Xavier Henry Should Not Jump to the NBA in 2010

Xavier Henry came to the University of Kansas as a “one and done” player—one of those high school basketball sensations that would have gone straight to the professional ranks if the NBA still allowed it. He was touted as the best player Kansas Coach Bill Self ever recruited, and is a key ingredient in the success of KU’s #1 ranked basketball team. It was made clear from the outset that Henry’s stay on Mt. Oread would be a brief one. Xavier Henry has an “NBA-ready” body, good hands and a superb jump shot.


Henry averages around 13 points a game for the Jayhawks, and led the team in scoring through the non-conference portion of the schedule. He scored more points in his KU debut than any freshman ever had, surpassing a decades old record held by Norm Cook. Xavier Henry also leads KU in steals, with 43 thefts in 26 games.

Xavier Henry’s statistics compare reasonably well to the freshman numbers posted by Paul Pierce and Brandon Rush—KU’s best small forwards over the last fifteen years. Rush scored and rebounded at a higher level, but played on a team that needed him more than KU needs Henry. Paul Pierce averaged more rebounds but fewer points in the same situation: KU didn’t need Pierce to dominate with Raef LaFrentz, Scott Pollard, Jacque Vaughn and Scot Pollard on their roster.



But is Xavier Henry ready for the NBA?

Despite his success, there have been questions about Henry’s game. He suffered through an eight game slump during conference play, and many wondered if the level of competition improved to the extent that he could no longer dominate with his athleticism and shooting ability. Henry seemed to lose confidence when the intensity of play increased. He lofted air-balls while being unguarded against lesser programs like Nebraska and Iowa State. As his game faltered, broadcasters and fans wondered why he didn’t take advantage of mismatches to get better shots. Henry infrequently drove on taller defenders or posted up smaller ones. He rarely looked for follow-shots by hitting the offensive boards. His “NBA-ready” physique meant little as he contented himself to stand outside the three-point line and hoist jumpers that failed to hit their mark.

His minutes waned with his effectiveness while Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich found themselves in the familiar role of carrying the team through conference play (with considerable help from Marcus Morris). Often he appeared lost on the court, seemingly not knowing when or even how to assert himself. Meanwhile, Brady Morningstar’s minutes rose while subbing for both the faltering Henry and Tyshawn Taylor.

Extended learning curves and slumps are common for freshman, but not for one-year players intent on taking their game to the next level. The best of the one-and-done players didn’t suffer lapses against teams like Colorado. Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Greg Oden and Derrick Rose played well from start to finish. John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins have not faltered for Kentucky. If Henry can’t score against the Colorado Buffaloes, will he have better luck against the Denver Nuggets?

It has been noted that Henry’s freshman statistics measure up well to those of Brandon Rush and Paul Pierce, but no one believed they were ready for the NBA. Despite Henry’s steals totals, both Rush and Pierce were better defenders early in their KU career. They were better passers and ball handlers, as well. This is significant because Xavier Henry might be a “tweener” in the NBA; too small and too much of a finesse player to man the small forward position, and lacking the speed and skills to play guard. If Henry isn’t a natural forward or guard, his NBA career might be very short if he goes pro without sufficiently polishing his game. They might soon be comparing him to Julian Wright instead of Paul Pierce.

No one wants to see Xavier Henry play out his rookie contract in the developmental league, working on his game against other early-entry applicants not ready for the NBA. No one wants the term “one-and-done” to refer to his pro contract, either. KU fans want to see Xavier Henry excel as a professional as Paul Pierce did. They hope Henry will make his tenth consecutive appearance in the 2025 NBA All-Star game. They don’t want him mentioned in the same breath with Jonathan Bender or Gerald Green.

This article is selfishly motivated if ultimately altruistic. I am a KU basketball fan, and I would love to squeeze another year out of Xavier Henry on Mt. Oread. Despite my hopes to see him remain a Jayhawk, I do not write with the naïve intention of convincing anyone of anything. Whenever he chooses to make himself eligible for the NBA draft, I will cheer and support him. It helps KU’s recruiting for high school players to see Jayhawks turn professional. It helps even more, however, if they succeed as pros. If Xavier Henry needs another year of college basketball to mature and develop his game, I hope he takes that extra year rather than rush toward a challenge he isn’t yet prepared to meet. There is no disgrace to playing college ball.

Just ask Brandon Rush.

Read about KU's march to 2000 victories

Read about KU's greatest NCAA Tournament Victories

NCAA Men’s Basketball: #1 Kansas Defeats #14 Texas, 80-68

Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks passed the test. They took the game Texas had circled on their calendar and survived. Their hard-fought 80-68 victory over the Longhorns in Austin, Texas on February 8th gave KU a three-game lead in the Big 12 conference with seven games left. The game was physical throughout, with 22 blocked shots and 16 steals between the two teams. Kansas center Cole Aldrich played only 26 minutes and fouled out for the first time in his career. His fifth foul came after an elbow struck Texas forward Damian James in the head, and James responded in anger when Aldrich attempted to apologize. Marcus Morris dislocated a finger seven minutes into the game and had to receive treatment before returning.

