Sterling "Scoot" Henderson, a consensus five-star recruit and the seventh overall prospect in the 2022 class, isn't going to follow in the footsteps of one-and-done college basketball players.
Instead, he's bypassing his senior season at Kell High School in Georgia to become the youngest player in the NBA's G League Ignite program. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the 17-year-old Henderson recently signed a deal worth $1 million, and the 6-foot-3 guard is now believed to be the youngest professional basketball player in American history.
"I've always wanted to be in the NBA, so I'm one step closer," Henderson told the JR SportBrief show on Monday. "It's just the best fit for me, to be honest... The relationship I had with those coaches [who recruited me], coach Wes Flanigan [from Auburn], coach Bruce Pearl [from Auburn], coach Tom Crean [from Georgia], and many other schools, we were very close since they first started recruiting me, which was my 10th grade year. So, it was kind of hard to break [the news] to them. But at the end of the day, I've got to do what's best for me and my family."
"The leadership part [of my game], I feel like that's been growing since ninth grade, coming into 10th grade. That role's been a big part of my success, to be honest. Helping my team win, and getting everyone involved... It's definitely a show. I have very high energy on the court. I'm always cheering on my teammates. They hit a big shot, I'm cheering them on. Dunk, cheering them on. I'm really that leader."
Although Henderson has completed all of his high school coursework and is eligible to graduate a year early, he won't be able to enter the NBA draft until 2023, when he turns 19. This means Henderson is committed to spending at least two years with the Ignite program.
This season, Henderson averaged 32 points per game with seven rebounds and six assists, and he'll leave Kell as the school's all-time leading scorer.
You can follow the JR SportBrief show on Twitter @JRSportBrief and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.