College basketball is normally a learning curve for young players trying to find their role on a new team and in a new level of competition. Then there are star freshman guards, like Cam Henderson.
Henderson has taken the ropes as the starting point guard for the Storm and has flourished in doing so. He is averaging 10 points per game and was responsible for hitting a buzzer beater to secure the Storm’s first win of the year.
Men’s basketball head coach Kyle Jones sat down to discuss Henderson as a person and player.
“Cam is super coachable which is a huge thing for freshmen coming into college, especially into a new program. As a person he has that quiet confidence about him and he cares a lot about his teammates, so we are glad that he is here,” Jones said.
Henderson was the starting point guard for opening night and has started every game for the Storm. Jones highlighted the aspects of Henderson’s game that gave him the confidence to give him the starting spot.
“Cam is one of the few guys that I have coached where you don’t really have to tell him anything twice. Throughout practice and scrimmages we saw that in him and with that mindset you will get a lot better,” Jones said.
Henderson played high school basketball at Madison East in Wisconsin where coach Jones recruited him. Henderson spoke on what made him decide to continue his career at Simpson.
“When I took a visit, it just felt like home. I liked the coach and the system that he was bringing here,” Henderson said.
One of Henderson’s goals coming into college was to secure a role in the starting lineup, though he didn’t think it would happen right away.
“It was always one of my goals to start, but I did not think I would get it this early. Now I just have to keep fighting to stay there,” Henderson said.
Forward, Caden Rehmeier said, “I have been really impressed with his maturity on the court. The team knows that we can count on him to be in the right place and make the correct play. This is a rare skill to have at all and especially rare for a freshman.”
Henderson also broke down what his thought process was when he hit the buzzer beater to give the Storm the win against St. Scholastica.
“Coach Jones drew up an amazing play. They switched the screen that we had set so I knew I had to make something happen. I knew they were going to jump on the pump fake because there were three seconds left so they jumped, then I took the shot,” Henderson said.
Jones explained what went into that play call at the end of the game.
“Honestly, we never repped that play. It was something that we drew up on the fly, so it really is a credit to our guys for being able to execute that in that moment,” Jones said.
Henderson set some personal goals and team goals that he has for the rest of the season.
“For myself, I just want to get better every day. For the team, just keep getting better with the system and get some wins at the end of the day,” Henderson said.
Henderson and the Storm will have their next chance to get one of those wins against Central on Nov. 26 at home.