Tigers Land Yankees Minor Leaguer

Yes, you read that correctly. C.J. Henry, a minor league prospect in the New York Yankees farm system, has enrolled in classes at the University of Memphis. He will join the Tigers for the 2008-2009 season. C.J. was a former elite college basketball prospect who committed to Kansas out of high school before deciding to play baseball. He hasn’t played competitive basketball in three years so he will have to work to get into playing shape. He averaged 26 points per game at Putnam City High School.

There are two key factors hidden inside this announcement.

Number one, C.J.’s brother is Xavier Henry. Who is Xavier Henry you ask? He is one of the top prospects in the nation this season. He is a 6′6″ small forward and considered the key to the Tigers 2009 recruiting class. Xavier has narrowed his choice down to two schools, Memphis and Kansas. Those are the same two schools that C.J. considered.

Number two, the Yankees are required to pay for C.J.’s education per terms of his contract with the organization. That means C.J. will be considered a walk-on and the Tigers won’t have to use their last available scholarship on the 6′3″ point guard.

The Tigers think C.J. Henry can make an impact this season at point guard. He would either be backing up or playing alongside Tyreke Evans.