WRAL Sports Fan

Duke

Duke's Henderson to enter name in NBA Draft

By Scott Jackson

Apr 20, 2009

Two NBA sources said Monday that Duke junior Gerald Henderson will enter the draft, which would be a major loss to a Blue Devils squad that returns every other starter for next season.

Duke spokesman Matt Plizga said Monday that he spoke with Henderson that morning and no announcements were planned.

“I think he’s still in the process of evaluating his options,” Plizga said.

Asked if Henderson expected to hire an agent, Plizga said, “I imagine his people have looked at it.”

The deadline for making an announcement to enter the draft is Sunday, April 26. Players can test their NBA value once and return to college as long as they don’t hire an agent. Henderson has not "tested" the waters yet during his college career, so he can return to Durham if he wants.

However, two sources at NBA teams insisted Henderson is coming out and will be a high pick. One published mock draft, NBADraft.net, has him No. 8.

Henderson led Duke in scoring at 16.5 points per game and also averaged 4.9 rebounds per game. After a slow start, he emerged as one of the ACC’s best players, taking clutch shots in key games and showing better range on his jump shot. Henderson hit 33.6 percent of his three-point shots for the season.

With Henderson, Duke would be a top contender for the NCAA title. Without him, the Blue Devils should still be one of the top teams in the ACC – along with North Carolina, Wake Forest and possibly Florida State and Boston College – and should also be in the hunt nationally.

Duke will return Jon Scheyer, Elliot Williams and Nolan Smith in the backcourt and Kyle Singler, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek in the front court. The Blue Devils have Ryan Kelly of Ravenscroft and Mason Plumlee of Arden Christ School coming in next season.

The Devils also are also pursuing Word of God point guard John Wall.

Seth Curry will transfer to Duke but will not be eligible this coming season.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was in New York City on a book tour Monday and not available for comment.