[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Scoot Henderson
Frame: 6’2″ 195lbs
Position: Point Guard
Team: G League Ignite
2023 Draft Age: 19
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com

Offense

Henderson’s most glaring strength is his athleticism which impacts multiple facets of his game. In transition, he is a blur, capable of getting cross-court in three to four dribbles. In the half court, his speed is equally as deadly, using his burst to explode off ball screens and get to his spots at will. The typical speed he operates is already much faster than his competition at their fastest, making his burst into another gear essentially unstoppable for defenses. 

As a vertical athlete, Henderson is special, capable of rising well above defenders when attacking downhill to flush in dunks that appear effortless for him. His vertical prowess, paired with his stout physical profile and reported 6’9″ wingspan, allows him to finish through contact with pristine body control or contort mid-air for acrobatic finishes. Despite this, he still has an issue trusting his left hand at this stage in his career. Opting to go up right his right hand in nearly all situations is something he will have to improve on at the next level. 

Henderson has made strides as a floor general, specifically when operating as a pick-and-roll ball handler. Although he is a score-first guard, he is learning how to use his gravity as a creator to open up passing lanes for his big man rolling to the rim. Henderson is more patient than last year; you will often see him snaking ball screens and probing to free looks for his teammates, which is made more accessible with his quality handle. He has improved finding open shooters on the wings and corners in transition. However, this is still an area of growth for him as he continues to learn how to get his team the best possible look from possession to possession. 

Shot selection is a concern with Henderson. He can get to his spots in the mid-range without much difficulty. However, he isn’t able to create separation consistently on these shots. Pairing this with a form that lacks arc and lower body elevation, it is commonplace to see inefficient shooting nights. He doesn’t create many looks from behind the arc, as he prefers to take pull-ups around the elbow, which somewhat limits his offensive ceiling. 

The shooting numbers are interesting with Henderson, as his free throw percentage has decreased from 77.8 to 70.6 percent this season, with his attempts per game dipping from 3.3 to 2.8 per game. It is an entirely different situation from three, as he has skyrocketed from 17.4 percent on 2.1 attempts per game to 47.1 percent on 2.8 this season. Most of these shots have been off the ball, and shooting luck is involved. He has made slight improvements as a shooter but needs more to be a 40 percent shooter from three and beyond.

 

Defense

As an on-ball defender Henderson has flashed real upside. He can use his wingspan to pick his opponent’s pocket and take the ball down for two. His lower body strength allows him to absorb contact against physical players and even smaller wings. Henderson’s lateral quickness makes him a pest when on an island with his man. However, his effort needs to be more consistent, as these possessions don’t occur consistently enough. Henderson faces trouble when forced to guard in pick and rolls, as he doesn’t typically fight through ball screens, leaving his teammate to guard a two-on-one as he is essentially out of the play. 

As a help defender, Henderson struggles. He gets caught ball-watching far too often, resulting in his man more than often face-cutting him and getting an open look at the rim. He has shown some ability to get through off-ball sets, but this needs to be more consistent and usually puts his teammates at a disadvantage. Henderson needing to generate more turnovers is also a concern; with his vertical athleticism, you hardly, if ever, see him contest an attempt at the rim from the weak side. He doesn’t do a great job reading cross-court passes or even pass attempts when he is one to two passes away. 

Looking Ahead

Henderson is a player with significant appeal. His facilitating skills as a floor general continue to improve. His ability to get to the rim will give him leeway to progress as an on-ball shooter. The form needs improvement, and he will eventually have to expand his three-point creation. Defensively he projects as a negative, being an extremely poor off-ball defender and an inconsistent point-of-attack one.

Possessing all the tools to become a franchise point guard, Henderson needs to continue to round out his shooting to reach his potential, especially with his poor defense. He doesn’t necessarily have an elite skill in his repertoire, but with his speed, he could develop into an All-Star.