Okay, this story has just exploded in the last hour or so and we are going to need more than just a FanShot to talk about it. The word is going around that Xavier Henry wanted to follow Calipari to Kentucky, but his mother refused to move here and he wanted to be near her. So he and his brother C.J. agreed to come play for Bill Self at Kansas.
Here is the key -- Henry is not signed anywhere. You can only sign one LOI per year, and Henry did that -- with Memphis. When Memphis let him out of that LOI, he essentially became the college equivalent of a free agent -- he can just show up on campus and sign scholarship papers if the school wants to extend one and he is otherwise qualified. His agreement with Self to come to Kansas is non-binding on either him or Self.
Apparently, Xavier Henry is now seriously thinking about coming to Kentucky instead of Kansas. That would be huge for two reasons -- one, we have an available scholarship, and two, Henry would fill an immediate and crucial (if not quite desperate) need that UK currently has -- that of a shooting guard. Henry is a remarkable, NBA -level talent that would significantly alter Kentucky's fortunes if he actually decided to come here.
Another thing that Henry would do if he came to Kentucky is make the 2009 recruiting class the undisputed, undefeated heavyweight class of all time, exceeding even the Fab Five of Michigan. To my knowledge, no school has ever landed the #1, 2, and 3 ranked recruits as well as two other Rivals.com five-star players. Henry would remove all doubt about the #1 class in modern college basketball history.
After the jump, you will find lots of articles for more information.
Xavier Henry News
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Henry brothers ponder another move -- to Kentucky Wildcats - ESPN
Katz gets it wrong, saying we would have to lose another player for Henry. CJ would be a walk on, and UK currently has a scholly open. -
Xavier and CJ Still Jayhawks? - Rock Chalk Talk
The Kansas point of view from Rock Chalk Talk -
Basketball prospect Henry wants to play at UK, father says
Well. I don't know what else to say. What will Xavier do? -
Dan Shanoff: Xavier Henry: Why Not Try D-League?
Offered without comment. -
Attention Whore Status? (Henry Brothers)
Intentional Foul takes the Henrys to task. I think he has a point. - Putnam City's Xavier Henry still thinking about Kentucky
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Henry family will meet to discuss brothers' commitment to KU - Kansas City Star
This is the paper that started it all.
Other UK News of Interest
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Bluegrass State Basketball: Donald Williams to Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Good for him. -
KSN First Look: Harrison Barnes talks Kentucky - Kentucky Sports Network
We caught up with Harrison Bames at the NBA Top 100 Camp. -
Chris Russin signs with the Cubs
Congrats to Chris, we will miss him next year. For more on the Cubs, be sure to visit Bleed Cubbie Blue, SBN's outstanding Chicago Cubs site. -
Calipari still bringing his A game
Calipari says the DDMO is "actually designed to feature two point guards. Huh? Well, he made the thing, he gets to say how it is designed, mmkay?