Five-star point guard and one of the top prospect in the class of 2022, Scoot Henderson, will skip his senior season at Georgia’s Kell High school to go pro. In lieu of heading to college or taking his talents overseas, Henderson joined the NBA’s G League Ignite, the league announced Friday.
The 17-year-old has signed a deal worth $1 million, according to The Athletic.
The G League Ignite is a developmental program designed to prepare top basketball prospects not old enough to declare for the NBA Draft. Henderson will not be eligible for the NBA Draft before 2023.
“I’m so excited the G League created this platform,” Henderson said. “It is truly the best fit for me. Since I was a kid, competing at the highest level in the world has been my main goal. Becoming the youngest professional American basketball player is just icing on the cake.”
The Marietta, Georgia native led his high school to a 22-7 record, averaging 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Henderson earned Sports Illustrated All-American and MaxPreps Junior All-American First Team honors and is Kell High School’s all-time leading scorer.
Henderson becomes the first player to sign with Ignite for two seasons and will join top-10, class of 2021 prospect, Michael Foster, on the team’s roster.
Led by five-time NBA champion Brian Shaw, the team includes “elite players who are eligible for the NBA Draft as well as NBA G League veterans who serve as mentors to the team’s young talent.”
Contact Analis Bailey at aabailey@usatoday.com or on Twitter @analisbailey.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fiver-star recruit to bypass senior prep season for NBA’s minor league