Henry Enrolls At Memphis, Joins Tiger Basketball Program

Henry Enrolls At Memphis, Joins Tiger Basketball Program

The 6-foot-3 guard comes to Memphis after three seasons of professional baseball.

John Calipari announced the addition of C.J. Henry to the Tiger basketnall program Thursday.

Aug. 28, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - C.J. Henry, a 6-3, 205-pound guard, took his first classes at the University of Memphis Thursday and joins the Tiger basketball program as a freshman for the 2008-09 campaign. Henry starts his collegiate career after spending the last three years playing professional baseball.

"I'm happy that a player of C.J.'s caliber would choose to play for our program and pursue his college degree at the University of Memphis," said Tiger head coach John Calipari. "I'm anxious to see where C.J. is with his conditioning. He is an exciting addition to our team."

Prior to his stint in professional baseball, Henry was a basketball standout at Putnam City High School for head coach A.D. Burtschi from 2002-05. In his career, Henry scored over 1,500 points and finished his prep playing days as the school's second all-time leading scorer. He is second on Putnam City's all-time scoring list to Alvan Adams, who went to a 13-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns.

As a senior in 2004-05, Henry helped lead the Pirates to a 25-2 overall record and the Oklahoma Class 6A Tournament semifinals. He averaged 23.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals, while shooting 58 percent from the field, 36 percent from the arc and 80 percent from the free throw line. Henry earned All-State, Super 5 and Daily Oklahoman Big All-City Team honors, and also was named the Metro Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Player for a second-straight year.

In his junior campaign in 2003-04, Henry averaged 22.4 points, 6.1 boards and 4.4 assists as the Pirates finished runner-up in the Oklahoma Class 6A Tournament. Henry was named to the Oklahoma Class 6A All-Tournament Team, and was also selected the Metro Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Player. Henry earned All-State Underclassmen recognition for a second-consecutive season.

As a sophomore, Henry averaged 19.9 points and helped Putnam City to a runner-up finish in the Oklahoma state tournament. He received All-State Underclassmen distinction. Henry played on the varsity squad as a freshman and averaged 9.4 points in 2002-03. The Pirates won the Oklahoma Class 6A title that season.

On the diamond, Henry hit .481 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and 21 stolen bases his senior season in 2005. He was named to the 2005 EA SPORTS Baseball All-America team as an infielder, and also was selected to 2005 Louisville Slugger's preseason high school All-America baseball first team as a shortstop. A year earlier, Henry was picked to play in the 2004 AFLAC All-American Baseball Classic, which was held at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md., in August 2004.

In the summer of 2005, Henry was a first-round pick (overall No. 17) of the New York Yankees in the MLB Amateur Draft. Henry made pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Yankees and hit .249 in 48 games. His professional career also had him play with the Charleston RiverDogs and Lakewood BlueClaws.