NBA prospect Scoop Henderson, 19, shuts down his G League season to prepare for June’s draft

Scoot Henderson, projected by many to take second overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, is ending his G League season with his sights set on the June 22 event, a league source confirmed to DailyMail. com.

The 19-year-old Georgia native has been playing for G League Ignite, a development team that plays against other G League teams with the goal of helping young players prepare for the NBA. Like several of his Ignite teammates, Henderson opted to skip a year in college in favor of playing against older, more polished players in the G League.

Henderson signed with the G League in May 2021 for a reported $1 million.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony was the first to report on Henderson’s decision to cancel his 2022-23 season, writing that it was a G League Ignite official who urged Henderson to end his season to prepare for the June draft.

While playing exactly half of Ignite’s possible 50 games this season, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 17.6 points, 6.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 30 minutes per game. He made just 27.5 percent of his 3-point attempts, but sank a solid 46.5 percent of his 2-point field goals and 76.4 percent of his free throws.

While 7-foot-4 Frenchman Victor Wembanyama (left) is overwhelmingly believed to be the No. 1 pick in June’s draft, Henderson (right) has some competition for the No. 2 pick from Alabama’s Brandon Miller.

The Ignite, who play at home in Henderson, Nevada, are 11-16 this year and are unlikely to make the G-League playoffs.

Henderson battled a broken nose and two separate concussions in 2022-23, as well as an ankle issue in late January.

While 7-foot-4 Frenchman Victor Wembanyama is overwhelmingly believed to be the No. 1 pick in June’s draft, Henderson has some competition for the No. 2 pick from Alabama’s Brandon Miller.

Miller, the SEC Player of the Year and All-American selection, is averaging 19.6 points while shooting an impressive 40.1 percent of his 3-pointers, 50.9 percent of his two points and 85.6 percent of his free throws.

He has also been linked to a fatal shooting near the Tuscaloosa campus in January, though he has not been charged in connection with the case.

Jamea Harris, a 23-year-old mother, was shot to death near the University of Alabama campus in the early morning of January 15. Crimson Tide forward Darius Miles and another man, Michael Lynn Davis, have been arrested and charged with capital murder. charges in his death. Miles has since been kicked off the team.

Miller brought a gun to Miles that night that was later used by Davis in the fatal shooting, according to police testimony.

Despite the controversy, Miller has continued to play for the Crimson Tide, scoring 23 points in Alabama’s 82-63 win over Texas A&M in Sunday’s SEC title game.

The SEC Player of the Year and All-American selection, Miller is averaging 19.6 points and making an impressive 40.1% of his 3-pointers, 50.9% of his 3-pointers and 85.6% of his free shots.