by Alex Schwartz

Xavier Henry '09 is one of the best players in America. Period. The 6'6.5 shooting guard from Putnam City (OK) is a member of the high-powered Athletes First Elite (OK) U-17 squad. The team from the Sooner State has Daniel Orton '09, Terrence Boyd '09, and Kyle Hardrick '09 in addition to Henry, making for one of America's premiere AAU squads. I saw the team play at the AAU Super Showcase in Orlando, Florida, and Xavier (pronounced Zah-Vee-A) was kind enough to speak with me after a big win.

NB: Being this team . . . [with] a lot of superstars, what do you feel your role is?
XH: Just to score. I do a lot the scoring for the team, so as long as I’m scoring I’m doing my job.

NB: Why do you choose to play with such a . . . high-quality team with so many superstars rather than a program where it’s just you as the main man?
XH: Because I like winning more than just my individual stuff. If I’m winning then everybody’s getting accolades anyway, so they’ll notice you.

NB: What is like winning so many games and so many tournaments with this great program?
XH: It’s fun. I like playing with all of them and we have a good time when we [are] playing, so it’s fun.

NB: What do you consider to be the strongest point of your game?
XH: Just my scoring, my scoring, and knowing the game, knowing more than just a one-dimensional game, I know about everything.

NB: Is there a specific way that you feel most comfortable scoring?
XH: Not really, I can do it with the ball in my hands or [without] the ball . . . in my hands with cuts and everything like that, so just any type of scoring. I’m just versatile.

NB: What’s the weakest point of your game?
XH: Probably my aggressiveness on defense, that’s what they say. . . . When I want to turn it on I turn it on, so I just got to turn it on all the time.

NB: You said ‘that’s what they say,’ what do you say?
XH: I say it’s my defense too because I don’t . . . naturally think about the defensive side as much as I do my offensive side.

NB: What are you doing to correct that?
XH: Just playing harder and focusing. I just like to focus.

NB: What colleges are you currently thinking about?
XH: Kansas, Memphis, UCLA, and Texas.

NB: Are those the only four? . . . [Are] those are your finalists?
XH: Yeah, I cut . . . it to them four.

NB: Who would you say is your top choice right now? . . . If tomorrow were signing day [and] you had to pick a school, where [would] you [be] going?
XH: I’d have to ask my mom and dad first. I’d have to talk to them.

NB: Do you know where they’re leaning right now, what they’re thinking is a good option? . . . Do you know what schools they’re right now looking at [that] they think might be the top choice for you?
XH: Probably Kansas and Memphis. Those are my top two really.

NB: What’s going to end up being the deciding factor?
XH: Just being comfortable at where I’m at, like a family environment.

NB: What do you think the chances are you end up at Kansas or Memphis?
XH: Fifty/fifty, it’s fifty/fifty right now.

NB: [What about] compared to the other two?
XH: I don’t know, it just depends. I got to take my official visits and after that . . . I’ll know.

NB: When do you plan on taking your officials?
XH: [The] earliest I can in the fall, earliest in the fall.

NB: How long do you plan on going to college for?
XH: As long as it takes to be ready for the NBA, to be truly ready for the NBA, not jump out there.

NB: What’s your opinion on the whole Brandon Jennings situation, with him going to Europe [rather than college]?
XH: He didn’t get his grades [high enough]. That’s what people that don’t get [their] grades [high enough] do. They have to resort to something else, and that was the best situation for him.

NB: What are you guys looking to accomplish in the tournament?
XH: Winning the whole thing. Winning it without a loss too, we don’t want [a] loss in pool play.

NB: What do you think you can add to younger players both on your high school team and your AAU team, like [class of 2011 high school teammate] Dominique Raney, . . . some talented young players? How can you help their game out?
XH: In practice I’m going to push him as hard as he can [go]. He [is] going [to] have to guard me and I’m [going to] guard him, and I’m just going [to] make him tough.

NB: What’s your favorite part of playing basketball?
XH: Just playing the whole the game, every single second of the game, just being able to play.

Right now Oklahoma has a great player on its hands in Xavier Henry, but he won't be there for long. He may, though, end up one state over for the Texas Longhorns. It's more likely that he will wind up playing for Bill Self at Kansas or John Calipari at Memphis. Xavier Henry is undoubtedly one of the nation's premiere players, and whichever school lands him will have a great player until he is "truly ready for the NBA," and that may not be too far away.

Scouting Report on Xavier Henry
Standing over 6'6, Xavier Henry is the complete package. He can do it all offensively from anywhere on the court. Henry is a great three-point shooter, though sometimes he does shoot a bit much, but the form on his jumpers is great. Xavier can also get to the rack easily, using great athleticism and a chiseled frame. He has superb hops and is flashy dunk, a crowd pleaser. The class of 2009 star also has a good handle, passes the ball well, and has good floor vision. Henry is can do it all on offensive. He is really a triple-threat player, as he can shoot the rock, drive to the hole, or pass it off to a teammate. He is not a standout defensively, but does not seem to be an easy opponent. All in all, Xavier Henry is one of the best players in the nation, as he can score in a number of ways and can also get the ball to teammates. 

Note- photo is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/.