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15 in 40: Henton Flying Under the Radar

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For the third straight year, Friarbasketball.com highlights the key stories heading into the upcoming season. This year we’ll have 15 story lines in the 40 days leading up to the season opener.

Let’s start with the numbers. Through his first two seasons at Providence, LaDontae Henton has scored 900 points and grabbed 556 rebounds, yet he’s somewhat of a forgotten man on a team that returns a pair of all conference performers and welcomes a group of newcomers that should have a sizable impact this season.

But before we delve deeper into the continued growth of Bryce Cotton and Kadeem Batts, or  speculate as to who may break out for the Friars in 2014, we start with Henton — a player on pace to have one of the greatest statistical careers in Providence history.

Hyperbole? Let’s look deeper.

Henton is well on his way to becoming only the 7th Friar in history to grab 1,000 rebounds in his career.

If he doubles the 900 points scored in his first two seasons, he’ll be the 8th Friar to score 1,800 points in his career.

His 11 double doubles last year gave him 20 for his career. Only four Friars have had 40 or more double double games in their careers: Ryan Gomes (40), Michael Smith (46), Jim Hadnot (46), and then there’s Marvin Barnes with an amazing 80.

Doubling his freshman and sophomore totals would give Henton 1,800 career points and over 1,100 rebounds. The only other Friars who can make such a claim? Barnes and Gomes – both PC royalty.

So why has Henton seemingly slid under the radar this offseason? It’s quite possibly the same reason he didn’t find himself in any top 100 lists coming out of high school, despite scoring over 2,000 points in his career and being named all state for four years — when making projections we so often overlook production for potential.

Ed Cooley has a lot of new toys this season, and they are the types of players not seen around these parts in quite some time. Brandon Austin is at least 6’6 and can play three positions, Tyler Harris is being lauded for his ability to score in a variety of ways, while Carson Desrosiers will be the first effective seven footer at PC in years.

For all of the upside of the newcomers, it will be difficult for any to match the sheer numbers Henton has put up in either of his first two seasons.

Part of it falls on Henton as well. He saw his three point percentage dip from 39% as a freshman to 25% a year ago in a season in which he shot just 40% from the field (down from .454 as a freshman).

Field goal percentages aside, Henton was solid in averaging 13 points and over eight rebounds per game, while making 81% of his free throws last season.

If Providence gets the shooting percentages from Henton’s rookie year, they become an even more dangerous team — and Henton could slide his way into all conference conversations if he continues to land in the top 2-3 in the Big East in rebounding (he’s the league’s leading returning rebounder this year after finishing 3rd last season).

There’s much to be excited about in Friartown, with more depth, length and ready-made newcomers than in seasons past, but Henton could well put Providence over the top — even if he’s flying under the radar in September.

 

Email Kevin at kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

 

 

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