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View Full Version : Interesting Jordan Brand Classic Interview with Ryan Kelly, Henry, and Henson



BD80
04-16-2009, 02:24 PM
Ryan was interviewed about the recruiting process with other "top" recruits Xavier Henry (uncommitted), Alex Oriakhi (UConn) and John Henson (UNC).

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/kevin_armstrong/04/16/jordan.roundtable/index.html



What was your reaction to Brandon Jennings going to Europe last year? Did you consider it?

...

Henson: ... he couldn't play college, right? Well, I guess that's the only option unless you go JUCO. He did what he had to do.

Kelly: ... I don't know if it would be an option I'd look at. Personally I'd want to get somewhat of an education.

Henson: True that. That's a very Duke-like answer.

There is more give and take between Ryan and Henson about Ryan playing double bass in the school orchestra.

weezie
04-16-2009, 03:36 PM
Henson comes off as a real wise guy. I predict he'll fit right into Danny Green's dancing shoes.

Hancock 4 Duke
04-16-2009, 03:47 PM
I'm guessing this Henson guy is a smarty, all by myself, don't talk to me kinda guy.

SupaDave
04-16-2009, 03:48 PM
Sorry guys, I liked the interview so much I'm changing the title of the thread.

huied
04-16-2009, 03:56 PM
Henson does seem like the annoying, obnoxious type. Here's to hoping Kelly goes 4-0 at UNC while Henson's there. :D

zingit
04-16-2009, 03:57 PM
Yeah, that was an interesting interview. I don't get what is so funny about playing the bass; I always thought the bass was a pretty bada** instrument, but maybe I'm just an orchestra nerd. Also, I thought it was a little distasteful for Henson to bring up Brandon Jennings' bad SAT scores (even if it's true) and to say he "hasn't been playing against the best players." That may be true too, but respect your opponents! So yeah, I don't think I'll have any problem working up some Henson-hate next year.

SupaDave
04-16-2009, 04:10 PM
Henson does seem like the annoying, obnoxious type. Here's to hoping Kelly goes 4-0 at UNC while Henson's there. :D

What? I thought the kid was hilarious. Very quick wit.

kelly: I give shoes away.
Henson: What size do you wear?
Kelly: 16
Henson: Me too. So what are you giving away this week?

That's just classic. And the rivalry continues...

SupaDave
04-16-2009, 04:14 PM
Yeah, that was an interesting interview. I don't get what is so funny about playing the bass; I always thought the bass was a pretty bada** instrument, but maybe I'm just an orchestra nerd. Also, I thought it was a little distasteful for Henson to bring up Brandon Jennings' bad SAT scores (even if it's true) and to say he "hasn't been playing against the best players." That may be true too, but respect your opponents! So yeah, I don't think I'll have any problem working up some Henson-hate next year.

He didn't bring up his grades - EVERYONE knew that Jennings either had some tough academic related decisions. And I'm not sure if you've noticed but Henson's pretty good and from a small city. Chances are he hasn't seen a lot of the top flight talent - except in these all star games.

And playing the bass in basketball terms is right up there with JJ writing poetry. It's so NON-athletic that it has to be funny. Lots of basketball players have hidden talents - most of them don't want you to know.

FerryFor50
04-16-2009, 04:29 PM
What? I thought the kid was hilarious. Very quick wit.

kelly: I give shoes away.
Henson: What size do you wear?
Kelly: 16
Henson: Me too. So what are you giving away this week?

That's just classic. And the rivalry continues...

That was Henry, not Henson.

How many pairs of sneakers do you have in your house right now?

Henry: Six. Enough to wear a pair everyday. Blessed to have some shoes.

Henson: About 13.

Kelly: I give away shoes.

Henry: What size are you?

Kelly: 16.

Henry: Me too. What are you giving away this week?

zingit
04-16-2009, 04:29 PM
Yeah, that was an interesting interview. I don't get what is so funny about playing the bass; I always thought the bass was a pretty bada** instrument, but maybe I'm just an orchestra nerd. Also, I thought it was a little distasteful for Henson to bring up Brandon Jennings' bad SAT scores (even if it's true) and to say he "hasn't been playing against the best players." That may be true too, but respect your opponents! So yeah, I don't think I'll have any problem working up some Henson-hate next year.


He didn't bring up his grades - EVERYONE knew that Jennings either had some tough academic related decisions. And I'm not sure if you've noticed but Henson's pretty good and from a small city. Chances are he hasn't seen a lot of the top flight talent - except in these all star games.

