Michigan State forward Aaron Henry enters the NBA draft as perhaps the top defender in the class, but the Big Ten All-Defensive player wants to prove that he is much more than that.
Henry was named to the All-Big Ten third team after averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks as a junior. He scored at least 20 points seven times throughout the season, including a career-high 27 points twice.
The 6-foot-6 forward led the Spartans in scoring, assists, steals and minutes (32.5) while he was tied for the most rebounds and was second in blocked shots. He was one of only two Division I players to average at least 15 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.
#B1G honors for @hennny11 🏅 pic.twitter.com/DrW6KBdBa2
— Michigan State Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 9, 2021
Henry announced in April he would sign with an agent and declare for the draft, forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility. He has been training daily with two-time NBA champion Mike Miller in Memphis ahead of the draft.
He is widely viewed as one of the top defensive players in the draft this year given his size, instincts and versatility on that end of the floor. His 6-foot-10 wingspan gives him the luxury of playing the passing lanes to get deflections and contest shots against the taller competition.
“I think he is the best defender in this year’s draft,” Miller told Rookie Wire. “He is way better with the ball than people give him credit for. His finishing package is incredible. By Year 2 or 3, he’ll be one of those guys you can’t keep off the floor. He is one of those guys on any team, a young team or older team, he is ready to play because of what he did at Michigan State and how he was built by the culture there.”
aaron henry is pretty impossible to get around, just an unbelievable combo of technique, strength, lateral movement, change of p/d pic.twitter.com/fL7TbZdSLO
— Ben Pfeifer (suns FINALS) (@Ben_Pfeifer_) July 2, 2021
Entering the draft, perhaps the biggest knock on Henry was his shooting.
He shot 34.4% from 3-point range as a sophomore, but just 29.6% last season. Henry has worked extensively with Miller on improving his shot, and the results are beginning to show since the two linked up this summer.
“He has shown a lot more consistency in it,” Miller said. “I truly believe that he’ll be a high 30% 3-point shooter. He is such a strong kid. To me, simplifying the jump shot is all I ever work on. We try to take out the room for error and have done that. He is more consistent now, controls the misses; there are a lot fewer of them now.”
Given his current skills and ability to do everything on the floor, Henry is projected to be a borderline first-round pick. With his shot improving after working with Miller, Henry has the potential to be a strong 3-and-D option at the next level.
“I think he is a lottery talent,” Miller said. “I have been in the gym with everybody. When you watch Aaron in the gym in 3-on-3 read and react actions, ballhandling actions and shooting actions, you probably couldn’t name me 15 players that would do the things he does just knowing how to play, defend and rebound.”
With just over two weeks to go until the NBA draft, Henry will stay busy with roughly 10 workouts on the schedule in the coming days. He wants to showcase his improved shot to teams, in addition to the rest of his overall game.
Rookie Wire recently caught up with Henry to discuss working out with Miller, the pre-draft process, what he wants to show NBA teams and much more.
Please note this interview was minorly edited in its transcript for clarity