'11 MI SF LaDontae Henton

intrpdtrvlr · 07-17-2009, 09:30 AM

Small forward
Lansing (MI) Eastern
AAU: Michigan Mustangs
Ht: 6-foot-5
Class: 2011 (High School)

LaDontae Henton - Basketball Recruiting

Scout.com: LaDontae Henton Profile

intrpdtrvlr · 07-17-2009, 09:38 AM

Do we really not have a LaDontae Henton thread? I searched and couldn't find one.
Anyway, I stole this from the PLP thread.
It's interesting because, from what I've heard, Henton is an excellent producer, scorer, rebounder, and carries himself with great intensity and energy - an Izzo player all the way.
The major question mark is whether he can develop the handle to play on the wing in college. If he can't, he's too small to play as a big at MSU. This write-up calls him a "wing."

I imagine that's what Izzo is waiting to see before he makes an offer. Regardless, unless Henton really develops, I'm guessing he and McCune would be an either/or/neither in 2011.
I'd like to see Henton make the leap and earn an offer during next season, imagining him as a cross between Durrell Summers and Draymond Green but that's probably optimistic.

Quote:

Soaring wing
LaDontae Henton (Lansing, Mich.) also provided offense for The Family in the U-16 final. Henton was beating his defender off the dribble to score. The lefty showed a nice midrange game. He is able to secure the rebound on the defensive end and outlet or lead the break himself. When he outlets it, he continues to run the floor, often getting a return pass or getting a tip-in. He is not afraid to chase down a loose ball and dive on the floor. He operates well from the high post area. His strong body allows him to finish through contact and maintain his intensity throughout the game.

Paul Biancardi: Jared Sullinger and All-Ohio Red came out on top in a hard-fought final at the Peach Jam - ESPN

DocB · 07-17-2009, 12:58 PM

I almost can't imagine him not getting an offer. He has a decent offensive game, but his real strength is crashing the boards. He is unreal and relentless. I don't see how Izzo doesn't love a guy out of high school that he can plug in and just crash the boards and play good defense from the very beginning.

robin586 · 07-17-2009, 02:02 PM

Has Henton shown that he can defend other wing players or does he usually stay on the post?

Spartan Pride · 07-17-2009, 02:18 PM

Good kid but needs to work alot harder in the classroom before Izzo offers.

MSC · 07-17-2009, 10:31 PM

Wing? Are you kidding me? Im really not a big fan of blasting kids on a public forum so Ill be polite and just say he is too small and not big enough to play the 4/5 at a high major (no possible way he has the skill set to play the 3) Anyway, word is the kid is so academically deficient he is near the point of no return. If he did he would have an offer by now., which of course nobody has officially offered the kid for reason. Also, McCune will be offered soon and is a legit 6'8 and can play wing, so no comparison here.

ROCGreen · 07-17-2009, 11:36 PM

Great job not basing the kid

.

From all accounts Henton is a really good basketball player plain and simple. The problem which has already been alluded to a few times is that he is a tweener and doesn't have a position at the high major level. Green had a similar tag on him and that turned out pretty well for MSU so far. It will be interesting to see how he continues to develop and hopefully turns it around in the class room if that is a problem at this point. He has plenty of time and is a hard worker.

intrpdtrvlr · 07-18-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSC

Wing? Are you kidding me? Im really not a big fan of blasting kids on a public forum so Ill be polite and just say he is too small and not big enough to play the 4/5 at a high major (no possible way he has the skill set to play the 3) Anyway, word is the kid is so academically deficient he is near the point of no return. If he did he would have an offer by now., which of course nobody has officially offered the kid for reason. Also, McCune will be offered soon and is a legit 6'8 and can play wing, so no comparison here.

I didn't compare the two, per se. My point was that since both their futures at MSU would be on the wing not in the post and they're going to be defending the other offense's 3-man (if the team runs that way), it wouldn't make any sense to take them both in the 2011 class. I think that's a valid point.

Henton has not yet played his junior year of high school basketball. I think both his handle on the wing and academics have time to develop if he wants to earn an MSU offer. They may not but there's time. It's too early to dismiss both.

The Dancing Bear · 07-18-2009, 11:37 AM

I see offers from Penn State and Utah for Henton, so they must not be too worried about his academic situation.

MSC · 07-18-2009, 04:20 PM

By the way, Henton has not been offered by either Utah or Penn State that is just bad info passed out there for awhile now.....like since the 8th grade when he was 15yrs old and the same size he is now..... Also, if you understand the NCAA Clearhinghouse and at all how kids "qualify" you would understand why people who know his situation know he doesnt necessarily have time.

Im truly not being unfair here, but here is the truth. The kid is going to be an 18 yr old JUNIOR! Yes, I said JR. As a young player you have a window of development and that window has closed on him. If you have seen him play, please tell me what he has improved on since he was in the 9th grade. Has he become a better perimeter shooter? Better ball handler? Better wing? More intense... NO....He is the exact same player now that he was as a 16yr high school freshman. Is he a really good player...yes...really good player's dont play at MSU.....really good players play at Eastern, Western and Central Michigan. Great players get scholarshiped at MSU.

The Draymond Green comparison is so flawed on so many levels it cant be addressed. Green is easily 2 inches taller and 25lbs heavier and a true 4. Henton has a well known reputation of being a kid that will not work either in the classroom, or during the off season, which shows in both his lack of development since the 9th grade and his grades...If he somehow salvages his academics and can get a core GPA and qualifying ACT he may end up in the MAC at best....

dc300zx91 · 07-18-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSC

By the way, Henton has not been offered by either Utah or Penn State that is just bad info passed out there for awhile now.....like since the 8th grade when he was 15yrs old and the same size he is now..... Also, if you understand the NCAA Clearhinghouse and at all how kids "qualify" you would understand why people who know his situation know he doesnt necessarily have time.

