier agrees with you ……. who da thunk that ?
Prior to the 19 and under rule …Cal was 337 and 129 ….not bad for a guy coaching mid majors and whuppin up on the big boys .
Now I’m hearing Xavier is not only looking at Ky . ……but maybe going back to Memphis where CJ can plenty of pt ……. I’d say this is about 40/60
I heard he’s looking at UCLA.
Heard that several weeks ago ….all I know its dobtful he stays at Kansas now …..buh bye number 1 pre-season
They were consensus #1 before Xavier committed there. They’ll be consensus #1 if he goes elsewhere.
Won’t happen Ben….. without Henry KU drops out of the top 10
Interesting theory considering they were #1 by everyone before X joined the team. Your theories are always quite interesting though.
I saw pre-season polls that had Mich. st …..Ky ….. and Villanova number one prior to Xavier …never saw ku
” 1. Kansas: They were my No. 1 in April, and I found no reason why the Jayhawks shouldn’t stay there. They have too much returning to knock them off their perch. Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich each have a shot to be Big 12 Player of the Year. “- Andy Katz
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=4262039
Whoopsies
Does your mom’s basement not get the internet?
http://rushthecourt.net/2009/04/07/2009-10-insanely-too-early-rankings/
the nyt had it correct …10th without Xavier …thats where they will return to after he bolts
No that’s not why they put KU at 10:
“Clearly most everyone thinks Kansas is going to keep Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich around for another year. Fair pick there, but Pete Thamel at the NYT must think differently in that regard.”
Late last week, rumors surfaced that would have dropped Kansas out of that top spot in your college Top 25 ranking. Word was that the key piece of KU’s puzzle, Class of ‘09 standout Xavier Henry wouldn’t end up in Lawrence after all. There were some ambiguous rumblings about Henry being unhappy at KU. Kentucky fans since latched on to Xavier once more, hoping that this would re-open an opportunity for him to reunite with Coach Calipari.
…………….Andy Katz ………..ooops
Once again, read the link provided. Then look up the word aggregate so you’ll understand what you’re seeing.
Suffice it to say ….when Xavier leaves Kansas prior to this season …..Kansas will be a weaker team …and the team he goes to will be stronger ….Kansas can’t always rely on fluke happenings ( getting Xavier) to be a good program . Kansas needs to try and accomplish something on its own.
I’m not convinced of that. From what I read, the Henrys may be a cancer that would keep Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich from their championship.
the story just broke at rivals ………..http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-henrys063009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Wow, nothing like being 10 hours late in new media…
Wow guys ……….I like to razz you Ku guys about Xavier ….but it looks like he’s gone ……sorry man ….Memphis fans know what it feels like to lose a top recruit ……think what it would feel like to lose not only Henry .but Cousins , Wall , Dodson and Nolan Dennis too ……. truly sorry though …..but Hey …I told you it was 75/25 …… and earlier moved it to 90/10 ….. never doubt Pasta on these matters ….. and again I’m truly sorry .
Ben …its not the timing its the legitimacy of the story …when a real news source breaks it …its real .
Rivals is more legitimate than 2 Kansas City radio stations and Scout.com? I understand if you’re waiting on a major newspaper or ESPN to report it, but Rivals?
yeah Ben rivals …..you know the ones who rank these guys …the ones who broke the Calhoun mess
Yeah, I don’t think Kansas fans are going to cry too much about losing this guy considering all that has transpired. Especially considering the most admirable thing about Bill Self is his ability to get elite recruits to play as an unselfish team. The Henrys never seemed, to me at least, to be able to get past the name on the back of the jersey. Kansas will certainly be a favorite to win it all next year.
A lot of people rank these guys. Rivals is far from the best. Their ‘breaking stories’ are often rumors that don’t come to fruition. Not saying this one is true or not, just that rivals.com is not any more legitimate a source than talk radio.
Ben …I have only 5 things to say about that post ….1. John Wall 2. Xavier Henry 3. Demarcus Cousins 4. Patrick Patterson 5. Darnell Dodon …good luck though
Moving Pilgrim to Memphis makes more sense now ….. its a 3 way deal
What is 1 major disappointment that doesn’t want to play Cal’s system and 4 guys that have never played a game of D1 basketball?
yeah Ben ….. it’ll take a great coach to bring these guys together …..I agree
LOL. Yeah right you are sorry. LOL
Yep, looks like pasta called this one-
100/0 Henry goes to UK, no bullshit.
Rivals is reporting Self and Manning are on their way to OKC right now. Big Daddy Bill should just tell them to put up or shut up. This is so old.
With Xavier going to KY. …..maybe Bledsoe will get ticked off and ask out of his deal ….and come to Memphis and play along side EW …now that’s a backcourt
Oh man, this is getting nuts
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2009/jun/30/carl-henry-family-meet-tuesday-night-discuss-futur/
The more I read about this family the more I realize they are the poster family for the Calipari/WWW philosophy of college basketball and a good example of why the 1-and-done rule is bad for the game. A national championship is the furthest thing from their mind (well maybe besides attending class).
We have been edging towards this over the years, but this story seems to be a clear sign that we’re there.
The dad admits that he doesn’t want to go to KU because he’ll have to go to class?? Is Cal really claiming that he doesn’t have to go to class at Kentucky?
There’s something we can agree on. If Boeheim (who I consider only a slightly above average game coach) was the coach I’d have no problem with them as a top 3 team.
What would make you think that if he does not want to go to class he would go to UK…. Last I heard they have classes too……
Exactly. That’s why it’s so odd that Carl says some of the things about Self making X go to class, etc.
Relax guys ……I now make it 50/50 that Self and Manning mend the fences ….. of course the Henry’s will be running the team and Bill the Stiff will have no respect from the other players and Ku could implode to a disasterous season ……. a top coach with stature like a coach K or a Cal would tell the Henry’s to take a hike .
FYI… Memphis beat Texas A&M in San Antonio. The A&M coach was Billy G.
Kentucky hired Billy G and fired him after just 2 years. Now they hired Calipari – a two time cheater at UMASS and Memphis to replace him.
In a couple of years UK will be placed on NCAA probation and Calipari will have moved back to the NBA.
JMO
LOL. If anyone in basketball can handle this situation it’s Bill Self. Cal has been begging other team’s leftovers and taking tests for people for years. Putting him in the same group with K and Self (or even guys like Boeheim and Tubby) is a terrible misuse of the word ‘coach’.
Ben …why would you take these guys and teach them a zone and a stand around offense ?…………are you hitting the bottle in the middle of the day again ?
Gonna be along season for you Ben …… rooting against Ky this year isn’t the way to enjoy your basketball experience ….trust me on this …..
Stand around offense? Sorry, but you clearly have no knowledge of Boeheim’s system. Boeheim’s system is far faster than Calipari’s (tempo rankings 09: Syr 34th fastest Mem 147th fastest, 08 27th fastest, Mem 87th fastest)
Rooting against Calipari has certainly been enjoyable for the last decade or so. I’m not guessing that will change with the rocket scientists he’s assembling in Lexington.
Well Ben if you like rooting against a guy who is 283 and 70 the past 10 years LOL ……so be it …whatever floats your boat man .