Texas started the game strong, bolting to a 14-8 lead on the strength of two Damian James three-point baskets. Kansas responded with a 22-0 push that broke the game open and the Longhorns never seriously threatened again. KU led by as many as 19 points before Texas trimmed the margin to eight, late in the second half. They couldn’t get closer, however, and the Jayhawks maintained their double-digit lead throughout most of the game.

Kansas versus Texas showcased the talents of the two most-hyped freshmen in the Big 12 conference: KU’s Xavier Henry and Texas’ Avery Bradley. Henry shook off the effects of a month-long shooting slump and produced solid numbers with fifteen points, five rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot. Bradley didn’t fare as well with three points, three turnovers and four fouls in 35 minutes of play. The matchup also featured the clash of big men Cole Aldrich and Dexter Pittman, who dueled in the paint but weren’t particularly effective against each other. Aldrich tallied seven points, five rebounds, six blocks and five fouls in 26 minutes. Pittman countered with three points, three rebounds and four blocked shots in 21 minutes. Despite the relatively poor games of the big men, both clogged the lanes defensively and made it difficult for the guards to penetrate.

For Kansas fans, it was everything a big game against a rival was supposed to be: an intense road win that cemented the Jayhawks claim to #1, both in the Big 12 and the nation. It was a step toward separating themselves from every squad in the country except Kentucky and Syracuse. It demonstrated that Kansas can play a very good team on the road and take control—something they failed to do in their overtime wins at Kansas State and Colorado.

The game solidified KU’s reputation as the deepest team in the land. The Morris twins (Marcus and Markieff) now produce solid numbers every night, and Marcus could challenge for all-conference honors if he maintains his high level of play. Tyshawn Taylor has quietly returned to making a positive contribution to the team. Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed are more confident players than they were a year ago, contributing with fine outside shooting and mistake-free ball handling. KU is so deep their talented freshman class sees little court time, although Jeff Withey has logged some minutes in recent games.

For Texas, it revealed their flaws. Texas is limited offensively, relying too much on Damian James for scoring. Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton have the ability to score but are still too inconsistent. Dexter Pitman is an imposing presence but has no stamina and a limited feel for the game. Dogus Balbay excels on defense, but is such a reluctant shooter he disrupts the Longhorns’ offense. Justin Mason and Jai Lucas may not have the skills to be major contributors.

Amidst the chaos were signs of hope for Texas. J’Covan Brown led all players in scoring with 28 points—26 in the second half. If he continues to play well, he might join Avery Bradley in the lineup at guard and bolster the offense with his shooting. Another reliable scoring threat will take pressure off James and minimize double-teams in the post. Texas defends extremely well—they just need to find more ways to score. However, Coach Rick Barnes is running out of time to figure out which players on his team deserve to be in the rotation and needs to make his adjustments quickly.

The Big 12 Conference race isn’t over, even with Kansas’ three game lead over Kansas State and Texas A&M (two future opponents). They play Kansas State and travel to Texas A&M and Missouri. Texas can still be a factor, but they have to play to their capabilities immediately. If the Big 12 Tournament started today, they would be in fifth place and far removed from their number one national ranking, a mere two weeks ago. If they drop another game or two before righting their ship, it will be too late for them. Both teams have the ability to meet their preseason expectations, but Kansas looks much closer to doing that than Texas.

An Open Letter to Roy Williams

Dear Coach Williams,

I have watched and enjoyed the Kansas Jayhawks play basketball since the 1972-1973 season. I have seen many great players take the court in Allen Field House over the years. I watched young men like Rick Suttle, Darnell Valentine, Paul Mokeski and Greg Dreiling play. I saw Danny Manning, Kevin Pritchard and Mark Randall represent the Jayhawks with class and dignity. I cheered for Jacque Vaughn, Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz. I rooted for Drew Gooden, Nick Collison, Kirk Hinrich and Wayne Simien. Today, I look with pride on the efforts of Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins.

I was disappointed when Ted Owens was fired, but rejoiced when Larry Brown replaced him. I was skeptical when Dr. Frederick hired you, but you quickly won the hearts of Jayhawk fans everywhere with your hard work and tremendous success. When you left Lawrence for North Carolina, I was extremely upset. I hoped Bill Self would be able to continue the successful tradition you added so much to during your time as head coach. (Coach Self has exceeded our expectations.)

