The 2023 NBA draft is mere weeks away, and much of the hype has rightfully been around Victor Wembanyama, the generational French big who is all but guaranteed to be taken first overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the hype around Victor, my favorite prospect in this draft class has always been Scoot Henderson. Henderson is a 6’2″ point guard who’s been on the pro radar since his high school years. Instead of continuing his basketball career through the collegiate route, Henderson opted to play for the NBA’s own talent farm, the G-League Ignite. Scoot has shown how remarkable of a player he is playing against pro talent these last few years, and in this article, I’ll be going over his game as a prospect.
Biggest Strengths
Athleticism
Henderson’s eye-popping attribute that is noticeable by anyone who watches him for a few minutes is his explosive athleticism. He’s able to fly up and down the court in just a few seconds in transition, making him a dangerous player on the fast break. We don’t know what his exact vertical jump is, but his tape shows his elite leaping ability that allows him to posterize any defender that has the gall to test him at the rim. Watching Scoot play is very reminiscent of uber-athletic point guards like Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and Ja Morant.
Rim Pressure
In my opinion, the ability to drive to the rim is the most impactful skill in the modern NBA. Henderson is elite at this, owing to his athletic gifts such as his quick first step, ability to easily change speed and direction (fast-twitch muscles), as well as his strong ball-handling capabilities. When Scoot has the ball on the perimeter, it’s basically a guarantee that he will be able to penetrate the defense and get to the paint. This ability allows him to collapse a defense at will and generate good offense for his teammates, which leads into his playmaking.
Playmaking
Playmaking is comprised of two basic components: the ability to draw defenders towards you by being a scoring threat, and the ability to make the right pass to an open teammate. Scoot excels in both of these departments, as he constantly draws defensive attention away from his teammates while he drives to the rim. Passing wise, it’s clear from his film that Scoot has a natural feel for the game. He’s very comfortable making the kick-out passes to the corner while he drives, as well as dump-off passes to the dunker spot. Henderson is a textbook playmaker who can control an offense, but also has the ability to add some flair to his passes and thread them through tight angles. Playmaking will likely be Scoot’s likely path to success in the NBA, and I think that he’s pretty much guaranteed to be elite in this aspect.
Mid-Range
Scoot is automatic from mid-range, especially off the dribble while he’s driving to the basket. His proficiency from this area is immensely beneficial to his overall game, as he would be too predictable if he could only score at the rim. Even if Scoot’s three ball never develops, he can still become a good scorer in the NBA through his ability to score inside the arc.
Physicals
With a relatively undersized height of 6’2″, it’s hard to imagine how Henderson’s physical attributes would be a strong point for him. Despite his stature, Scoot was still blessed with amazing measurements. For starters, he’s absolutely shredded; Henderson weighs 196 lbs. of pure muscle. This strength will be of great benefit to him in the league, mainly by making him absorb contact at the rim better, hold up on defense against bigger players, and overall improve his durability throughout his career. Besides his sheer strength, Scoot also has a massive 6’9″ wingspan, unusual for a player his height. Between his long wingspan and muscular build, I think it’s very realistic that Scoot can become a great on-ball defender, even as a shorter player. His wingspan will also help him shoot and finish over taller defenders.
Areas to Improve
Three-Point Shooting
The most obvious hole in Scoot’s game currently is his lackluster three-point shot. This season, he only shot 27.5% from distance. Scoot can be a great player without a consistent three ball, but without developing one, he will cap his own potential. Without a respectable three-point shot, defenders will not have to play up on Scoot when they guard him, and he will have a harder time penetrating the defense with his drives. Fortunately, Scoot has the potential to become a good three-point shooter. For starters, he has solid shooting mechanics, meaning his jumper does not need a massive rework to become serviceable. Furthermore, he’s a solid free throw shooter (76.4%), which is usually a big indicator of whether a player can develop a three-point shot. He also isn’t scared to take the shot. Scoot attempted 2.7 threes per game this past season, which forces defenders to stay honest while guarding him and prepare for the possibility of him taking the shot. The respectable shot volume also indicates that Scoot values the shot and wants to improve that aspect of his game, another great sign. Overall, Scoot isn’t where he needs to be in regards to shooting the ball, but he has a realistic path to get there.
Efficiency
Scoot didn’t have the most efficient season, shooting 42.9% from the field, 27.5% from three, and 76.4% from the line. Usually I don’t believe efficiency before entering the NBA should be a massive point of emphasis when evaluating a prospect, but Scoot’s efficiency issues may continue in the NBA. Historically, players like Scoot (small, athletic guards that take a large volume of shots inside the arc and have subpar three-point shots) have not been hyper-efficient players. Players like Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and Ja Morant usually hover around league average efficiency and can drop below that. However, just because this is the precedent doesn’t mean that Scoot is destined for this trajectory. Besides improving his three-point shot, Scoot can become more efficient by cleaning up his shot selection, something that he can surely learn under the right coah.
Player Comparison: Shades of Ja Morant
I see many similarities between Scoot and Ja. The obvious one is the rare amount of explosive athleticism both guards have, and both of their games are largely predicated on using their explosiveness to attack the rim, collapse defenses, and lead an offense. Another striking similarity between Ja and Scoot is their feel for the game and ability to make good passes. Both these players can leverage the attention they draw while driving to the paint and find an open teammate, making them effective lead guards. Furthermore, while both Scoot and Ja are subpar shooters from distance, neither are scared to constantly shoot jumpers to keep defenders on their toes. I wouldn’t be surprised if Scoot also becomes a better shooter than Ja, since Scoot has made a big jump in three-point shooting between his two years in the G-League.
Where I think Scoot has the advantage over Ja is in defensive potential. Ja is a lackluster defender, mainly because of his small frame, which can often be a liability in the Playoffs. Scoot, with his strength, wingspan, and athleticism, has all the tools to be a serviceable defender in the league. If Scoot can unlock his defensive potential and become a real two-way player, he may become a better version of an All-NBA player like Ja Morant.
Conclusion
Scoot may not be the crown jewel of this draft, but I think that he is well on his way to becoming a future superstar in the league. Moreover, I think that any team that passes on Scoot (besides San Antonio) will be making a decision that will end up being looked at as a colossal mistake.
Floor General 