And playing the bass in basketball terms is right up there with JJ writing poetry. It's so NON-athletic that it has to be funny. Lots of basketball players have hidden talents - most of them don't want you to know.

Like I said before, regardless of the statement's truth or how well-known it is, to point out your peers' academic failings or lack of athletic talent is distasteful. You can talk about Brandon Jennings without talking about his SAT scores; the other kids did. And if Henson's played in all-star games, then why couldn't he have mentioned that? He basically said he's never played against anyone that impressed him. That's just rude.

And yes, I understand that other kids will make fun of those of us who play(ed) an instrument--doesn't mean I have to like it. ;)

shadowfax336
04-16-2009, 04:53 PM
What? I thought the kid was hilarious. Very quick wit.

kelly: I give shoes away.
Henson: What size do you wear?
Kelly: 16
Henson: Me too. So what are you giving away this week?

That's just classic. And the rivalry continues...

Thats actually Henry who said that, but I do agree that I though Henson sounded like fun.

crimsonandblue
04-16-2009, 04:53 PM
From everything I've heard and read, including those who've spoken with him directly, Henson is a hilarious, great kid.

But whatever.

Greg_Newton
04-16-2009, 04:59 PM
It's dangerous to try and read too much into anyone's personality/character based on a text-only transcript. For all we know, they were all laughing and screwing around the whole time. I thought this was a funny little exchange though:


What did you think of John Calipari leaving Memphis for Kentucky?

Henry: I was just shocked that he left Memphis. That's all I can say on that.

Henson: I just felt really sorry for Xavier.

Henry: No, you didn't. You just kept coming up to me at [the] McDonald's [All-American game] saying, "You've got no coach. What are you going to do now?"

SupaDave
04-16-2009, 06:36 PM
That was Henry, not Henson.

How many pairs of sneakers do you have in your house right now?

Henry: Six. Enough to wear a pair everyday. Blessed to have some shoes.

Henson: About 13.

Kelly: I give away shoes.

Henry: What size are you?

Kelly: 16.

Henry: Me too. What are you giving away this week?

Dang - I was really praying Henson needed shoes. :)

FireOgilvie
04-16-2009, 06:54 PM
I thought it was interesting that they unanimously described Peyton Siva (Louisville) as best athlete, Wally Judge (Kansas State) as best dunker, and John Jenkins (Vanderbilt) as best shooter. High praise for those three. I didn't know much about Wally Judge, but I found a video that might explain why he's the unanimous best dunker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7FktNEY20&feature=related

Double DD
04-17-2009, 03:05 AM
I thought it was interesting that they unanimously described Peyton Siva (Louisville) as best athlete, Wally Judge (Kansas State) as best dunker, and John Jenkins (Vanderbilt) as best shooter. High praise for those three. I didn't know much about Wally Judge, but I found a video that might explain why he's the unanimous best dunker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7FktNEY20&feature=related

It should be mentioned that Derrick Favors also got everyone's vote for best rebounder except for Alex Oriakhi, who voted for himself:p (no bias there).

FireOgilvie
04-17-2009, 03:18 AM
It should be mentioned that Derrick Favors also got everyone's vote for best rebounder except for Alex Oriakhi, who voted for himself:p (no bias there).

True. Favors is very good... I will go ahead and predict he'll be first team all-conference and will be in the running for ACC POY. The only thing stopping him from POY will be Kyle Singler (unless Henderson surprises everyone and comes back... which he should :D).

Faison1
04-17-2009, 08:00 AM
I agree with the above posters who say Henson is witty and seems to have a good sense of humor......I mean c'mon, the questions are softballs......when you've been interviewed a thousand times, you're 17-18 years old, you're considered a top-10 recruit nationally, you're bound to be a wise-as*......

If anything, Ryan came off a bit stiff.......but who knows.....we are all at the whims of the media and how they want to frame things.

I think I like Henson; it's a shame he's going to Carolina. A few years of him being a Hole can certainly change my perspective. Too bad I married one.

RelativeWays
04-17-2009, 08:38 AM
Henson is just having fun and getting aquainted with the Rivalry. Ryan, to his credit, was intentionally coy, which sort of helped the whole thing play out. People really shouldn't think less of Henson because of this, he's having fun, and he picked on Xavier Henry too.

