GopherHole goes one-on-one with nation’s number one - a Q&A with Seantrel Henderson
Number One. Those two words say it all. For Seantrel Henderson, the nation’s number one recruit in the class of 2010, the ranking means little compared to the expectations he has for himself. At 6-8, 301 lbs, the Cretin Derham Hall OT’s offer list is easy to explain – everyone. Everyone includes home state Minnesota, Ohio State, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame and on and on and on. And the battle for his recruitment is as fierce as his ability to block.

Fresh off the completion of his high school basketball season and unofficial visit to Michigan, Henderson spoke with GopherHole.com at the Howard Pulley AAU tryouts about the expectations of being the nation’s number one recruit, his visit to Michigan, where the Gophers’ stand for his services and the areas of his game he will work on prior to hitting the college field in the Fall of 2010.


GH: How does it feel to be the number one recruit in the entire nation?

SH: It feels good, I never thought anything like this would happen, just for somebody to ever think that I’m a great player like that, it feels really good. I’m honored.

GH: How have you and your family reacted to the numerous honors?

SH: They didn’t react in any certain type of way, but they were very proud of me.

GH: Is being #1 prospect good motivation for you to improve?

SH: Yes, it is, because when you’re at the top, the only place you can go is down. That pretty much motivates me everyday to get out there and do more hard work.

GH: Do you have a USC offer yet?

SH: No.

GH: What exactly do you have to do to obtain an offer from them?

SH: A lot of people say you have to go and attend their summer camp in order for them to offer you. That’s what most guys do, because most of the guys on their team are from California. I haven’t really heard much, I get a few letters here and there, but they haven’t really said much about anything.

GH: Is attending their camp something you’re planning on doing?

SH: I don’t know, it depends on if they want me to or not.

GH: What other camps do you think you will attend this summer?

SH: I don’t think I will going to a lot of camps, I don’t really have anything planned right now.

GH: Fans have been hearing that you really like USC, Notre Dame, Michigan, and the University of Minnesota, would you say those would be your top four?

SH: Not true.

GH: Which schools do you like right now?

SH: I like all schools, I don’t have a top three or four — Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, USC, Notre Dame and Minnesota — those are some of the ones I like.

GH: Do you plan on taking all of your five official visits this fall?

SH: Yes.

GH: Do you have schools that you definitely want to go see?

SH: Michigan, for sure.

GH: Is JD Pride really your best friend, or is that exaggerated?

SH: He’s really my best friend.

GH: How will his college choice affect yours?

SH: He’s my best friend, so him and I are kind of like the same person; we like a lot of the same things. If there was ever a situation where he and I could attend the same school, I would love that, it would make me feel more comfortable. Going out of town, that would make me feel more comfortable to know that there’s somebody with me out there.

GH: Is being able to play basketball at your school of choice a deciding factor for you?

SH: Yes, I would love to do that.

GH: Has anyone discouraged you from playing basketball, just because of risk of injury?

SH: No, my parents don’t, nobody really does. They just tell me to be careful.

GH: What kind of advice have your parents given you as far as the whole recruiting process?

SH: They give me a lot of advice everyday, they’re always on me, especially about schoolwork. They just tell me, you’re at the top, the only place you can go is down, so you’ve got to work hard for your spot, and work hard to keep it.

GH: What about academics, have you taken your ACT and are you a qualifier?

SH: I’ve taken my ACT, and am qualifying.


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