Stories for April 22, 2009

Lead stories

Morning

Xavier Henry calls news conference for 11:15 a.m. Thursday to announce college choice

Many sources say top-rated recruit will choose Kansas

Xavier Henry will hold a news conference at 11:15 a.m., Thursday, at Putnam City High School's gymnasium to announce his college choice, Putnam City athletic director A.D. Burtschi said Wednesday morning.

Stories

KUsports.com plans live stream of Xavier Henry press conference

Touted basketball recruit Xavier Henry appears to be ready to make his decision about where he’ll play college basketball next season.

New retention agreement ready to keep Perkins here past June 30

Bonus would equal more than $3 million

Kansas Athletics will be on the hook for more than $1.5 million to cover Lew Perkins’ personal income taxes in addition to his $2.05 million bonus if Perkins remains as athletic director through June 30, according to estimates from a certified public accountant.

Briscoe reinstated to KU football team

Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe has been reinstated to the Kansas football team, KU coach Mark Mangino announced Wednesday.

Xavier Henry calls news conference for 11:15 a.m. Thursday to announce college choice

Many sources say top-rated recruit will choose Kansas

Xavier Henry will hold a news conference at 11:15 a.m., Thursday, at Putnam City High School’s gymnasium to announce his college choice, Putnam City athletic director A.D. Burtschi said Wednesday morning.

Henrys say prom will keep them from visiting Kentucky

A decision to attended Kansas is said to be near, but no confirmation as yet

Marc Maggard of Truebluekentucky.com on Tuesday night was reporting on his Web site that “Xavier Henry and C.J. Henry will commit to Kansas.” Nobody in the Henry family or sources around the Memphis, Kentucky or KU programs indicated this was the case as of late Tuesday night.

Draft decision date changing

Players who declare will have until May 8 to change their minds

College basketball underclassmen with their eyes on the NBA Draft will be forced to speed up their decision-making process starting next spring. The NCAA’s legislative council voted Monday to give non-seniors who declare for the draft until May 8 to decide whether to keep their names in the draft hat or return to college.

Big 12’s first rounders in ‘09 will leave mark

Sorrentino's lightning round

Projecting which college superstars turn into NFL standouts can be difficult (see Leaf, Ryan; Smith, Akili; Salaam, Rashaan, to name a few).

Kansas softball splits

After collecting eight hits and six runs in winning the first game of a doubleheader against Tulsa, Kansas University’s softball team was shut out in the nightcap.

Leaps of faith: Slew of Big 12 players project as first rounders at next level

With the 20th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Aqib Talib, cornerback, Kansas University. It was the only time a Big 12 Conference player heard his named called in the first round. When the 2009 draft takes place Saturday in New York, that likely won’t be the case again.

Steward taking ride on position carousel in stride

Not surprisingly, the hardest part of A.J. Steward’s transition to the receiver position has been the former quarterback’s ability to master his new responsibilities as a blocker. Of course, it’s not the physicality of the position that has given the 6-foot-4, 229-pound third-year sophomore fits. It’s the little guys tearing across the field that have been making his life difficult.

Narodowski powers KU baseball

Junior jacks two HRs in 11-2 victory

If he had hit like this two months ago, David Narodowski might still be the Kansas University baseball team’s cleanup hitter. The 5-foot-9 Narodowski contributed two home runs — his first two of the season — as the Jayhawks coasted to an 11-2 victory Tuesday over Baker at Hoglund Ballpark.

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