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Back to school: MLB prospect joining Memphis
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"It's always been in my head," Henry said about contemplating playing college basketball. "But I just got serious about it. I thought about it when I was watching my brother play and then I thought about it the entire ride home."
That's when he called Self and Calipari to gauge their interest.
Less than 24 hours later, Henry had decided to enroll at Memphis and play basketball this season for the Tigers.
It's a no-risk, high-reward situation for Calipari. Henry, per the terms of the contract he signed out of high school, will have his education paid for by the Yankees. Thus, Memphis won't even have to utilize a scholarship while getting a potential impact guy, a player who was heavily recruited by the likes of Kansas, Memphis, Texas and others out of Putnam City High in Oklahoma.
In addition, the Tigers may have gained the inside track to one of the nation's elite unsigned players.
Xavier Henry.
Xavier (pronounced ZAV-ee-yay) is the younger brother of C.J. and is Scout.com's No. 4 player in the Class of 2009. His co-leaders are Memphis and Kansas.
"It can't hurt," Putnam City coach A.D. Burtschi said of Memphis' chances to land Xavier now that C.J. will play for the Tigers.
"But I don't have any doubt that Xavier is going to make his own decision," Burtschi added. "This isn't a package deal at all, but both of them are smart enough to realize there's going to be speculation."
Burtschi coached C.J. for four years in high school and is entering his fourth year with Xavier.
"He has his own thing and I have mine," C.J. Henry said. "He's going to pick the place that's best for him. If we end up playing together, it would be fun and exciting. I asked him before I committed to Memphis and he said he didn't care."
Henry made the 24-hour trek from Tampa to his home in Oklahoma City on his own. When he returned in the middle of the afternoon, no one was home. However, he met with his entire family around dinnertime and then also spoke with his father, mother and Xavier individually.
Henry had committed to play basketball at Kansas, where both of his parents went to school, prior to the MLB Draft. However, that changed after he was taken 17th overall by the Yankees. He was traded to Philadelphia in a deal that brought Bobby Abreu to New York, but was later released by the Phillies and re-signed by the Yankees last offseason.
This season, he suffered a sprained neck in a freak outfield collision and also sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee in an indecisive slide into home plate. He was hitting .234 in 20 games this season in Single-A ball.
The 22-year-old said he intends to continue to play baseball in the summers, but sounds like someone whose future is more likely in the NBA than playing alongside Alex Rodriguez in the Bronx.
"My game will speak for itself," C.J. Henry said. "My talent level is high and I can play. My ultimate goal is to play in the NBA."
Calipari, who actually coached Henry's father, Carl, when he was an assistant at Kansas, isn't allowed to comment on his newest addition until he is enrolled. Henry said he was flying to Memphis today and would sign up for classes either today or tomorrow.
However, one high-major assistant coach who recruited Henry before he opted to go the baseball route was shocked to hear the news that he was set to play for Memphis.
"I loved him," the coach said. "He's a big guard who can score the ball. He's explosive and can really shoot it. He's more of a combo guard, but I think he can play the point. Because of his size and athleticism, I think he can play right away."
Henry, now at 6-foot-3½ and 220 pounds, may have the opportunity once he sheds a few pounds and gets back into basketball shape. He said the last time he and Xavier played one-on-one was last year and it was also the first time he had ever lost to his younger brother.
"Once I get in basketball shape, I'll show people what I'm capable of," Henry said.
Henry's claim is that he's more of a point guard and he also said Calipari assured him he'd have a chance to compete for the starting point guard position, which appears wide-open but has no shortage of candidates. Willie Kemp backed up Derrick Rose last season, but will be pushed by talented freshman combo guard Tyreke Evans and junior college transfer Roburt Sallie.
"I chose Memphis because of the coach, the personnel and the opportunity to win a national championship," C.J. Henry said. "It was the best situation for me."
The Tigers certainly aren't complaining.
Member Comments
KU, the capital of marijuana smoking in the Midwest!
Tom_Bradys_Kneee9/9/2008 11:41:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
What has Louisville done in the Big East?<br />What has Louisville done in the Big East?<br /><br />We have gone to the College World Series, won a BCS bowl and gone to the Elite Eight game.
