#2 Scoot Henderson
Height: 6’2
Weight: 196 pounds
Team: G League Ignite
Position: SG
Class: One year inside G League
WHO
Spencer Henderson, nicknamed Scoot because of his tendency to scoot across the floor as a baby, is a strong #2 pick in the NBA Draft, despite Brandon Miller closing in and his season-ending ankle injury.
Henderson started getting a lot of attention with his absurd high school statlines in the Georgian high school basketball leagues. With Carlton J. Kell School, he became his school’s all-time leading scorer, most notably exploding with a 53-point-performance against city rivals Osborne High. He quickly blossomed into a five-star prospect, fielding attention from Auburn, Georgia, Kansas, and more. Despite the countless scholarship offers, Henderson decided to make his own path and sign with the G League Ignite. With the team, he averages 16.5 points per game in 19 games, while grabbing 5.3 rebounds per game and adding 6.8 assists per game.
We know him best for the two-game showcase between Ignite and Metropolitans 92, where Henderson had 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists the first game, but sat out most of the second game due to a knee injury. But he has had several other big performances. Against the Memphis Hustle, he put up 20 points, dished out 14 assists, while grabbing 7 rebounds and 3 steals. He had a season-high total of 27 points against the Oklahoma City Blue and had a big double-double where he had 18 points and a whopping 16 assists.
Henderson can be described if playmaking and raw athleticism had a baby. He’s beautifully dynamic as he races from one of the court to the other, pulling off posterizing dunks over helpless defenders. His agility and pace is second to none in this draft class, and he’s unstoppable if you give him the space to drive to the hoop. He’s your Westbrook, Rose, Wade kind of guard who can explode, slash, and dance his way to the hoop. But he can dish points out as well as he can score them. The Marietta native has great vision and creative passing skills and he charges the rim frequently, helping him frequently feed his frontcourt friends.
Much like Westbrook, Henderson is not a very efficient shooter. The G League Ignite guard shoots 27.5% from three, 42.9% from the field, and 77% from the line. But there is certainly room for improvement in that regard, and his strengths overshadow that weakness by a lot.
WHY
In the age of the hyper-athletic, aggressive point guard, Henderson is a GM’s dream. He not only distributes the ball very well but can also get to the basket easily. He’s a dream on offense and solid on defense (1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game).
But his stock has slid since his injury and Brandon Miller’s recent big performances. Many Pistos pundits have suggested picking up Miller because of his ability to work off the ball and his fit size-wise. He has said he would like to play alongside another dynamic guard (Rockets, Pacers, Spurs), so a team like the Pistons, already blessed with an abundance in guards, should not pick up on Henderson. For that reason, Henderson could slide down to #3 or even #4 depending on lottery night.
PRO SCOUT QUOTES
After watching clips from ONE game, I am now not 100% sure that Victor Wembanyama is the top pick in 2023. 3 months ago I would’ve been considered crazy to think anyone could pass Wembanyama on draft boards. Scoot Henderson might be that dude.
Rafael Barlowe, NBA Draft Junkie
Scoot Henderson is almost universally pegged as the second overall pick in 2023 mock drafts. Were it not for the glaring generational talent of Victor Wembanyama, he would be a perfectly strong No. 1 pick candidate. We’re talking about one of the most talented top-end drafts in recent history.
Christopher Kline, FanSided
Scoot is an elite level point guard and one of the best lead guard prospects to come along in years. He’s far from a perfect prospect and isn’t a finished product by a long stretch but has elite physical tools and the ability to take over games, even as a teenager playing against grown men. NBA Draft Room
In nine out of the last ten NBA drafts, Scoot Henderson would be the no doubt number one pick. Henderson will be the greatest consolation prize in league history as he’s slated to be a lock right behind Victor Wembanyama for the second pick in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft. Though the comparisons will rage for most likely their whole careers, Henderson is well on his way to becoming a franchise point guard and one of the best at the PG position when he hits his prime.
Will Locklin, TWSN
While Henderson does lack height at 6-foot-2, his athleticism and 6-foot-9 wingspan make up for it. He’s ready today to be the point guard of an NBA team.An elite leaper, Henderson is incredibly explosive. He’s one of the better athletes in this class, which is saying something given who that puts him up against.The unique compilation of speed and explosiveness makes Henderson a menace in transition. Even in half-court sets, he is slippery in traffic and experienced in dissecting defenses off the dribble. Furthermore, he’s smart with the ball and takes good care of it.
Sports Illustrated Staff
