Were it not for a French sensation named Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson would likely be selected as the number 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. The former five-star recruit is a generation prospect as well. However, not being the most sought-after talent doesn’t take away from the greatness of Henderson. While just 19 years old, his physique resembles a tank, and he is a true mismatch for his size. Interestingly, Scoot’s passion for basketball was instilled in him in childhood.
With an impressive G-League Ignite showing under his belt, the sky is the ceiling for the prospective future star.
Familial Ties to Basketball Prepped Scoot Henderson
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Prospects like Henderson don’t come by often. With averages of 16.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists in his first G-league season, Scoot made an instant impact. However, the work for the same began way before training camp.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scoot found solace at his family’s gym in Marietta, Georgia. The top prospect at PG this year, Scoot has credited the gym and his family as the main reasons for his success.
Speaking of the moment when he gets drafted, Scoot said, “This gym is going to take a big part in that preparation.” His father, Chirs, is a big basketball fan. Truly passionate about the game, he used to train athletes and teams and ran a car service. The family gym was a manifestation of a long-standing dream of his.
Scoot’s mom, Crystal made the deal possible. As she said, “This is definitely his dream. It’s all his dream.” A health administrator in Atlanta, she used her resources to make the dream come true. Speaking about it, Chris mentioned how he had no idea about his wife’s plans to make the dream a reality when he first shared the idea with her. While it was Chris’ brainchild, the gym became the playground for Scoot’s dreams to materialize.
The Gym that made Scoot
The arena, which features two full-sized basketball courts, workout gear, and appropriate basketball accessories, has a reported cost of around $150,000. After the completion, the place served as a constant training ground for Henderson. Upon hearing about the gym, he was prepared to spend every moment there, working on his game. Thankfully, his parents were fully supportive of the idea.
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Whether it be 6 A.M. in the morning or 2 A.M. at night, he was in the gym. Scoot credits the gym for getting him and his family through the harsh days of the pandemic. “Definitely found me some light in a very dark time in the world…It really did bring light to me and my family’s world.”
Once the gym reopened, Atlanta-based NBA talents like Jaylen Brown, KCP, and Colin Sexton, among others, worked out at the gym. Luckily, Scoot was able to learn the game from the masters themselves. Even during the draft workouts, Scoot opted to use the family gym, saying, “It would have been way harder if I didn’t have the gym.”
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That, in essence, became the mantra for Scoot’s success. With a strong family providing the back support, Scoot is ready to take over the NBA come the 2023-2024 season.