DennyCrum9/9/2008 7:10:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Memphis lost the NCAA Title game. Louisville also lost to Georgetown in the rematch last year and Georgetown went to the Final Four the year before. Also Georgetown did what no other Big East Team has ever done: Win back to back BE Titles. What has Louisville done in the Big East?
gr8bigguy9/7/2008 17:47:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
We beat beat both Geaorgetown and UConn as well and if you forgot we were in the Final Four in 2005.<br /><br />Who leads the all time series between The Ville and Memphis? we do..ask your boy Elliot Perry if you dont believe me.<br /><br />Look I understand what it's like to be little brother and I would dislike too...<br /><br />As of being scared to play you..you must be smoking that Elvis....call Tom Jurich Amazing. Incredible. Model program. Unbelievable. Doing it the right way. Stable. Astounding. <br /><br />Many across the nation have used those words to describe the positive, upward direction the University of Louisville athletic program is progressing under Tom Jurich, who enters his ninth year at Louisville and his 17th as a Division I athletic director. "They should build a monument to Tom in Louisville."<br /> -- College basketball analyst **** Vitale, after Rick Pitino joined the Cardinals <br /><br />ohh by they way 45-32 vs. Memphis
DennyCrum9/5/2008 9:18:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I'm glad Louisville beat Tennessee. I'm glad we played 3 rounds longer than Tennessee. I'm glad we played 2 rounds longer than you.<br />By the way...we beat Georgetown and UConn last year. What conference are they in? Hmmm. Oh yeah Big East. We're playing Syracuse and Cincy(A former C-USA team not scared of playing us) this year.<br />The past is the past. You guys have won 1 title in the last 25 years. We've been to 3 straight Elite 8's. We are poised to make another run this year.<br />Over the last 5 years, who's doing better?<br />Memphis. And it's not even close.<br />So continue to worry about KY. Gillespie will pass you by soon enough.
jmntiger9/4/2008 16:58:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
denny -im sorry your team refuses to play us to settle this-seems like last few years we have tradition and what does ville have?oh well there is a reason you look back to days of denny i would to-as for kentucky we have to go back a few years to find something to brag about-i say billy g will be with kraggthorpe searching for new employment next year-
memphistigers08champs9/4/2008 14:02:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I wouldn't call Texas, Michigan State, UCLA, Oklahoma, Georgetown , etc. nobodies.
9/4/2008 13:35:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Ok... I will give it to ya...your the best team in C-USA...does that make you proud. lol<br /><br />Didn't Tennessee beat you all at home last year? YES<br /><br />Didn't The Ville beat your in state rival by 20 in the tourney? YES<br /><br />Trust me The Ville has bigger worries each year tradition wise it's called UK.
DennyCrum9/4/2008 5:20:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
The last time the The Ville played Memphis..your boy cried on the free throw line....<br /><br />Memphis beats up on nobodies all year long then chokes when it counts.<br /><br />You have a wanna be Rick Pitino as your coach...I mean Choke Calapari.<br /><br />Your program hasn't won anything...nada..nothing in HISTORY.<br /><br />How about you try to hire a former player of our's again so you can recruit his son...lol...let me tell ya that worked didn't it.<br /><br />Trust me my dude Memphis wouldn't win the Big East Championship or regular season..it's called playing competition...which your fan base it not used too.<br /><br />Your arguments are not valid if you do not have a NCAA TITLE on your resume.<br />Regardless of when we won our titles..we have a HALL OF FAME head coach now in Rick Pitino, we already have a HALL OF FAME previous coach in Mr. Denny Crum who used to OWN your squad.
DennyCrum9/4/2008 5:16:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey, U of helL, of the two programs, who was the more recent of the two programs to make it at least to the championship game? You guys have sniffed the title game since the 80's. <br />Anyway, Rick won't play Memphis. He knows our talent would eat yours alive.<br />Anymore Padgetts on the way?
jmntiger9/3/2008 16:06:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
New POWERHOUSE = Memphis Tigers
MemphisTigerFan20089/3/2008 10:51:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Memhis has a tradtion of laying the SMACKDOWN on the big east.
MemphisTigerFan20089/3/2008 10:48:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Tradition? What tradition? Being losers the past 5 seasons? Petition Rick to play Memphis..... Next time I see him I will whay does he dodge the Tigers. LMAO
MemphisTigerFan20089/3/2008 10:44:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Louisville has not done anything since 1986... I bet you a Cowboy fan as well. What have the Cards done lately?<br /><br /> Memphis will beat the red out off the Cardinals today!!!
MemphisTigerFan20089/3/2008 10:42:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Like I said win a Championship then come talk to the BIG BOYS with REAL tradition.
DennyCrum9/3/2008 10:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Aenema- Question: How many titles does anyone in the BUNK C-usa have? 0<br /><br />The last season The Ville was in C-usa I believe we won the conference title.<br /><br />The only thing Memphis owns The Ville in is losses.
DennyCrum9/3/2008 9:59:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
The Tigers are loaded for the next 2 years......
MemphisTigerFan20089/2/2008 16:41:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
LMFAO...The big east is a joke anyway so who cares...so are the cardinals..lmfao..we own you guys in basketball and you know it
Aenema8/30/2008 11:22:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Yeah Memphis is so top notch...the Big East turned them down.<br /><br />Keep wishing you are big time my friend. <br /><br />Win a NCAA title then come back and holla at me
DennyCrum8/29/2008 12:03:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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