09 Class in a nutshell

Is real bad ass.

X has been discussed ad nausem but the other 2 guys are hardly slouches and both should figure prominetly in KU's quest for another banner.

The first guy to pull the trigger was Thomas Robinson. T-rob is a guy who went from a solid prospect to a full on stud.
After dominating the summer AAU circuit Robinson shot up to a 5 Star recruit and when the final rankings came out he was in the top 30 and a 4 Star recruit.

Robinson has stated publicly that he is using his snub for the McDonald's All American game as motivation to get better.
He has a motor that is fit for Nascar and is the best rebounder in the class. He's one of those guys that has an ever improving offensive game. With the way he plays the game he's going to get some garbage buckets and some tough Offensive rebounds which everyone not name Cole couldn't do.
I don't think I'd look for T-Rob to start but its very possible. I'm assuming Marcus Morris is going to get a lot better and consistent and start at the 4 but if he slips T-rob will be right there and should be one of the first off the bench.

Elijiah Johnson from Vegas told Bill Self right after Late Night in the Phog.
He's a combo guard, just like Bill Self likes, who can jump out of the building.
You think I'm kidding- go youtube him for his 360 Between The Legs dunk- During a game!!!
Johnson has a 46.5 inch vertical and at 6-3 that is pretty silly.
I don't know a lot of his shot or range except that he is a great kid who is very close to his autisc brother and Johnson has been a KU fan since the third grade and anytime you can get a kid that wants to be a Jayhawk and has wanted to be Jayhawk for that long its a bonus.

Johnson will be in the guard rotation and when him and Taylor are in the game it'll be the most athletic back court in the country.

Also there is semester transfer Jeff Withey who this blogger is really hoping will wear the number 10.
Jeff is a legit 7 footer and has some long arms. His tape is impressive but he is thin. Another offseason with Coach Hudy and he should be a decent weight.

Since Withey has been on campus since January he has already begun to gain weight (I'm assuming) but has also had the chance to go against Cole every day in practice and improve with the coaching of Danny Manning.
Withey will be the back up to Cole and is eligble to play once finals conclude in the fall semester so around December 20th. He's a shot blocker and the mere thought of having him and Cole in at the same time is awesome.

Bill Self did it again and brought in a stellar class that fills a lot of needs for the 09-10 team.

Rock Chalk
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KU football - IS made for TV

On September 12th KU travels to well basically Mexico to play UTEP, the Miners are going to get smoked.

Anyway, the whole point is that the game will be on TV, so instead of listening to Bob Davis get excited for the other team you can watch it on TV.
I have no idea what network it'll be on but its going to be a later game, so I'm guessing its one of 3 networks, ESPN2, TBS or FSN.

Either way, its great pub and I see what Mangino was thinking playing this game, a winnable game in the heart of Texas, aka, our recruiting wheelhouse.

How funny is it in retrospect that Mizzou thought that playing in the Cotton Bowl was going to be beneficial for them recruiting in Texas, well we already have 2 kids from Texas for 2010, so again Mizzou can pound sand.

And while they were playing in a non-BCS game and we we're winning the Orange Bowl, KU is making further in roads in Florida as well. After getting a couple of kids from the state of Orange Juice in 2009 (RB- Deshaun Sands and WR - Eric McGriff) KU is in on some kids for 2010 as well.

Rock Chalk

What does it all mean?

Getting Xavier (Zah Vee Ay) Henry means a lot of things to me personally and to the immediate and long term future of the University of Kansas Basketball.

First it means that I need something else to think about, which will probably be KU baseball and then football and basketball recruiting as we get into the summer.
I have been following X's recruitment back when I didn't have an emerging bald spot and I'm so glad it is over, I've gotten so pissed at the situation but always wanted him to be in the Crimson and Blue and now that its a reality, I'm relieved more than happy but I'm very happy.

As far as the immediate future being impacted by the arrival of Bros. Henry it gives KU that much more momentum towards another National Championship.
The 09-10 Jayhawks were already going to wreck people, be the fave in the Big 12 and the sexy pick to cut down nets in Indy. Now those thoughts are even more logical.

Henry has what Roscoe refers to as "freakish athletic ability" and according to me he can put the ball in the tin from distance and off of the dribble and will give KU what they lacked so badly last year, a guy who can get his own shot (other than Sherron) and a 3rd scorer.
Henry also already has a NBA body so getting stronger isn't going to be a problem like what most freshmen encounter.

