Henry family has knack for not visiting universities

By Jerry Tipton / Herald-Leader Staff Writer

Jerry Tipton

When Xavier Henry cancelled a visit to Kentucky, that seemed to spell the end of UK's chances. How often does a prospect commit to a school he hasn't laid eyes on?

OK, it happens. And more frequently than you might think.

Although Henry ultimately committed to Kansas, heredity suggested he might come to UK sight unseen. The first time older brother C.J. Henry saw Memphis was when he reported to school as a walk-on.

Then there's the unusual story of Carl Henry, the players' father. He played for two seasons at Oklahoma City University. When the school fired his coach, Carl Henry transferred to Kansas.

How closely did he inspect the Kansas campus and basketball program?

"I didn't," he said. "I just went to school."

The elder Henry knew he wanted to play in the Big Eight Conference. The two in-state possibilities, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, did not offer him a scholarship, something he remembered 25 years later when his sons looked for a school.

"They didn't want me," he said. "That's one reason my sons didn't go there. You didn't want me back then, so I'm quite sure you don't want my kids."

Ouch.

As Carl Henry had not seen the Kansas campus until he arrived, so he was a mystery to the Jayhawks coaches. Then Coach Ted Owens told Henry there was no available scholarship.

Undeterred, Carl Henry simply showed up one summer day and played pickup games with the varsity players.

His play prompted a question from onlookers and KU players: who is this guy?

"When I showed up the next day, they had a scholarship for me," Carl Henry said.

Let that be a lesson to fans who count scholarships and worry whether Kentucky will be able to add another standout. Where there's a will ...

Kansas got quite a player in Carl Henry. He led the Jayhawks in scoring in the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons. In those two seasons, he scored 1,044 points and served as team captain. As a senior, he led Kansas in steals and was named All-Big Eight. By the way, Carl Henry played against Kentucky twice. On Dec. 29, 1982, he scored 10 points in UK's 83-62 victory in Louisville. On Dec. 10, 1983, he scored six points and committed seven turnovers in a 72-50 UK victory in Lawrence.

Needless to say, Carl Henry traveled a far less celebrated path to Kansas than his sons'.

"I tell my kids they have it easy," he said.

Say no to Nike?

UK fan Ben Adams hopes change doesn't stop with the hiring of John Calipari as coach.

"While we're at it, let's make a clean break from Billy G. and get rid of those God awful uniforms!" he wrote. "Get some decent shorts!"

Decent?

"By decent, I mean an average length, not so ridiculously long and coupled with those tight, form fitting jerseys, looked particularly comical," he wrote in a follow-up message. "I heard everything from parachute pants, to bloomers to skirts, to culottes. I think the aesthetic designs were great, but the sizing was silly. Hopefully, Calipari or the players themselves will bring some sanity back to their uniforms.

"I'm sure some people will disagree with me, but ... sometimes it's actually OK to say 'no' to mighty Nike. I think you can design a great looking uniform and still be practical about it."

Adams, 57 and self-employed, calls Pineville his hometown. He now lives in Lexington.

Challenging the system

Recently, Jeremy Tyler, an 11th grader in San Diego, decided to skip his senior year of high school to play professionally in Europe. This prompted a commentary by Frank Deford on National Public Radio.

Deford applauded this break with custom.

"Football players don't really have any choice but to go to college and fatten themselves up for the NFL, but a trickle of independent-minded young basketball players are beginning to challenge the system," Deford said. "Of course, they have to leave the idealistic, capitalistic United States for socialistic old Europe to make an honest living, but a couple have already dared to be pioneers."

Deford noted how Brandon Jennings played in Rome this season rather than attend a college for a year while waiting to be eligible to enter the NBA. Jennings struggled, but still gets projected as a lottery pick.

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Henry family has knack for not visiting universities

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