[Rocketfan]

C.J. Henry was a walk-on at Memphis last season who didn't see any game action because of a foot injury. Yet he and his former employer, the New York Yankees, may hold the key to the biggest recruiting battle of the year.

It's a plot worthy of Shakespeare: C.J. Henry's brother, Xavier, is the No. 8 player on the Rivals 150. Xavier agreed to play at Memphis figuring he'd get to play with his brother before turning pro after his freshman year. But after John Calipari left for Kentucky, plans changed. Now, the Henrys are considering staying at Memphis, following Calipari to Kentucky or going to the school their father played basketball for, Kansas. Waiting in the wings is Brooklyn prep star Lance Stephenson who doesn't seem to want to make his college decision until he knows whether the Henrys will go to Kansas or not. And making all of this possible is the New York Yankees.

The Yankees, you see, signed C.J. out of high school in 2005 (after he had committed to play basketball for Kansas). Three years later C.J. gave up his baseball dream to play at Memphis. At the time it was reported that C.J.'s contract with the Yankees stipulated that the team would pay for his college education should he ever want to return to school. So, when C.J. did just that in 2008, the Yankees footed the bill and C.J. joined the Tigers basketball team as a walk-on. (Because of his deal with the Yanks, C.J. wasn't eligible for a scholarship.) Due to that deal, Henry won't require a scholarship next year should he stay at Memphis or transfer to Kansas or Kentucky, a nice bonus for Bill Self or Calipari, who won't have to free up scholarship room for both Henry brothers. Got all that?

My question is, how does the NCAA, master of the arcane and illogical rule, allow professional sports teams to do this? If NCAA athletes can't get jobs during the school year that pay more than $2,000, how are some allowed to send tuition bills to Hank Steinbrenner while suiting up for John Calipari?

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball ... aab,157703

[Ed Dantes]

That's hilarious.

But you'd think that anyone who accepts any sort of funds or financial help from a professional team would lose their amateur status, and thus, would be ineligible for college ball -- and not just ineligible for a scholarship, but ineligible to play, period.

[olldflame]

The NCAA's rules are bordering on bizarre in that they are VERY stringent about some things, and yet you can be a wealthy professional in one sport and have no eligibility issues at all in another.

[Ed Dantes]

The NCAA's rules are bordering on bizarre in that they are VERY stringent about some things, and yet you can be a wealthy professional in one sport and have no eligibility issues at all in another.

Didn't some kid from Colorado run afoul of that because he was a professional skiier, but wanted to play football? What was that about?

[BJWilliams]

Yes teh Jeremy Bloom situation. He was getting endorsements for his freestyle skiing exploits (and was actually a world champ if memory serves me correctly). Trouble was teh NCAA found out about his skiing endorsements and would not let him play football for Colorado. So he stuck to skiing but did get to play a couple years in the NFL. He was actually a real burner (had a 96 yd TD in a game)

[flamesbball84]

the henrys are going to kansas

[TDDance234]

...and Kentucky fans are in full meltdown mode.

[olldflame]

The NCAA's rules are bordering on bizarre in that they are VERY stringent about some things, and yet you can be a wealthy professional in one sport and have no eligibility issues at all in another.

Didn't some kid from Colorado run afoul of that because he was a professional skiier, but wanted to play football? What was that about?

That had to do with product endorsements, which was how he financed his skiing career. Apparently they are not allowed at all, whereas If he had just gotten a salary from a professional ski team of some sort, it would have been OK. Unfortunately, that's not the way it works in skiing.

Danny Ainge played in the Majors, and was still able to play basketball at BYU. Chris Weinke was a bonus baby in baseball and it was no problem for him to play football later at FSU. There have been a lot of college athletes who played minor league baseball in the summer. I think Ricky Williams was another one.

[Ed Dantes]

Hmmm... in that case, you're opening Pandora's Box (as we've just seen with the Henry's)...

I remember a few years ago when the New York Yankees held the rights to a guy named Drew Henson, who used to be the QB at Michigan... Henson's baseball career didn't pan out (couldn't hit a curve ball), but he was still under contract with the Yankees. The Cowboys wanted him -- I suggested at the time that the Cowboys should draft the best college baseball player and trade him straight up for Henson.

It didn't turn out that way -- but wouldn't it have been funny if it did?

[flames1971]

...and Kentucky fans are in full meltdown mode.

So sad

[Fumblerooskies]

Somehow, I think the Cats will survive...

[flames1971]

Somehow, I think the Cats will survive...

OH BROTHER ...............................................................

[flamesbball84]

...and Kentucky fans are in full meltdown mode.

Not really. Most with a brain realized he was going to Kansas. Besides, UK is getting a JUCO transfer at the same position that Calipari wanted just as much as Xavier.