So there's those immediate positives to X heading to the hill. But once X leaves Mt. Oread he will have the chance to help Bill Self show that he can get you to the league and get you there quick, which will in turn help with guys like Harrison Barnes and Josh Smith form the 2010 classes and 2012 prospect Perry Ellis from Wichita.

If you are super excited and can't wait for the season to start, you're not alone.
Next year has all the pieces in place to be a very special year in Lawrence.

Rock Chalk
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Twins

We're eating nerds at wescoe beach.

fitting huh?

WELCOME HOME X

IT'S OFFICIAL.

XAVIER HENRY WILL BE AT KU!

some quotes from the first lady who was listening with head phones-

He told Self on Tuesday and Self busted his balls make sure he was serious and positive.
X said that CJ can play next year, so that's wild, and CJ will be at KU too.
At the start of the conference, he pulled out the chair for his mom, which makes him a pimp and a stud and dudes like that are hard to find.

He stated again that it was important to him that Sherron and Cole are coming back.

ROCK CHALK

X- UPDATED

About 15 minutes left until the conference, according to my source on campus (sup Moosh) the players are "congregating on Wescoe Beach awaiting the decision"
Dirty



2 hours til judgement day. And since I've been beating off about X for the better part of 3 years the suspense is killing me.

According to reports yesterday afternoon- the AD at X's HS said no Kentucky hat would be needed and that "dorthy might be there"

So I'm liking our chances but this thing has been way to weird to call it a done deal.

Let's hope that X marks the spot.
Rock Chalk
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Xavier announcing at 11:15am CST (UPDATED)

I'm just going to update this entry as more info comes out.

So far the following are "reporting" that X is going to KU
ESPN
ESPN's Paul Bincardi (mentions it multiple times in his chat)
The Oklahoman
Fox Sports- Jeff Goodman
CBS Sports - Gary Parrish
Zagsblog
Andy Katz
A million or so posters from Kentucky fan and Rivals.com sites and KU fans

The most $$$ info so far is that he has signed and faxed his GAD (Grant Aid Document) which basically means that he has accepted a scholly to KU- since he couldn't sign another LOI (Letter of Intent) since he signed one with that scum Calimari.

https://twitter.com/xavier_henry (here's why I love the internet)

Stay tuned and I'll get you the info you need

Rock Chalk

Orange Bowl - fake punt- the real story

So, to lighten it up, I thought I'd post something I've been holding onto for a bit. I have traded messages with Micah Brown former KU WR and I asked him what "what went through your head during the fake punt?"
Below is his response- pretty good stuff actually for one of the more memorable plays in recent KU football history if not all of history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1JsQiaXhI (in case you need to watch it)

Honestly it was a pure God thing. We'd never practiced that play before. I didn't even know they were throwing it to me. Because the protection was set to the other side we were only supposed to throw to the other side. But the return guy rolled down over the top of JT (justin Thornton).

My guy checked into a block stance so I was screaming at Bmac to check me in tight to help block so he didn't block the punt. Instead they snapped the ball. I jogged off the line, preparing myself to chase down anyone who blocked it. I saw the ball come wobbling out of a crowd of people. I thought "oh lord don't drop it" .

As soon as I caught it I turned to run, but the DB already had an angle on me since I had to stop, run back to the ball, turn around and go. I didn't see him at first so when I caught it the first thing I thought was ," I'm gonna score a touchdown, I'm gonna do a flip into the end zone" hahahhaa. I mean, at the time I was a walk on. I would take a cursing ! I didn't care! But I started to run and the guy was there.. tried to stiff arm him... but I had separated my shoulder a couple plays before diving for the guy who ran the punt back for VT. So when I stuck my arm out, it just gave out.. got pushed out of bounds. After that I felt like I was in a dream. It all happened so fast, yet while the ball was in the air it was like it was slow motion..... Great memory. Few people know that it wasn't the coaches call. They alerted us to the POSSIBILITY of running a fake. But never to my side. It should have been called off due to the look. B mac got cussed out on the sideline actually. He told coach to shut up, that it worked, and that he had faith in me to make a play. I owe it to him.


Hope you enjoyed that, what a cool ass story-
Rock Chalk-

NO VISIT to UK

According to an interview CJ Henry gave to Rivals.com.

So the plot thickens.

Rock Chalk
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Just kidding about the last post

The Brothers Henry are going to visit UK and that means they ain't going to KU.

So bring on Born Ready and bring on football.

Rock Chalk