Calipari Leaves Recruits Hanging High and Dry After Bolting To Kentucky

Xavier (zah-vee-yay) Henry (6'6", 210lbs) and DeMarcus Cousins (6'9", 245lbs) were in Miami, Fla. enjoying the hot sun and even hotter South Beach women as they prepared for the 2009 McDonald's All-American Game.

All of a sudden, their basketball lives were turned upside-down.

Both Henry and Cousins have committed to play their college basketball in the fall for the University of Memphis. Henry has signed a National Letter of Intent (LOI), while Cousins has only verbally committed.

The only problem is that the coach they committed to is no longer the coach at Memphis.

So what now?

Henry said today at a media event for the McDonald's All-American game, if Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky, he would be let out of his LOI and he would re-open his recruitment.

Now, the question is, to what degree will he re-open his recruitment?

It seems obvious that Memphis would immediately be scratched off Henry's list, should he be released from his LOI. That leaves two somewhat equally viable options in Kansas and Kentucky.

Kansas was seemingly the front-runner for Henry from Day One. However, after Xavier's brother C.J. decided to walk on at Memphis, Xavier's recruitment took a whole different twist. 

Jayhawk fans had waited nearly three years for his announcement and many resented the young man for pulling, what most saw, a typical "bait and switch."

Since KU was his second choice the first time around, it only makes sense to bump them to No. 1 now that Memphis is out of the picture.

Henry would play right away at Kansas, and would be an integral part to what could be a National Championship contending KU team. Henry's familiarity with KU is undeniable. Both of Henry's parents attended KU and his father, Carl, was a member of the basketball team.

The second choice is to follow John Calipari. One major road block for Henry though, who is projected to only play one year in college before entering the NBA Draft, is that the Wildcats have one of the nation's top scorers in Jodie Meeks.

Meeks is a 20-plus points per game scorer and will probably flirt with entering the NBA Draft prematurely. Meeks also took about 16 shots per game last year for the Wildcats, and is the primary offensive option, something Henry would look to be while in college.

As for Cousins, he was originally set to commit to the University of Alabama-Birmingham. However, UAB was not willing to provide an "out clause" for Cousins in his LOI, if head coach Mike Davis left or was fired.

Cousins opened his recruitment and had a top-three of Memphis, Washington, and Kansas State.

Cousins, like Henry, plans on only staying one year in college. Thus, playing time is of the utmost importance. Cousins chose Memphis, but did not sign a LOI, meaning he is free to change his choice as he pleases.

Like Henry, Cousins has crossed the Calipari-less Memphis Tigers off of his list. The consensus is that Cousins will join Calipari In Lexington. At Kentucky, Cousins will either step in for the NBA-bound Patrick Patterson, or play next to him on the Wildcats' frontline.

It's safe to say that both of these young men were caught off-guard by Calipari's departure.

Now, two of the most sought after recruits in the 2009 class are back on the market. Expect Calipari to make a hard run at both players and try to convince them that all will be well at Kentucky.

My take?

I think Henry ends up at KU in a twist of fate that feels like it was meant to be from the beginning of his recruitment. He's more comfortable with KU than any other school, and so are his parents.

For Cousins, it is a little more complex.

Washington has a spot with departing senior center, John Brockman, and Kansas State would welcome him with open arms.

However, I think Kentucky makes the most sense for him. He could still play for Calipari, and play on a fairly talented team that would compete for the SEC title.