NYDukie
04-17-2009, 09:05 AM
Let's be serious here for a second. Anyone trying to read too much into this interview transcript is trying to hang on something said. No one knows how these guys were saying what they said, the body language given or anything like that. Things written in print can be taken out of context so easily has many have seen on this board or in their personel emails/IMs to friends and colleagues. Take it for what it's worth, 4 high school kids having fun with a interview at a all-star game and reserve judgment on them until we seen them play and speak on a more regular basis after next year. I know it's tough but we can do it, especially with Mr. Henson at UNC;)

CLT Devil
04-17-2009, 10:06 AM
I actually thought Henson was pretty funny. Also interesting that Kelly played in Argentina.

You can't this too seriously. Remember the whole 'K v. Obama's Brackets' thing? I think it was just some HS kids showing their lighter side.

Sorry if it's already been asked, but is this game on TV?

ACCBBallFan
04-17-2009, 05:35 PM
I actually thought Henson was pretty funny. Also interesting that Kelly played in Argentina.

You can't this too seriously. Remember the whole 'K v. Obama's Brackets' thing? I think it was just some HS kids showing their lighter side.

Sorry if it's already been asked, but is this game on TV?

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=25978

The Jordan Brand Classic will take place on Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m. ET live on ESPN2 at Madison Square Garden.

The black jersey team, coached by Dan Hurley of St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), roster will include: Kenny Boynton (Plantation, Fla.), Avery Bradley (Henderson, Nev.), Dominic Cheek (Jersey City, NJ), DeMarcus Cousins (Mobile, Ala.), Derrick Favors (Atlanta), Abdul Gaddy (Tacoma, Wash.), Jordan Hamilton (Compton, Calif.), John Henson (Tampa, Fla.), Lamont Jones (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Ryan Kelly (Raleigh, N.C.), Alex Oriakhi (Tilton, N.H.), Durand Scott (New York).

The white jersey team, coached by Stu Vetter of Montrose Christian School (Rockville, Md.), roster will include: Keith Gallon (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Xavier Henry (Oklahoma City), Marcus Jordan (Chicago), Wally Judge (Jacksonville, Fla.), Tommy Mason-Griffin ( Houston), Daniel Orton (Oklahoma City), Mason Plumlee (Arden, N.C.), Renardo Sidney (Los Angeles), John Wall (Raleigh, N.C.), Royce White (Minnetonka, Minn.), Jamil Wilson (Racine, Wis.), Mouphtauo Yarou (Rockville, Md.)

kmspeaks
04-19-2009, 05:21 PM
Let's be honest. Most of us probably read that interview looking for something to hate about Henson because he's going to Carolina. If he was one of our recruits or was going somewhere besides Chapel Hill he'd be a funny guy who was having a fun with the interview.

dukelifer
04-19-2009, 05:54 PM
Let's be honest. Most of us probably read that interview looking for something to hate about Henson because he's going to Carolina. If he was one of our recruits or was going somewhere besides Chapel Hill he'd be a funny guy who was having a fun with the interview.
Henson has a very good wit and is very engaging. He is clearly going to be a quote machine and will generate a lot of bulletin board material. the scary thing is that he will likely back it up. He is very, very good and will get better. He and Davis will be a handful.

mo.st.dukie
04-19-2009, 06:28 PM
He and Davis will be a handful.

This probably belongs in another thread but this is the exact reason why I think it's crazy that people think the only way Duke will be successful is if they find a "banger". Neither Davis or Henson are "bangers" and yet they can be very effective, sometimes dominate, in the post because of their length and athleticism.

dermite
04-19-2009, 07:00 PM
Henson does seem like the annoying, obnoxious type. Here's to hoping Kelly goes 4-0 at UNC while Henson's there. :D

1-0. One year for Henson. ;)

ForeverBlowingBubbles
04-19-2009, 08:02 PM
I thought it was pretty hilarious in that espn chat the other week with Mason P. when he was ask if he had been working on his floor slap... gotta laugh when its earned.

SupaDave
04-20-2009, 07:54 PM
This probably belongs in another thread but this is the exact reason why I think it's crazy that people think the only way Duke will be successful is if they find a "banger". Neither Davis or Henson are "bangers" and yet they can be very effective, sometimes dominate, in the post because of their length and athleticism.

Interesting point but I'd also like to point out that these guys would also be the "athletic" guy we're looking for. Patterson is a banger but Monroe not so much. We're not looking for bangers necessarily.

COYS
04-20-2009, 08:19 PM
Interesting point but I'd also like to point out that these guys would also be the "athletic" guy we're looking for. Patterson is a banger but Monroe not so much. We're not looking for bangers necessarily.

The Plumlees certainly fit the bill, though and while Mason might not be quite as far along in his development as Henson, yet, he's got the potential. It will also be interesting to see how much of a leap Miles makes from freshman year to sophomore year.