Instant Grades: Scoot Henderson prevails in first matchup vs. Victor Wembanyama

Scoot Henderson goes nuclear, contesting for Wembanyama for the No. 1 pick.

Final stat-line: 28 points (11-of-21, 2-of-3 from 3), nine assists, five rebounds, two steals, two turnovers, one foul.

Let’s make one thing absolutely clear: Scoot Henderson refuses to be denied. The 17-year-old showed out from his first possession, dazzling with a surreal combination of dribbling talent, stellar finishing and improved shot-making. That playmaking has clearly taken a step forward, as was put on full display during the entire second half. This is the key that secured an Ignite victory.

Henderson scored at all three levels, going directly at Wemanyama with every opportunity. That wasn’t only when the Parisian star got switched onto the perimeter either — Scoot went right at him near the basket and came up victorious on several drives. His 18 first-half points led the G League Ignite as they took a commanding 19-point lead to begin the competition.

Early into the contest, basketball fans around the globe were faced with the reality that Scoot Henderson is a prospect worthy of going No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. That’s not taken lightly as Wembanyama showed plenty of potential himself, and despite the spotlight shining on these two players, there are several more high-impact prospects in the class. Yet through it all, what separates Henderson from the pack is the chip on his shoulder.

It doesn’t matter that he’s only 6-foot-2 and the equivalent of a high school senior. Scoot Henderson loves challenges, and if this game is any indicator, he’s going to rise to the occasion whenever it presents itself. That’s the kind of player that teams want to build around, which is going to cause some serious headaches between now and mid-June of 2023.

It wasn’t all perfect either. Henderson is prone to getting tunnel vision, dribbling the air out of the ball to create a shot for himself instead of passing. That was more the case in the first half as he used the third and fourth quarters to showcase sneaky playmaking talent. He’s going to get beat on defense sometimes, though not for a lack of effort. And despite any concerns, he’s one of the most alluring young players to enter the NBA Draft in some time.

Scoot Henderson earns an A for his 1st outing vs. Victor Wembanyama.

Henderson has a generational first-step, killer mentality, elite work ethic, will to compete on defense and springs in his shoes. This is, without a doubt, one of the best guard prospects of the 21st century.