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NBA Draft Prospect Review: Scoot Henderson
Ryan Hinske
On the heels of another underrated All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City where Mac
McClung earned nineteen 50s and one 49 from the Dunk Contest judges, Damian Lillard hit all
of his last four shots to edge Buddy Hield in the Three Point Competition, and Jayson Tatum
broke the All-Star single-game scoring record with a double nickel, the Rising Stars competition
featured the all-but-set-in-stone 2nd overall pick, Scoot Henderson of the G-League Ignite.
The 6’3, 195 pound point guard that just celebrated his 19th birthday on February 3rd
went for only 4 points, going 1-5 and 0-2 from three point range. He also had 2 assists, 3
turnovers, and 2 steals. What does this underwhelming performance mean for Henderson’s
career?
Spoiler alert: absolutely nothing. Not only does Scoot have the physical skills to be an
NBA superstar, but he also has the work ethic to improve his game, evidenced by his dramatic
growth in 3-point proficiency.
Henderson has an excellent ball handle that flows smoothly into a jump shot, and he can
rise above players that may even be much bigger than him. He can stop on a dime, a very undervalued skill for shot-creating guards, and has a nice mid-range touch. Any layup angle for
Scoot is a good angle, evidenced by his crafty finishing over Victor Wembanyama during their
two meetings in October. Something very interesting about his driving game is that Scoot is
slow and methodical, but can also burst into hyperdrive. This rare skill paired with his decision
making makes defending him an almost insurmountable task.
Scoot has a laser-quick kick out pass and an unbelievable bounce pass for a 19 year
old. Another way he playmakers at an elite level is through the use of the head fake, using his
eyes to mislead defenders and hitting open shooters.
Henderson’s jumpshot is still not NBA-level, but the numbers tell us that he’s working
hard to improve it. I expect Scoot to have a good jump shot added to his arsenal by the time he
signs his 2nd contract in the league.
Defensively, Henderson often falls asleep when guarding one-on-one, and he tends to
get flat-footed when guarding ball handlers. He has great hands and can poke the ball out of
dribblers, but he’s not a good communicator and has lapses in judgment when adjusting and
making rotations. Undoubtedly, his defense is why he has no shot of being the #1 pick this year.
What separates Scoot from the others is his ability to lead. The first time I learned of
Henderson was when Sports Illustrated covered his story in their November issue of 2021.
Scoot has six siblings that live and breathe basketball. Their father, Chris, immersed his children
in the game of basketball while teaching them the importance of being humble and holding their
heads up high. Scoot is described in the article as “serious, reserved, hyper focused, mature
beyond his years but a kid at heart, a sensitive soul” (I highly recommend reading this article to
learn more about Scoot and his journey). The way he is described gives scouts goosebumps.
Scoot has the spirit, work ethic, and mindset of an NBA superstar.
It is difficult to compare Henderson to any one guard because of his unique skill set, so I
am labeling his ceiling as a prime Chris Paul - John Wall hybrid. He has the size and burst of
Wall combined with the methodical, meticulous decision-making of CP3. Like Wall and Paul, his
size may limit him defensively, but his leadership holds the team together. He works endlessly
on his game, staying healthy, and maintaining focus much like Wall and Paul. This is a Hall of
Famer at his peak. His floor is obviously high, as he will always be able to operate with his
athleticism at the very least and always have a place as a spark-plug scorer at his worst. This
isn’t easy to say as a student in Chicago, but I think locals will be able to visualize my reasoning
for Scoot’s floor in real time. Scoot’s floor is ROOKIE Derrick Rose. Think about it - a 6’3 guard
and natural leader who can get to the paint with ease and create from his athleticism but
maintains a raw understanding of defensive concepts and has room to grow as a jump shooter.
I truly think that Scoot won’t be any less brilliant in the NBA than a pre-realized Derrick Rose. If
his numbers are worse than Rose’s rookie year next season, I will be surprised. This is why
Scoot Henderson is special and will rightfully be the 2nd pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
To learn more about Scoot Henderson, the rest of the 2023 draft class and the
future of the NBA, tune in to NBA Tomorrow on Radio DePaul Sports every Tuesday at
12:00 PM Central.