Three-Star In-State Forward Aaron Henry Has Big Ten, Big East Interest
State champion and 2018 three-star forward Aaron Henry continues to pick up Big Ten and Big East interest.
That interest included Indiana under the previous coaching staff, and although the Indianapolis Ben Davis product has yet to hear from new IU head coach Archie Miller since the change, he still expressed interest in continuing to have a relationship with the Hoosiers.
“Haven’t heard much about the new coaching staff, but I’d look forward to meeting them,” Henry said.
A 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward, Henry running with Indiana Pros (formerly Team Harris) on the adidas circuit this spring and summer after averaging a team-high 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 and 42 percent shooting from 3-point range while leading Ben Davis to the Class 4A state title during his junior season.
The Giants initially began the season 9-5, but turned things around on Jan. 21 with a 67-64 win at Indianapolis Decatur Central. The road victory propelled Ben Davis to a 15 game win streak, the final victory coming in the state championship with a 55-52 win over 2019 four-star forward Keion Brooks and Fort Wayne [Ind.] North Side High.
Henry, who finished with 12 points in the title game, said the turnaround started with Ben Davis’ win over Carmel – the Giants’ first in 11 years.
“Went on that win streak, and it just never stopped from there,” he said. “Taking over as leaders in the locker room, our seniors were a huge part of that.”
Henry’s performance during his junior campaign earned him “Supreme 15” recognition by the Indiana Basketball Coaches’ Association (IBCA) as one of the top 15 players in the state. He also received first-team recognition on the Indianapolis Star’s Indy-Area Super Team and second-team all-state recognition from the Associated Press.
However, state coaches and local media aren’t the only ones who have taken notice of him.
On March 12, Northern Kentucky became the seventh and most recent to offer Henry a scholarship, joining Bradley, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Toledo, Indiana State, Ball State and IUPUI.
Henry is still seeking his first high-major offer, but Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Butler and Xavier have shown recent interest. Both Purdue and Butler watched Henry during Ben Davis’ regional semifinal win over North Central on March 11, and Xavier stopped by to evaluate him during the Giants’ sectional semifinal win over Decatur Central on March 3, according to Harris’ AAU coach, Omar Dillard.
There’s familiarity with Indiana as well. Henry had a relationship with the previous coaching staff through former associate head coach Tim Buckley, although he hasn’t heard from new IU head coach Archie Miller yet.
But that doesn’t rule out his interest in the Hoosiers or wanting to continue having a connection to the program.
“I’m looking forward watching next season,” Henry said. “Hopefully I can get up there for an open gym or visit. That would be cool as well.”
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