We have been flooded with emails from readers wanting to know where we think certain 2009 basketball recruits will end up. So we got together, pulled the info we have and the rumors we hear, and came up with some predictions. This is purely speculation on our part.
Xavier Henry: This would appear to be the worst kept secret in Memphis. Many people that we know are close to the Memphis program, and even more that claim to be, have told us that Henry himself has notified the Memphis coaching staff of his intentions. After almost pulling the trigger earlier this summer, his brother enrolling at Memphis, and the many, many reports of this being a done deal, we have no choice but to think X will be a Memphis Tiger. From what we hear, Henry thinks that the Memphis program is better suited to get him to the NBA after only one year of college. He may be right. Memphis plays in a weak conference where players like Henry could dominate from the get go. Unless Bill Self and the Kansas program blow the doors off Xavier during his official visit on October 17th, we predict he will be a Tiger.
John Wall: This one is a little more cloudy. Wall’s former coach, Dwon Clifton, is now on the Baylor coaching staff. When Baylor made the hire, the hot rumor was that Wall would shortly follow. As it turns out, Kansas is the only official visit Wall has been on and he has yet to schedule any others. It is rumored that he will visit Memphis (maybe as early as Oct 17th), Baylor, and Oregon before deciding. We would also suggest you don’t hold your breath on Wall deciding before spring. Wall says he has no leader, but it appears that Memphis and Kansas have been front of mind for Wall lately. Our prediction? We think John Wall stays close to home at NC State
Lance Stephenson: Lance “Born ready” Stephenson is on of the most followed high school players the nation has seen since Sebastian Telfair, who also played at Lincoln High School. Lance and some around him have each named different schools as places he is interested in. Kansas, Memphis, St. John’s, USC, and UCLA have all been mentioned. At the end of the day, we don’t think Lance can leave the limelight of NYC. St. John’s.
Thomas Robinson: Robinson now says that Kansas and Memphis are his final two after getting back from his official visit to Memphis this past weekend. He made the trip to Lawrence during the weekend of September 20th, when John Wall visited too. After that visit, it was rumored that Robinson would go ahead and give his verbal commit to Kansas. He didn’t, and made another visit. It seems unlikely that Kansas would take both Robinson and Daniel Orton, so it might turn into a game of “who commits first.” We think Robinson does, to Kansas.
Daniel Orton: Obviously since we think Robinson is going to Kansas and we don’t believe that Kansas would take both Orton and Robinson, we predict that Orton will commit to Kentucky.
Dominic Cheek: Cheek is certainly interesting. Cheek has east coast schools UCONN and Villanova hoping that he stays in the east and play in one of their programs. Memphis and Kansas are hoping that Cheek is willing to get away from the east to play for them. In the end, again, being fairly close to home is too important. Our prediction? Villanova.
Elijah Johnson: Kansas and Oklahoma seem to be the two schools that will be battling for the uber athletic Johnson. Johnson will be visiting Kansas on October 17th, and we don’t think it will be long after that before Johnson is a Jayhawk to be.
Shiver
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