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Shelton Henderson of Bellaire
MR. HOUSTON: Bellaire's Henderson next national star
SHELTON HENDERSON IS REPRESENTING HOUSTON MUCH LIKE TJ FORD, DANIEL EWING, DE’AARON FOX, JUSTISE WINSLOW, THE HARRISON TWINS, JARRED VANDERBILT AND QUENTIN GRIMES DID BEFORE HIM.
The aforementioned were all kingpins of Hoopston.
Now, it’s his turn as he holds Bellaire’s dreams in the palm of his hand.
“I remember my first varsity game as a freshman here and all the jitters I had,” he said. “Now, I’m the leader. The time has gone by so fast.”
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The national 5-star recruit recently committed to Duke, similar to how Ewing and Winslow did previuosly.
“Honestly, it’s Duke at the end of the day,” he said. “It’s that place where every kid dreams of going when they are young. I was looking for a place with a staff that is going to really push me to be great on and off the court. I think Coach (Jon) Scheyer and his staff will get me prepared.”
Before he heads to hoop heaven, Henderson has some unfinished business.
“I know I could have left to play at a prep school anywhere in the country,” he said. “I wanted to stay home and play with the guys I’ve grown up with for so long. I want to bring a State Championship to the HISD and Bellaire.”
Basketball has taken him outside of the confines of Harris County, most recently this summer.
“I was selected to play for Team USA in Argentina,” he said. “It was a life-changing experience. I met and played with so many cool people and we brought home the gold. Everyone says it, but it is special wearing the USA across your chest.”
The laid-back floor general has a chill persona... off the court.
“Everyone really knows each other when you get to this level of AAU and varsity basketball,” he laughed. “These are all my best friends, but when the game starts and we
are between the lines, that all goes away. I’m trying to win... trying to kill. After the game, we are right back to being cool.”
If he brings home the gold this winter, Henderson will be etched in the city’s Mt. Rushmore of basketball... just the next great ambassador of Houston.
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How about this focus group poll?
When you think of Great Houston basketball, what is the first name that comes to mind? That really depends on how old you are, right? Are we talking girls or boys?
Having covered high school sports for over 20 years in Hoopston, I feel like I have a pretty good perspective. Let’s do a Mr. Rushmore of boys and girls for the VYPE-era, shall we? Ladies first.
Nimitz legend Brittany Griner has to lead the way. I’ve seen her bring the Aldine Campbell Center to its feet in a playoff game as she flew downcourt with a two-handed slam. Can an entire family count as one? The Ogwumike foursome – Nneka (first pick in WNBA) and Chiney (first pick in WNBA), Olivia (Rice) and Erica (Rice) – are the first family or womens’ basketball on a national level. Barbers Hill’s Charlie Collier was also the No. 1 pick in the WNBA coming out of the University of Texas. The fifth of the Mr. Rushmore is Brianna Turner, who led Manvel to a State Title in 2014 and won an NCAA Title with Notre Dame in 2018. She was drafted No. 11 in the WNBA draft in 2019.
Now that is a list. Let the arguments begin in 3... 2... 1.
How about the boys?
Sterling High’s Clyde Drexler was a little too far back, so let ’s stay more recent day. Willowridge’s TJ Ford, Elsik’s Rashard Lewis and Madison’s Tommy Mason Griffin are still a little before our time.
This is where it gets into a grey area.
It has to start with De’Aaron Fox of Cypress Lakes, who went on to Kentucky and was the No. 5 overall pick by the Sacramento Kings. He is growing into a star in the NBA. Quentin Grimes of College Park makes the monument. Grimes was a McDonald’s All-American, the AAC co-Player of the Year for the University of Houston which went to the NCAA Final Four and was the 25th pick in the NBA Draft in 2021.
Aaron and Andrew Harrison were spectacular twins at Fort Bend Travis, before staring at Kentucky. They won a State Title with the Tigers, before advancing to the NCAA Final Four with the Wildcats.
The last one is tough... VYPE chisels Atascocita star, Carsen Edwards, into the monument. Edwards made Atascocita basketball a super-power during his tenure, before making Purdue relevant in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. He won the Jerry West Award for the top shooting guard in the nation and was a consensus All-American. He was drafted in the second round of the NBA Draft and has bounced around the league, the G League and Europe.
The real question is, who is next?
With that... Welcome to the 2023-24 VYPE Basketball Preview, the guide of the Who’s Who of Hoopston.