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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / November 22.
  • Now that Xavier Henry is headed to Kansas, the college basketball world is waiting on Lance Stephenson.

    Will Stephenson sign with hometown St. John’s? Will he surprise some people and pick Maryland? Or will another school, such as Kentucky or Memphis, both of whom were spurned by Henry, jump in the mix.

    “This is my life. I want to go somewhere that I’m comfortable and I can play at,” Stephenson said on March 31 when he delayed his announcement for the second time.

    As of Wednesday afternoon, the Stephenson Camp is still keeping a low profile, perhaps waiting for Henry’s official announcement on Thursday at Putnam City High School.

    Another factor in Lance’s decision could be the fate of Maryland point guard Greivis Vasquez. Vasquez announced Wednesday night that he would declare for the NBA Draft but would not hire an agent, meaning he could return next season.

    Xavier and C.J. Henry have decided to play for Kansas, a source with knowledge of their decision said.

    “They’re going to end up going to Kansas,” the source said.

    Xavier, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2009 by Rivals, will  hold a press conference at 11:15 a.m. Thursday in the East Gym at Putnam City (Ok.) High School, according to Putnam coach A.D. Burtschi.

    Burtschi said he had not spoken with Xavier or Carl Henry about the decision, but said Xavier would be a tremendous addition to his future university.

    “After having coached the young man for four years and watch him be a significant part of our two state championships, and being around him as a person and a player, I think he’s going to be a phenomenal player at the next  level,” Burtschi said. “He’s going to bring a lot to the table.”

    John Calipari will bring his Kentucky team to Madison Square Garden for a showdown with Jim Calhoun and UConn in the SEC-Big East Invitational Dec. 9.

    St. John’s — which may or may not feature Lance Stephenson at that point — will take on Georgia in the other game of the doubleheader.

    Syracuse will play Florida and DePaul will meet Mississippi State on a Dec. 10 in Tampa.

    In their only meeting, UConn beat Kentucky 87-83 in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.

    The Xavier and C.J. Henry Sweepstakes took another turn Tuesday night when Carl Henry announced that his sons would not visit Kentucky this week.

    “They’re not visiting,” Carl said in a phone interview. “[Xavier’s] going to a prom Friday.”

    Several sites are reporting that the Henrys have decided on Kansas, but Carl said no decision had yet been reached.

    “I think they’re going to decide this week,” he said in a phone interview. “To me they know enough. Kansas is Kansas. Kentucky is Kentucky.”

    A Kansas source said Tuesday they had not heard directly from the family, but a source very close to the situation said: “They’re going to end up going to Kansas.”

    John Wall said he probably won’t be able to cut his list down until next week after he visits Miami this weekend.

    “To be honest it might be Monday,” Wall said Tuesday by phone. “I gotta go on my visit to Miami Friday and decide after that.”

    The 6-foot-4 Wall said last week at Jordan Brand practice in New York that he was considering Baylor, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Miami and N.C. State as his possible destinations. He added that he hoped to cut that list down to “three or four” sometime soon.

    He said he was not considering the NBA Draft even if he might be the No. 1 or 2 overall pick.

    I think everyone is ready for this Xavier Henry/C.J. Henry/Lance Stephenson situation to come to an end…Here are a few updates on that and other related topics.

    **A source within the Kentucky program said they hope to “hear something by the end of the day” regarding a visit by the Henrys. As I wrote yesterday, Carl Henry said the boys would visit Kentucky this weekend. Xavier also says in the above interview with The Shiver, “I think me and my brother are going to take a visit up there.”

    However, Jayhawkslant.com reported that Xavier has his prom on Friday, meaning if he were to visit Kentucky this weekend, it couldn’t happen until Saturday…Stay tuned.

    **Will Coleman, the 6-9 big man from Miami-Dade College, told Memphis coach Josh Pastner during a Monday visit in Miami that he will honor his commitment to the school.

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