Monday, October 12, 2009
For Henderson, on to the SEC
Cave Spring basketball player Josh Henderson will play for Vanderbilt next year.
The Roanoke Times | File March
Cave Spring's Josh Henderson led the Knights to a Group AA Division 3 basketball championship last season.
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Josh Henderson professes not liking country music.
That could change in the next four years.
The 6-foot-11 Cave Spring basketball star is headed to Music City. Henderson said Sunday he has orally committed to Vanderbilt, ultimately choosing the Commodores over Davidson.
He said the decision came down to one major factor: Vanderbilt plays in the Southeastern Conference, while Davidson is in the Southern Conference.
"I just wanted to play in the big conference against teams like Florida, Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky," Henderson said.
Henderson said Vanderbilt began recruiting him in July, prompting Commodores head coach Kevin Stallings to make a scholarship offer. He took his official visit to the Nashville, Tenn. campus in September and was impressed.
"I wasn't majorly considering them at the time, but after my first official visit when I got to play some pickup games with the players I thought it would be a good fit," Henderson said.
Following a final official visit to Davidson earlier this month, Henderson spent a week making a difficult choice between the two academically prestigious schools.
"He told me he'd probably let me know by Thursday," Cave Spring coach Billy Hicks said. "Then Thursday turned into the weekend. Obviously, he struggled with the decision."
Earlier, Henderson canceled official visits to Virginia and Wake Forest.
"He kind of knew with Wake and UVa that they had other people and he was sort of on hold," Hicks said. "With Vandy and Davidson, they put the other players on hold and were waiting on Josh."
Henderson averaged 15.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in leading Cave Spring to the VHSL Group AA Division 3 title in March.
A first-team All-Timesland selection, Henderson blocked 133 shots on the season including five in Cave Spring's 39-33 overtime victory over Brunswick in the state final.
Now a lean 225 pounds, Henderson said his top priority in preparing for Division I basketball isn't hard to figure out.
"I'd say getting stronger," Henderson said. "Coming in as a freshman, the guys I'm playing against will be three or four years older with three or four years extra work in the weight room."
Henderson is Cave Spring's first high-major Division I basketball commitment since J.J. Redick, who played for Duke from 2002-06. Hicks expects Henderson to have the same period of adjustment to the speed of the college game.
"Much like J.J. had to do," Hicks said. "The first time I saw J.J. in college was in [Duke's] Blue-White game and Dahntay Jones just ate him alive."
Hicks said Henderson will continue to refine an improving outside shooting touch. Henderson already is an outstanding passer from the high post.
"He'll be a guy that you see that hits a lot of 'threes' this year," Hicks said. "Vanderbilt likes their post players to be able to step out and hit the outside shot."
Vanderbilt has made two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances under Stallings, most recently in 2007. The Commodores were 19-12 last season but did not receive an NCAA or NIT bid.
