Arguably the most complete guard in recent NBA draft history, Scoot Henderson is far more than the expected consolation prize at Wemby’s Winless.
Scoot Henderson is almost universally tied as the second overall pick in the 2023 mock drafts. If it weren’t for Victor Wimpanyama’s talent from one generation to the next, he would have been the strongest candidate ever. We’re talking about one of the most talented draft picks in recent history.
We haven’t seen Henderson since November 18 after he suffered a broken nose and concussion, with some NBA scouts speculating that Henderson You may never fit again For G-League Ignite. There are clearly long-term goals at play here: Henderson, now in his second season with the Ignite, doesn’t have much to gain from rushing into action.
Regardless of whether or not he eventually returns, Henderson will be drafted heavily in the months leading up to the NBA Draft. It’s already cemented in place near the top of each panel. He checks several boxes on the point guard: quick athleticism, sense of pace, excellent court awareness, and the ability to score from anywhere on the field. Expect to hear a lot about Henderson between now and next summer, even if we don’t get to see him play.
Scoot Henderson NBA Biography Draft
Height: 6ft-2
Weight: 195 pounds
date of Birth: February 3, 2004
position: guard point
offensive role: the main initiator, scorer
Defensive role: protective stopper point
Projected draft range: top 3
Highlights of the NBA Draft
strength point
Any concerns about Scoot Henderson’s unimpressive height (6-foot-2) are negated by his explosive, quick-twitch athleticism and 6-foot-9 wingspan. He can rise with power and dexterity around the rim, and often dribbles shot-blockers with an impressive finish right under their noses.
Henderson can beat the defense in every way. There aren’t too many glaring weaknesses at play here: the pull-up pullover is clean and precise, he’s comfortable working his pick-and-roll, he makes great pass reads on the go, and he’s a talented slanter when he puts his head down and leads the lane. He can change his pace on a coin, his first move is up there with the NBA’s best guards, and he shows tremendous dribbling prowess.
The best NBA offenses are built around playmakers like Henderson. He can search for mismatches and torture mismatched defenders one-on-one. He is a prime driving and press threat, with a downhill speed that collapses defense and a shot-making talent to nullify even the toughest tacklers on the ball. He isn’t often praised for his defense, but Henderson wins out for his potential on this end as well for his height, effort, and athleticism.
vulnerabilities
Again, not much! Henderson is only 18 years old, so it’s only natural that he struggles with making up his mind from time to time. Almost every guard point is subject to an adjustment period in the next level. The speed of the game may challenge Henderson early on as he learns to tackle defenses faster and strike the right balance between scoring and facilitating. But in time, I have every confidence that Henderson will figure it out.
Henderson’s shooting selection wasn’t always the best, but that’s life with such a confident player. He operates with a winning attitude, and with more polish (and perhaps the guiding light of his teammates and top-level NBA coaches) should Henderson settle into a more controlled style of play. has the ability and self-confidence to make every shot and pass in the book; Now, he has to learn how to pick his spots better.
Defense is clearly a work in progress for Henderson, who like most 18-year-olds tends to find himself out of position. The athleticism and determination are there, but Henderson will have to get better at weaponizing his unique physical talents and translating them into consistent defense, rather than the occasional eye-popping highlight.
Final summary
Henderson will have to hold off the Thompson twins, Nick Smith Jr., and others in the race for second place on draft night. But he’s the frontrunner now, and for good reason. NBA teams already have more than enough bar to believe strongly in Henderson’s future. He has the intangibles, measurements, and reputation on the field to earn a scout of any franchise.
He has All-Star and All-NBA potential, with the skill set to rank one day near the top of the NBA in both points and assists. Henderson is the kind of player who will have the ball in his hands frequently from day one, no matter who is drafting him. It’s a legitimate core engine and the kind of player you can build a winner around.
Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter Twitter And the Instagram and subscribe to our daily email newsletter, whiteboard.
[ad_2]
