Scoot Henderson received a first-class ticket to potentially make a run for the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award. He has a lot of experience in the sport and much more than most of his draft peers. Henderson has shown true dedication that will take him a long way in the field of professional sports. Now that he is with the Portland Trail Blazers, he has a group of well-rounded athletes that will mold him into a superstar athlete.
The 19-year-old was selected third overall by the Blazers during the 2023 NBA Draft. Scoot could have been drafted a spot ahead but Brandon Miller had the upper hand. As he moves into the world of professional sports, his skills will be put to the ultimate test. Henderson is an extremely tough player in the guard position. There are very few athletes like him who excel offensively and defensively. He will be a major threat to players such as his future teammate Damian Lillard.
He made his NBA debut during the summer league. In his second game, he played against the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama, who was selected No.1 in the same draft. Scoot Henderson scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists shooting 5-7 from the field.
His ability to create space and attack was on full display against the Spurs as well. Despite his raw talent and experience, he is heavily underrated in the NBA world. Only time will tell how good he is but for now, let us take a look at his achievements and stats in the past.
Scoot Henderson bypassed college to play for the NBA G League Ignite
Scoot Henderson comes from a family that has a long history with sports, specifically basketball. He is the youngest of seven children and his sisters were Division 1 basketball players when they were his age. His father was also a coach when he was younger. Henderson began his journey while he attended Carlton. J. Kell High School. He quickly ascended as one of the best high school athletes in his town as well.
Scoot Henderson dominated the floor offensively and also earned a reputation for being a great defender. He would often score 40 or 50 points sometimes making him a lethal weapon on the Carlton. J. Kell roster.
His hard work ultimately caught the eye of college basketball recruiters. Henderson revealed that he received several offers from various colleges across the country. Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Memphis, and Virginia Tech were a few institutions that reached out to him after he graduated from high school.
But Henderson ultimately chose to try out for the NBA G League Ignite. He did not want to spend time in college rather he preferred to go through rigorous measures to prepare himself for the main stage. Scoot became the youngest G League recruit and stood firm in his game despite entering a highly competitive atmosphere. He averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game.