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4 Reasons drafting Scoot Henderson should be a no-brainer for Hornets

By Thomas J. Brown

G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson dunks (Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)
G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson dunks (Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports) /
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From left, former St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball players Romeo Travis, Dru Joyce III, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee pose with Irish coach Dru Joyce II (center) before the Akron premiere of “Shooting Stars” Saturday night at House Three Thirty. The movie is about LeBron James and his close friends with whom he played high school basketball.
From left, former St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball players Romeo Travis, Dru Joyce III, Sian Cotton and Willie McGee pose with Irish coach Dru Joyce II (center) before the Akron premiere of “Shooting Stars” Saturday night at House Three Thirty. The movie is about LeBron James and his close friends with whom he played high school basketball. /

He is a movie star

I know what you’re thinking: “What does acting have to do with playing in the NBA?” The answer to that question is that Scoot Henderson’s acting debut wasn’t just as a product endorser on a nationally televised commercial like most athletes. Instead, Henderson accepted the challenge of starring in a made-for-TV movie about the formative years in the life of LeBron James. Having the courage to take on a new challenge in the midst of preparing for the upcoming NBA draft takes guts and a ton of confidence. Henderson has both.

While Henderson’s role in Shooting Stars isn’t going to win him any awards, his willingness to take risks is reflective of his understanding of the moment. This is the same player who reclassified to the class of 2021 in high school just so he could graduate a year early. He then had the presence of mind to join the G-League Ignite and sign a two-year deal reportedly worth $1 million dollars. When he suited up for the team in the fall of 2021, he was just 17 years old, making him the youngest player to ever appear in a G-League game.

Next season, as a rookie in the NBA, Henderson will be faced with a new experience virtually every day. As a 6’3″ combo guard he may have to guard Steph Curry on one night and then be faced with the task of guarding Dame Lillard a few nights later. There certainly won’t be any nights off and any sign of weakness or hesitation will be exploited by veteran players eager to show the 19-year-old kid that the league still belongs to them.

Henderson’s willingness to accept challenges and take on risks, demonstrated by his reclassification in high school and his acting debut, is just one of the reasons the Hornets should take him with the second overall pick in this year’s draft.

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