BENJAMIN LIEBERMAN — This October, NBA Draft Prospect Victor Wembanyama was the talk of the basketball world, captivating everyone with his 7’5 frame and unique perimeter shooting. However, Wembanyama is not the only generational talent in his draft class. A point guard for the NBA G-League team Ignite, Scoot Henderson is someone many NBA franchises should have on their radar as a future cornerstone of a franchise.
Henderson was born and raised outside of Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia. He attended Kell High School, where he averaged 32 points per game as a Junior. Henderson opted to forgo his senior year of high school so that he could join G-League Ignite and play against NBA level competition. As a 17 year old, he played a back-up role, with the team choosing to play through Dyson Daniels and Jaden Hardy, who were both eligible for the 2022 draft. Daniels went eighth overall to the Pelicans and Hardy went 37th to the Mavericks. Despite his lack of ample playing time, Henderson averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 steals in 21 games. He finished second on the team in assists and steals and showed signs of his star potential with a thirty point game and two twenty point games. Henderson has also seemingly made great strides this off-season, putting up twenty-eight points on 54% shooting, along with nine assists and five rebounds in his matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the French professional team Metropolitans 92.
Henderson is a shifty combo guard with explosive finishing around the rim, who has drawn player comparisons to Derrick Rose, Russel Westbrook, and Baron Davis. Slightly undersized at 6’2, He makes up for his height with his incredible athleticism and 6’9 wingspan. He excels in transition, where his speed and ability to finish with both power and finesse makes him almost unguardable. Henderson’s only weakness is his lack of a three-point shot, as he shot 20% from deep in his first season with Ignite. However, it is worth noting that Henderson went straight from a high school three-point line to an NBA one, and considering his consistent mid range shot, his outside shot shouldn’t be an issue much longer.
All in all, Henderson is a rare prospect with near-unlimited potential, who would be the highlight of most draft classes. While many NBA teams have hopes of attaining the number one pick and rebuilding around Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson is more than just a consolation prize, and he has all of the tools necessary to be an NBA star.
The Dutch Report 