At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked or under-recruited in some capacity, and today’s edition will highlight Armani Henderson of Bull City Prep.
We’ve seen Henderson continually elevate his game, recently stating, “Going forward, various types of college coaches should be closely monitoring Henderson. He’s a heady, dynamic guard prospect with the ability to run a team or apply constant scoring pressure. Henderson is virtually unstoppable from getting to the elbows and converting pull-ups or slicing to the basket and finishing, especially when going left. He’s quick enough to break down opponents off the bounce or out-speed others in transition. Henderson possesses a crafty handle and understands how to take what the defense gives him. He displays sharp vision, quality athleticism, and nice instincts on both ends of the floor. Henderson regularly forces turnovers at the point of attack, but can also sit down and reliably contain opposing guards. It’s shocking that he doesn’t already have more action within his recruitment, but that feels almost certain to change over the coming months.”
Like several other prospects in North Carolina, it’s surprising that more scholarship-level programs haven’t gotten involved with Henderson. He’s a dynamic athlete with a quick first step, impressive open-floor speed, and the ability to meet opponents at the rim as a finisher. Henderson is phenomenal at getting to his spots, particularly in the midrange, and scoring with consistency. He’s a great penetrator who seemingly gets to the rim whenever he wants—where he’s able to finish or make the necessary pass to an open teammate. Henderson possesses a nice blend of IQ, pace, and toughness. He’s a pesky defender at the point of attack who regularly forces turnovers and pushes transition play. More college coaches should be in pursuit of Henderson.
