Anthony Banks to Chattanooga, looks like we didnt even offer. Also Henderson has narrowed his list, removed Maryland, looks like they didnt even officially offer, I heard from a friend hes leaning towards Vandy.
looks like my friend called it....
ncstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1000467Henderson chooses Vanderbilt[/size]
Jesse W. Johnson
VandySports.com
Roanoke (Va.) native Josh Henderson emerged as one of the nation's top uncommitted center prospects this summer after a solid AAU campaign. The 6-foot-11, 220-pound talent went from a few scholarship offers from the likes of James Madison and American in the spring to over 20 official offers by the end of August with the likes of Vanderbilt, Maryland, Virginia, Wake Forest and others knocking at his door.
Now, after a lengthy process, the Cave Spring High senior has decided that he will continue his basketball career in the Southeastern Conference and play for the Vanderbilt Commodores.
"Well, it started off at the beginning of the summer, I was going out to play just the best I could and see what I could after that," Henderson explained to VandySports.com on Sunday. "After the summer I had about 20 offers. I looked at those schools and just narrowed it down to the ones I was most interested in and academics was really important, so I narrowed it down to Wake Forest, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Davidson. They were all great academic schools and also offered great opportunities in basketball.
"Then recently, I narrowed it down both Davidson and Vanderbilt, and it was a difficult decision because both schools presented great opportunities. Both coaches were great and both have great academics. Davidson was closer and Vanderbilt was a little further away, but I just really want to play in a good conference and in the SEC, the level of competition is what drew me to Vanderbilt. Also, the coaching staff and the players, I felt like I fit in really well in their system and off the court, I fit in pretty well with the team. So overall, it was a pretty good fit."
Henderson took official visits to both Vanderbilt and Davidson during his process, as well as a few other schools such as Wake Forest and Virginia. Henderson said while the other visits went well, the Vanderbilt visit obviously put things into good perspective with him.
"The visit went really well. At first, I didn't know a lot about Vanderbilt," he said. "I just knew it was a good academic school and they were in the SEC, and I had talked to the coaches before. When I went down there, though, I just saw the school and met the players and played with them. I thought that was very beneficial, I mean, I felt really comfortable playing with the guys in the scrimmage. It just went really well, from the facilities, the players and the coaches. I mean, it's one thing when you're talking to coaches about a school but it's entirely a different thing when you go there and take a look at it.
"We scrimmaged both days, so I felt like while playing with those guys, I fit in very well. I just had a good time playing with them and I feel like if I did then, I could have a fun time doing it for the next four years. [A.J.] Ogilvy's looking at going to the next level, the NBA, so I feel like I can learn from him and just watch the way they work the ball inside with him, I can be successful. Also, Festus [Ezeli], the other center, watching him, I think we can work really well together as well."
Described by analysts as a post prospect with tremendous upside, Henderson possesses a solid big man frame that should be able fill out once he gets into a college program. Though not considered to be overally explosive at this point, he has solid feet and can be a reliable finisher around the basket. He has also worked on his jump shot and has good range from about 18 feet. Perhaps his biggest weapon is his ability to pass as a big man, both in the high post as well as down low.
"I feel like I run the floor well," Henderson said. "I feel like I have pretty good hands, I receive the ball well. I feel like I've gotten stronger. I think I can rebound pretty well and I can establish the low post pretty well. I think I can face up a little bit but also shoot outside a little more too. Mainly, I think I'm just an inside-out player. Just pass the ball in and then if they double down or their cutters cut in, I feel like I can get it to the open man. Really, just play well within the team.
"I definitely want to get stronger, hit the weight room as much as possible. I mean, I just want to get my body ready for college. I feel like the weightlifting there is going to build my body up so much and just the stronger you are, the better it helps your game. So I'm just going to continue to get stronger and try to be more aggressive. I feel like you can always work on everything though, so I'll work on my jump shot, try to improve my footwork and speed, and just everything."
"Well, you aren't going to find many 6-11 kids in the country who have the combination of skills and agility that Josh has," East Coast Fusion AAU director Cade Lemcke said of Henderson in August. "Josh runs very well and has outstanding skills and instincts for the game. He has a lot of nice post moves and can step outside and shoot it to the arc. He's an excellent high post passer and just has a great feel for the game. That's something you can't teach."
As a junior Henderson averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and 2.5 assists per game while leading the Cave Spring Knights to a Group AA state championship in Virginia. The big man also shot over 56-percent from the field and was named the Group AA Division Three Player of the Year by the Virginia High School Coaches Association.
Now with his college decision out of his way, Henderson can concentrate on defending that state championship with a returning veteran squad.
"I've played with these guys since I was a little kid, and we've played AAU together for a long time," Henderson said. "We're all good friends on and off the court. We won a state championship last year and we return four starters from that team. Actually, we kind of return five starters because even though we lost one senior that played significantly from last year's team, but he was out with an ankle injury, so the point guard came in and he started for half the season, so we actually have about five returning starters from last year's championship team."
As a sophomore, he averaged 13 points and nearly eight rebounds per game.
A strong student in the classroom, Henderson says he has not decided on what type of education he will pursue when he enrolls at Vanderbilt next fall, but he feels like he has an idea.
"I'm thinking about maybe something in health or business but I'm not sure yet. Vanderbilt's just such a great school and offers so many majors that I feel like I'll be able to narrow it down to what I want to major in later on. I'll be thinking about it."
Henderson comes from a good overall background. His father David Henderson, played at Maryland for legendary coach Lefty Driesell. The Cave Spring athletic program has sent some very notable standouts to the college ranks before including former Duke All-American J.J. Rethingy and former University of Virginia standouts turn NFL pro bowlers Tiki and Ronde Barber.
Henderson will sign his national letter of intent during the early basketball signing period on November 11th. He is expected to be joined by Moreno Valley (Calif.) point guard Kyle Fuller as Vanderbilt signees. VandySports.com believes the Commodores could sign as many as three players next month.