Ben Henshall bound for NCAA

Ben Henshall leaves Perth after three seasons with his hometown club, having developed from a WA junior standout into one of Australia’s most exciting young talents.

The 22-year-old appeared in three NBL seasons with the Wildcats, highlighted by a breakout NBL25 campaign in which he more than tripled his scoring output, earned a nomination for the NBL’s Most Improved Player award and attracted interest from NBA clubs during the 2025 Draft process.

After exploring the college pathway last season and being unable to make the move due to eligibility requirements, Henshall returned to Perth and continued to build his game within the Wildcats program. Now, the opportunity arrives in Mississippi.

A product of the WA basketball pathway, Henshall first rose through the Cockburn Cougars, where he was named WABL Player of the Year and helped lead Western Australia to an under-18 national championship in 2021.

He later moved to the Centre of Excellence, captaining the program to a 20-2 regular season in the NBL1 East while averaging 18.1 points, 5.0 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He also helped WA claim another national championship in 2023.

Henshall joined the Wildcats ahead of NBL24 and made an immediate impact, scoring 24 points in 25 minutes on debut against the South East Melbourne Phoenix at RAC Arena.

In front of his hometown crowd, he gave the Red Army an early look at his scoring instincts and feel for the game.

He followed his rookie season with a standout NZ NBL campaign for the Otago Nuggets, averaging 19.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists, before returning to Perth for a bigger role in NBL25.

By the time he returned to Perth for his second Wildcats season, Henshall was ready for a bigger role, and he took it.

Henshall emerged as one of Australia’s most exciting young prospects in NBL25, more than tripling his scoring output from 3.1 points per game to 9.8. 

His defining performance came against eventual champions Illawarra at RAC Arena, where he produced a career-high 26 points, including five three-pointers, and added six assists in a statement win.

In his third season, Henshall remained an important part of Perth’s rotation, averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting 43 per cent from the field.

Henshall said the opportunity to join Ole Miss was exciting, but admitted leaving Perth after three seasons with his hometown club came with mixed emotions.

“There’s a lot of mixed emotions. I’m going to miss this place a lot,” Henshall said.

“I’ve been here for the last three years. This is home. But I’m obviously really excited to have a change of environment, meet new people and be part of a new team.”

Henshall’s growth has also been reflected on the international stage, with the guard becoming a regular part of the Australian Boomers program.

During his time with the Wildcats, Henshall featured in two windows of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and was part of the Boomers squad that claimed gold at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. He also made an impact during the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, averaging 11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists across four games

Perth Wildcats head coach John Rillie said Henshall’s growth across his time at the club was something the organisation could be proud of.

“Ben’s development and growth as a person and player over the past three years is something the club can be proud of,” Rillie said.

“I’m excited to watch him in this next phase of his life. It’s truly a great opportunity for him.”

Henshall now joins Ole Miss with three seasons of professional experience, playoff minutes and a strong foundation built through hard work, persistence and his never-give-up mentality.

As part of the move, the Wildcats will receive a buyout for Henshall’s departure. The club thanks Ben for his contribution and wishes him all the best in the next chapter of his career.