Kansas Jayhawks: Is the "X-Factor" on His Way?

Prep shooting guard Xavier Henry, the top recruit in the nation, is backing out at Memphis, and it appears Kansas is the program most likely to land him.

After the McDonald's All-American game, in which Henry scored 14 points in a variety of ways, his father Carl Henry told Rivals.com that his son is leaning heavily towards joining the Jayhawks. 

On Saturday, the elder Henry told the Lawrence Journal World that his son wants to sign with KU as soon as he is released from his letter of intent to the University of Memphis.

Xavier, who was set to play with the Tigers next season, changed his mind after John Calipari left for the University of Kentucky.

The hot recruit should be released by Monday, his father said. Xavier is thought to still be considering KU, Memphis, and Kentucky, but many believe family ties (both Carl and Xavier's mother, Barbara Adkins, played in Lawrence) will lead to the Jayhawks being his choice.

Carl also stated that his other son, C.J. Henry, would like to transfer from Memphis to join his brother at Kansas.

C.J. was set to go to the University of Kansas to play basketball four years ago, but after his senior year of high school in 2005, the New York Yankees made him their first-round pick.

Another Kansas recruit, Lance Stephenson, who also had 14 points in the McDonald's All-American game, was scheduled to make his school decision after the game.

Stephenson was to choose between Kansas, Maryland, and St. John's, but in the wake of the change at Memphis and Henry's decision to ask for his release, he decided not to do so at that time.

Many experts believed that "Sir Lancelot" was very close to going to Kansas but that he might not want to share the spotlight should "X" decide to go there. 

John Wall, the nation's top point guard prospect, also remains undecided. Wall is being recruited by Baylor, Duke, North Carolina, and Kansas.  He made a visit to Duke on Monday, March 30, but has given no indication of preference.

In other Jayhawks news, Bill Self has solidified himself as one of the elite coaches in the nation. The 2008-09 Big 12 Coach of the Year was recently named the Associated Press and United States Basketball Association National Coach of the Year.

 In 1977, the inaugural McDonald's All-American team was named. Legendary Kansas guard Darnell Valentine was named to this squad.

In 1979, the game converted to its current form, in which it highlights the best high school players in the nation. 

Here is a list of former Jayhawks that have been named to this squad:

Cole Aldrich ('07), Darrell Arthur ('06), Jeff Boschee ('98), Rick Calloway ('85), Mario Chalmers ('05), Eric Chenowith ('97), Sherron Collins ('06), Nick Collison ('99), Chris Davis ('92), Ben Davis ('91), Micah Downs ('05), Greg Dreiling ('81), Lester Earl ('96), Kenny Gregory ('97, MVP), J.R. Giddens ('03), Tony Guy ('78), Darrin Hancock ('90), Raef LaFrentz ('94), Mike Maddox ('87), Danny Manning ('84), Aaron Miles ('01), Paul Pierce ('95), Mark Randall ('86), Calvin Rayford ('91), Ryan Robertson ('95), Wayne Simien ('01), Darnell Valentine ('77), and Jacque Vaughn ('93, MVP).