Kentucky apparently moved quickly after highly-regarded wing prospect Xavier Henry cast his basketball lot with Kansas. UK filled the void with junior college swingman Darnell Dodson, one of the players who originally signed with Memphis and then followed Coach John Calipari to Kentucky.
Dodson, a 6-foot-7 player, committed to UK on Wednesday night, according to the website Kentucky Ink. As of mid-afternoon, UK had not confirmed the signing.
Earlier in the day, Henry’s father Carl said his son was “100 percent” committed to Kansas.
Henry made it official by announcing for the Jayhawks on Thursday. Kansas Coach Bill Self hailed Henry as the “highest-rated player we’ve ever signed” and forecast good things ahead.
“Few players in high school process the body, strength, explosion and outside shooting Xavier has,” Self said in a mid-afternoon teleconference. “You have to defend him anywhere on the floor.”
Recruiting analysts saw Dodson as a good Plan B.
“He’s not going to score like Xavier Henry,” analyst Brick Oettinger of the Prep Stars recruiting service said of Dodson. “He’s not that good an outside shooter and scorer. Henry has a knack for scoring.”
But, Oettinger added, Dodson might be a better athlete than Henry and should be a contributing player for Kentucky.
“He’s a good all-around basketball player,” said Oettinger, who acknowledged that he had not seen Dodson play since the player’s final high school season of 2005-06. “He plays defense. He’s team oriented. He’s a blender type. He doesn’t have to shoot it all the time.”
When Dodson was a high school senior in Greenbelt, Md., Prep Stars rated him as a top 100 national prospect, Oettinger said.
New assistant Orlando Antigua has a history with Dodson. Antigua originally recruited Dodson for Pittsburgh.
Dodson was enrolled and taking classes at Pitt during the summer and fall of 2007 before it was determined that he was ineligible due to NCAA Clearinghouse issues. He transferred to Miami Dade in October, 2007.
Dodson wanted to return to Pitt but Big East rules prevented his return. So he went to Miami Dade Community College.
Dodson redshirted during the 2007-08 season, Kentucky Ink said.
While only at Pitt briefly, Dodson had time to impress. In one pickup game, he made six straight three-point shots.
Dodson committed to Memphis after a visit in October. After Calipari moved to Kentucky, Dodson re-opened his recruitment.
Dodson averaged more than 15 points and five rebounds for Miami Dade CC this past season.
15 comments ↓
Xavier and CJ go to Kansas. Great! This is the second time Coach Cal has given Bill Self a national title at the expense of Memphis.
Nolan Dennis goes to Baylor. Great!
I can’t believe people coming on the board to complain about the recruiting. Let’s get real. Coach Cal will not get all the 5 stars. Cousins was a hecka of a start. Give Calipari a few years to get rolling, and he’ll get as many or not more of the elites than Duke or UNC. That was the big problem before. Kentucky was not able to contend mostly with those schools and also Florida. Not in more. I’m not complaining. I feel great about Coach Cal’s seemingly tireless quest to sign the best of the best.
I’m not complaining; I’m from Memphis and a Memphis Tigers fan. Our program has been devastated so I shed no tears for you guys not getting Xavier and CJ, or Nolan Dennis.
You can have Dodson, and cross your fingers on Cousins qualifying.
if we cant get henry then were focusing on wall. in my opinion stewart transfers along with liggins with these two signings, and harris never sees the floor again. im not predicting a worst to first season but it sure looks like it could be just that if the team fits together like the old days.
I feel sorry for all the memphis fans…:(
Someone is jealous…
We lose the Xavier sweepstakes and end up with Dodson? The Prep Star analyst in the article even said he hasn’t seen Dodson play in 2 years. WTF!?! So far all we have to show for $3+ Million we gave Cal is one 5-Star recruit (who may not even be academically eligible). Step it up Cal or you will go from wearing KY blue to getting the Pink slip. Hopefully we can get Wall.
well considering we didnt lose henry or nolan dennis i feel great, we never really had a chance to sign henry considering his mom and dad both went to kansas and his brother signed with kansas out of high school and the location of the school, he was kansas’ to lose not kentuckys but to even get interest form henry is great. As for Dennis Cal just stopped recruiting him so uk didnt lose him either. Cal has only been here for a couple of weeks and already signed a 5* the #2 player in the nation and 4* Dodson, so i dont know about anybody else but im about as happy as can be about Coach Cal
Memphis Man, good luck with your recruiting. It should not be surprising that some players would want to follow the coach that recruited them. Had recruits of Tubby or Billy G (assuming he were hired by someone) wanted to follow them, I would have understood. I for one don’t wish your program any ill will. I’m ok that you don’t feel the same way, though.
It has been awhile since UKBB was exciting enough to follow in April. GO Cats!
Great pick-up. Should fit nicely with present players. Coach Cal is doing an incredible job assembling HIS team!! GO CATS!!
I’m happy that we are finally getting a recruit to look at us again. I still blame Tubby for all the short comings in recruiting at UK. I think Donna made him play Saul when he was there. We lost Gardner, and 3 others because Tubby and Donna were going to make sure that Saul was the starter on those teams. Has Tubby ever signed a player that played in the final 4 for the school he was at?
MemphisMan, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Nolan Dennis wasn’t even offered because we already have a great kid in Jon Hood coming in front of him. Check your facts before you come over here spewing your crap.
All indications is that he’s a lights out shooter froom behind the arc, so why quote someone who has not taken a look at him since 2006 when he was shorter and heavier. Kid has grown 4 inches and thinned out since then.
Hey, MemphisMan, with you all the way, Dude. As for Cousins qualifying – R J Corman can afford around the clock tutors and he has enough $$$ to pay off anybody, if you get my drift. ACT or SAT score should be no problem. GO TIGERS!!!!!!!
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