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.
Henrys Get Releases; Cousins in a Holding Pattern [UPDATED]
DETROIT – While Xavier and C.J. Henry have received their releases from Memphis and are considering what to do next, DeMarcus Cousins is in a holding pattern, waiting to make his next move in the wake of Memphis naming Josh Pastneras its new head coach Monday.Carl Henry has previously said that Xavier would like to go to Kansas, but it could depend on whether C.J. gets an NCAA waiver and is able to play immediately next year, as opposed to sitting out another year. If he does get an NCAA waiver to play immediately, the brothers could potentially play together at Kansas or Kentucky. If not, Xavier could go to Kansas or Kentucky and C.J. would remain at Memphis.
Carl said that as of Tuesday morning he hadn’t spoken with Pastner since the 31-year-old was named head coach Monday.
“I spoke to him a couple times trying to get the releases but I haven’t talked to him since he became head coach,” Carl said.
Asked if Xavier might want to stay and play for Pastner, an assistant under former Memphis coach John Calipari, Carl said: “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him. I”ll see him later today at practice. I’ll talk to him then.”
If Xavier does end up at Kansas or Kentucky, Brooklyn’s Lance Stephensoncould go to either St. John’s or Maryland. Sources at St. John’s said they were hopeful but hadn’t heard anything definite as of yet.
As for the 6-10 Cousins, he orally committed to Memphis but didn’t sign.
Otis Hughley, Cousins’ high school coach at Mobile (Ala.) LeFlore, said Cousins was still huddling with his mother, who works on the weekends.
“I called and told him [Pastner was the new coach] and he was like, ‘For real?’ He was just surprised,” Hughley said Tuesday. “I’m sure it’s going to effect what he’s going to do.”
Just exactly what that is, Hughley doesn’t know. Cousins could remain at Memphis, follow Calipari to Kentucky (Cal has reached out to him) or pick another place, such as Alabama, Kansas State, N.C. State or Washington.
“He’s just deliberating with his mom and once they get together and decide,” Hughley said, “it’s gonna go fast.”
(Photo courtesy ESPN.com)
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
DETROIT – While Xavier and C.J. Henry have received their releases from Memphis and are considering what to do next, DeMarcus Cousins is in a holding pattern, waiting to make his next move in the wake of Memphis naming Josh Pastner as its new head coach Monday.
Carl Henry has previously said that Xavier would like to go to Kansas, but it could depend on whether C.J. gets an NCAA waiver and is able to play immediately next year, as opposed to sitting out another year. If he does get an NCAA waiver to play immediately, the brothers could potentially play together at Kansas or Kentucky. If not, Xavier could go to Kansas or Kentucky and C.J. would remain at Memphis.
Carl said that as of Tuesday morning he hadn’t spoken with Pastner since the 31-year-old was named head coach Monday.
“I spoke to him a couple times trying to get the releases but I haven’t talked to him since he became head coach,” Carl said.
Asked if Xavier might want to stay and play for Pastner, an assistant under former Memphis coach John Calipari, Carl said: “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him. I”ll see him later today at practice. I’ll talk to him then.”
If Xavier does end up at Kansas or Kentucky, Brooklyn’s Lance Stephenson could go to either St. John’s or Maryland. Sources at St. John’s said they were hopeful but hadn’t heard anything definite as of yet.
As for the 6-10 Cousins, he orally committed to Memphis but didn’t sign.
Otis Hughley, Cousins’ high school coach at Mobile (Ala.) LeFlore, said Cousins was still huddling with his mother, who works on the weekends.
“I called and told him [Pastner was the new coach] and he was like, ‘For real?’ He was just surprised,” Hughley said Tuesday. “I’m sure it’s going to effect what he’s going to do.”
Just exactly what that is, Hughley doesn’t know. Cousins could remain at Memphis, follow Calipari to Kentucky (Cal has reached out to him) or pick another place, such as Alabama, Kansas State, N.C. State or Washington.
“He’s just deliberating with his mom and once they get together and decide,” Hughley said, “it’s gonna go fast.”
(Photo courtesy ESPN.com)
