Shelton Henderson anchors the Miami Hurricanes' next chapter. The star forward is returning, poised to lead the team's continued ascent after a historic season.
The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball program underwent a significant turnaround, finishing with a 26-9 overall record and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 season. Without any returning players, coach Jai Lucas took on the challenge to recruit players who would be impactful right away and for the future, including freshman forward Shelton Henderson.
The Texas native was a five-star recruit coming from Bellaire High School, averaging 21 points on 55 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 51 total games over two seasons. Henderson originally committed to the Duke Blue Devils when coach Jai Lucas was an assistant coach with the program, but decided to follow him to Coral Gables, Florida.
In the midst of a historic season, Henderson averaged 13.8 points on 56.7 percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals, starting in all 35 games. He had an opportunity to develop and learn under a few seniors in Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, and Ernest Udeh Jr. As each of them departs, Henderson will carry the torch as the program announced that the 19-year-old has committed to returning for another season.
The Hurricanes have the core pieces in Henderson and guard Dante Allen, who was part of the same recruiting class, to revamp the roster and build on the latest success. Also, the program has a five-star incoming freshman in forward Caleb Gaskins, who was named a McDonald’s All-American.
The team will appear significantly different without Donaldson, Reneau, and Udeh Jr. Also, junior guards Tru Washington and Noam Dovrat are reportedly entering the transfer portal.
Henderson is listed at 6-6, 240 pounds, and showed physicality throughout the season. He primarily scored at the rim, has an efficient midrange shot, but needs to improve from long range. Last season, Henderson shot 25.5 percent behind the arc. If the star forward manages to improve in that area, it will widen the spacing for the Hurricanes’ offense.
In the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 against the Purdue Boilermakers, Henderson showed productive leadership. Despite a 79-69 loss, he led the team with 18 points on 81.8 percent shooting, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 39 minutes.
The Hurricanes were among the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference. As coach Lucas looks to take the program to new heights, Henderson, Allen, and Gaskin will play a factor in that goal for next season.
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