Scoot Henderson brings NBA-ready game to draft

At the Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia, there are almost 1,500 people scattered around the arena's 3,500 seats, some with their legs hanging down onto the seat in front of them, and at least two people stretched out horizontally across multiple seats. It's quiet enough to hear the symphonic nuances of the game with alarming clarity: The squeaky starts and stops of sneakers; the trash talk; the frustrated exchanges between teammates; and also the ferocity of a foul. One that, in this specific case, sends Henderson crashing to the floor, relaying a small echo throughout the arena.

Bypassing on Henderson would be the latest and greatest mistake made by the Hornets, who’ve but three playoff victories since the franchise was resurrected in 2004 while doubling as the league’s most dysfunctional team under outgoing owner Michael Jordan.

However, the Hornets have been gifted the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, in addition to Nos. 27, 34, 39, and 41. This is a real opportunity to bring in an immense amount of talent and asset value. We’ll dive deep into the team’s roster situation and draft history, then provide my team-specific big board in addition to potential approaches on the trade market.

"And for all of those reasons, I think he's the most prepared player in this draft. And maybe in recent memory."

 Henderson took a risk, signing a seven-figure contract at 17 to play for the G League Ignite instead of spending his senior year with his high school team and a freshman season with a college team. And he flourished against professional players trying to reach or get back to the NBA.

As Henderson told me in September, “My main goal was to go to the league,” words backed by action throughout his upbringing in suburban Atlanta. His work ethic is exemplary, dating back to his stint at Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he’d often train from sunup to sundown.

Of course he’d sign with Ignite, who offered the most rigorous route to the NBA and an opportunity for Henderson at 17 to play two seasons against the kind of men he’ll play against this fall.

He seized the stage in those two seasons, averaging 16.1 points, 5.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 46 games — none more impressive than his 29-point, nine-assist master class in Henderson last October opposite soon-to-be No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama and Metropolitans 92 before hundreds of NBA personnel.

Asked last month at the NBA scouting combine what he’ll bring to the Association, Henderson said: “My personality and my winning mentality and how I can come to an organization pretty young, but still impact it.

“Impact the locker room and impact the community and come for one reason — that’s to win rings.”

So until the pick is actually in, like, it could really go any way. But yeah, for now, I'm definitely penciling in Brandon Miller, and I pretty much have since Monday night after word came back about that second workout for both those two guys.

(Henderson’s sister, Crystal, led Kell (Marietta, Ga.) High to a 5A state title in 2023, scoring 29 points in the championship game, and she will play college basketball at Georgia State, according to the school’s web site.)

The Ignite are the right team for the right player. The youngest player at 17 to sign with the G League, Henderson was the perfect match. Both sides were rewarded, and McClish is certain an NBA team will love everything about Henderson.

"I’ll never take those two years for granted," Henderson said. "I’m glad I did the second year as well. The second year paid off and taught me so much."

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Sarah H

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