I was bitter and resentful when you led North Carolina to an NCAA title in your second season back at Chapel Hill. Your swift ascent to the top of the basketball world in 2005 made Jayhawk fans shake their heads and wonder why this was something you couldn’t do for Kansas. What were those wonderful Jayhawks teams lacking that you discovered so quickly in the squad you inherited from Matt Doherty?

I was even more amazed when the Tar Heels won 23 games in 2006 after losing virtually every key player from the previous year’s title team. Your coaching wizardry was never more evident than during that season. In 2007, you were back on top, and only an overtime loss to Georgetown prevented a return to the Final Four.

In 2008, you fielded a wonderfully talented club with Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and the rest. You faced an equally great Kansas team in the Final Four and lost, despite a valiant comeback after being down 40-12 in the first half. Was there an extra incentive for the Hawks to play well that would not have existed if the opponent was someone else? (It has been suggested Brandon Rush was motivated because of issues concerning your recruitment of his brother JaRon, ten years earlier, but no other motivating factor makes sense.) Every KU fan wanted to see the Hawks play for the title, but the players and coaches had no vested interest in beating you. The Jayhawk faithful felt relief with the victory—it meant we could win without you.

The next season, your key players said no to the NBA and returned to complete their quest for a title. The Carolina team separated itself from every other team in the country and won your second championship in five years. KU fans couldn’t help but again feel a little jealous—the demons we thought exorcised the year before returned. Why couldn’t you perform these miracles for us? Why couldn’t you write two best-selling books chronicling your tenure at Kansas? Why does coaching seem easier for you now than when you were in Lawrence?

The question no longer needs to be answered.

Flash forward to the next year. At the time these words are being written, your team is 13-10 and at risk of missing the NCAA Tournament entirely. KU fans aren’t happy to see you lose, but there is some comfort in your team’s swoon. This is probably difficult to understand, but tanking a season allows us to fully embrace you again. You needed to become human in our eyes instead of continuing a string of successful seasons that would make Dean Smith envious. I realize you would prefer a 23-0 record and our enmity to your current situation, but we aren’t rooting against you. Not really. We just needed to see you fail in order to fully understand how much you accomplished at KU. You never brought an NCAA championship to Kansas, but you never served up a13-10 record, either. You have become mortal in our eyes again, and now we can fully enjoy your success.

I am aware that you’ve moved on mentally as well as physically, and the feelings of Jayhawk fans aren’t really that important to you any longer. That’s okay. Jayhawk fans have moved on, also—even if this very letter appears to be evidence to the contrary. We can point to your accomplishments with pride and claim you as one of our own. We can root for you against any opponent except the Hawks. We can allow you to enhance KU’s reputation from Chapel Hill. We can be a family again.

Welcome back, Coach!

Mike

The Eighty Year Old Poem

When I was a child, my father occasionally recited lines from a poem he remembered as a child. He didn’t recall where he saw it, but when pressed he believed he might have read it in a newspaper and memorized it. I researched this poem extensively to see if I could trace it back to a source, but my efforts yielded no results. The poem doesn’t seem to be published anywhere online. I asked my father if it was possible that someone he knew wrote the poem, and he said it could have been written down for him by a friend.

He was born in 1919 and estimated he was approximately ten years old when he first read it. I recall hearing my father recite the poem to me at an even younger age. As a boy, I enjoyed its whimsical nature, complete with a moral for us at its end. As I grew older, I wondered why my father enjoyed this story so much he committed it to memory. Did he like the idea of speeding down the road, racing any other car in his way? Was it the whimsical telling of the tale, amusing enough to force a chuckle or two throughout?

I never actually knew, because at 90 years old, he couldn’t recall why he wanted to remember it, other than because he enjoyed it. I asked him to recite it, however, and the words flowed. Time didn’t erode his memory of this fine story, even if the details were now a little fuzzy. I asked my father if he could recite it slowly enough to transcribe, and he happily agreed. Because it is so clever and quirky, I decided to post it here. The words to this presumably untitled poem go:

There was a man in our town that had some cash laid by

He wished to live in style before his time should come to die.

He bought the finest car in town, a big and fussy eight;

He said he would then go to church without arriving late.

He started down a country road to see how it would run

He rolled along at twenty-five, and oh but it was fun!

Soon a six went speeding by and left him in the dust

When then a four went racing by which just seemed more unjust.

While the insult from these two were working on his mind

A Model-T went rattling by and left him far behind.

Could a big and fussy eight let such an insult pass?

Just to show them who he was, he stepped upon the gas.

When he passed the four and six, he could not then tell which

When his speed was eighty-five he landed in the ditch!

When people saw the awful wreck they shook their heads and said

Another fool who had no sense is numbered among the dead.

The moral to this story is still worth remembering, nearly a century later. Buckle up, my friends—it’s a wild ride!