Im truly not being unfair here, but here is the truth. The kid is going to be an 18 yr old JUNIOR! Yes, I said JR. As a young player you have a window of development and that window has closed on him. If you have seen him play, please tell me what he has improved on since he was in the 9th grade. Has he become a better perimeter shooter? Better ball handler? Better wing? More intense... NO....He is the exact same player now that he was as a 16yr high school freshman. Is he a really good player...yes...really good player's dont play at MSU.....really good players play at Eastern, Western and Central Michigan. Great players get scholarshiped at MSU.

The Draymond Green comparison is so flawed on so many levels it cant be addressed. Green is easily 2 inches taller and 25lbs heavier and a true 4. Henton has a well known reputation of being a kid that will not work either in the classroom, or during the off season, which shows in both his lack of development since the 9th grade and his grades...If he somehow salvages his academics and can get a core GPA and qualifying ACT he may end up in the MAC at best....

not saying any of that is wrong (or right), but have you said anything positive about any recruit yet? You've bashed him twice, amir williams too and kind of dogged on kearney. Is there anything positive about any recruit you've personally watched yet?

The Dancing Bear · 07-18-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc300zx91

not saying any of that is wrong (or right), but have you said anything positive about any recruit yet? You've bashed him twice, amir williams too and kind of dogged on kearney. Is there anything positive about any recruit you've personally watched yet?

If a recruit isn't the second coming of Earvin Johnson, they suck.

Spartan Pride · 07-18-2009, 09:25 PM

Henton is the only recruit I've ever known personally, and I can pretty much confirm/agree with most of what "MSC" is saying regarding his academics.

He's passing his classes and will graduate but with a very very poor GPA that won't cut it at MSU.

ROCGreen · 07-19-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSC

The Draymond Green comparison is so flawed on so many levels it cant be addressed. Green is easily 2 inches taller and 25lbs heavier and a true 4. Henton has a well known reputation of being a kid that will not work either in the classroom, or during the off season, which shows in both his lack of development since the 9th grade and his grades...If he somehow salvages his academics and can get a core GPA and qualifying ACT he may end up in the MAC at best....

No the comparison is not flawed. Of course its not the exact same but first of all Green is only about 1 inch taller than Henton unless Henton is not actually 6'5". But alas my point is they are both great high school players that did nothing but produce but didn't necessarily have a college positions. Green was and is no where near a true 4. Theres a reason Izzo didnt push hard right away and lost him to Tubby. And Im not saying Henton is as good as Green either.

MSUtopia · 07-19-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROCGreen

No the comparison is not flawed. Of course its not the exact same but first of all Green is only about 1 inch taller than Henton unless Henton is not actually 6'5". But alas my point is they are both great high school players that did nothing but produce but didn't necessarily have a college positions. Green was and is no where near a true 4. Theres a reason Izzo didnt push hard right away and lost him to Tubby. And Im not saying Henton is as good as Green either.

I have not seen Henton play but I think that it is probable that your comparison to Green is flawed. Green is a very unique player whose talent is hard to quantify. His value is greatest in the context of the team as a whole. I think the reason Izzo didn't push hard right away for Green was because of the intense recruiting battle for Delvon Roe. Delvon was projected as an eventual small forward, Green's most natural position. Maybe a better comparison with Henton would be Kelvin Torbert.

intrpdtrvlr · 07-19-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSUtopia

I have not seen Henton play but I think that it is probable that your comparison to Green is flawed. Green is a very unique player whose talent is hard to quantify. His value is greatest in the context of the team as a whole. I think the reason Izzo didn't push hard right away for Green was because of the intense recruiting battle for Delvon Roe. Delvon was projected as an eventual small forward, Green's most natural position. Maybe a better comparison with Henton would be Kelvin Torbert.

Academics aside, I'm under the impression that if Henton had clear guard/wing capabilities a la Torbert he'd be a much more attractive prospect.

MSUtopia · 07-19-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intrpdtrvlr

Academics aside, I'm under the impression that if Henton had clear guard/wing capabilities a la Torbert he'd be a much more attractive prospect.

But I don't think that Kelvin ever really found a comfort zone at any position. I am guessing at this comparison because from what I have gathered both have (had) the abiltiy to dominate bigger and smaller players with their stength and athleticism at the high school level but this becomes a questionable proposition at the D1 level where the taller players are stronger and the smaller players are quicker.

MSC · 07-21-2009, 12:03 AM

bottom line...MSU is an elite Top 5 program and should be recruting elite talent. I call it the way I see it, if you dont like it, that is your right. Not overly critical, just realistic. Alex Gauna...VERY GOOD...saw him half a dozen times this summer and exponentially better than Suton was at same age. Keith Appling....if he stays 3-4 years, will be the best combo guard ever to play at MSU. Zeigler, a stud and I hope we get him. Jon Horford....has grown on me, could develop into a very good 4 in Big Ten... If I criticized a player you like and you disagree with my OPINION of said player that is what is called a difference of opinion. I know what I see and have been respectfully analytical of the talent posted as MSU prospects. Henton should not be considered for a scholarship at MSU, my opinion, not because I dont like the kid, but because from a basketball standpoint he is nowhere near an elite talent....

intrpdtrvlr · 11-02-2009, 11:42 PM

I bump this because I enjoy the divisive enigma that is LaDontae Henton but mainly because ESPNRISE.com named him one 50 or so "Players to Watch" for this season. Considering he's in the company of MSU recruits like Keith Appling and major national players such as James McAdoo, it's kind of interesting that he'd be talked about in the same breath. I'm really curious what becomes of his recruiting this season. ESPN Knight headlines 2009-10 players to watch -ESPN Rise BOYSBASKETBALL