The NBA G League Ignite Elite team is continuing to grasp the attention of elite prospects across the nation as high school junior and five-star recruit Scoot Henderson committed to the Ignite team on Friday.
Henderson will be graduating high school early and is reclassifying to the 2021 recruiting class at 17 years old. The No. 7 prospect in the class of 2022 has signed a G League Ignite deal worth $1 million and is believed to be the youngest professional player in the history of American basketball, according to Shams Charania.
“That pro experience, that pro plan, I’ve always felt I’ve been a pro, and me making this decision is just me following my dreams,” said Henderson on his decision.
Scoot Henderson averaged 32.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists last season and will join fellow five-stars Jaden Hardy, Mike Foster, and others next season. The 6-foot-3 guard was previously slotted to commit and attend Auburn University by 247 Sports until the G League entered his recruitment process. The Georgia native who’s been compared to Russell Westbrook and Collin Sexton is a dynamic point guard and should draw more eyes as his play improves over the next two years.
The success of NBA prospects Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga who joined the Ignite team just last year have played a major role in attracting younger recruits as both are projected top-10 picks in the upcoming draft. Unlike previous Ignite members who spent a single season with the team, Henderson will be the first player slated to spend two years with the team and will only be eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft.
There’s a clear shift beginning to happen within the NBA based on their willingness to bring in a recruit at such a young age.
