New Wildcat Henshall shines in NBA Academy series as COE claim title

The 19-year-old West Aussie led all scorers across the series, averaging 16.83 points per game including 22 in the opener and final against Latin America and NBA Academy Select Blue respectively.

He also averaged 4.16 rebounds and 3.83 assists across the six matches to help the Centre of Excellence clinch the title.

The COE won the championship game 90-79 against NBA Academy Select Blue.

Henshall's performances earned the praise of renowned NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony of Draft Express and ESPN.

"Great week for Australian wing Ben Henshall at the NBA Academy games in Atlanta," Givony wrote.

"An excellent shooter who has locked up defensively and made some impressive passes.

"Game comes easy for him."

The NBA Academy Games featured the top international prospects from outside the United States.

Wildcats general manager of basketball Danny Mills, who is over in the US for the NBA Academy Games as well as the Summer League in Las Vegas, was excited about Henshall's potential and the young core coming through.

"I was fortunate to be in Atlanta for two days and got to see Ben live and he was unbelievable," Mills told NBL.com.au.

“The way they played, they stood out in there and Ben – over the last year-and-a-half, two years, the way he’s evolved his game playing on the ball at the CoE – he was able to shoot off the dribble, get downhill and attack the rim.

“Defensively we think he’s going to have a chance to play right away and compete for minutes.

“To have a prospect like that locked in with Alex Sarr, Dontae Russo-Nance, David Okwera ... we’re really excited about that young core coming through.”

Henshall has starred for the Centre of Excellence in NBL1 East this season, averaging 17.8 points, 5.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.

He will get another couple of opportunities to catch the eye of NBA scouts during the Wildcats' pre-season series against the NBA G League Ignite in Las Vegas in September.

Henshall's game-by-game stats

v Latin America: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

v NBA Academy Africa - Blue: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals

v NBA Academy Select - Blue: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals

v NBA Academy Select - Red: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 steals

v NBA Academy Africa - Red: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists

v NBA Academy Select - Blue: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists