Crossroads' Henderson signs with University of Lynchburg

On Wednesday, John Henderson Jr. started off the interval by signing a letter of intent to join the University of Lynchburg men’s basketball program. Three of his teammates will follow his lead in the coming weeks in making their own declarations official.

“It’s the best,” Crossroads coach Scottie Richardson said of being able to celebrate his players’ college choices during this time frame.

Henderson was joined at the signing ceremony by his teammates as well as his parents Nakia and John Sr., grandparents Wayne and Pearlene Yancey, and personal trainer Gerroid Doughty.

The Colts are coming off a 26-8 campaign in which they finished unbeaten in conference play and reached the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1A semifinals for the second season in a row, led by Henderson, a dynamic 6-foot-6 guard/forward who earned all-state honors in consecutive years.

“He was the player of the year in the conference,” Richardson said, “which is the first one we’ve had here since I’ve been here. But just what he did to sacrifice his own stats this year for the betterment of the team — that was really the takeaway. Because if he wanted to, he could have had those 30 and 40 point games, but he only averaged about 16 points a game — which is remarkable — but that just shows you how much he was able to be a team player and we were able to go as far as we did.”

The season also included big local wins over Henderson Collegiate and Vance County High, and invitations to statewide showcases, like the Hoop State MLK Day Showcase at N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A powerhouse Farmville Central. There, the Colts took down a strong Greene Central team that finished its season 23-7.

Henderson led Crossroads in 3-point shooting percentage, was second in steals and assists, and right alongside D’Markus Tucker as the top rebounder.

Henderson and Tucker will become league rivals on the next level in the Division III Old Dominion Athletic Conference; Tucker is headed to Averett University in Danville, Virginia.

The ODAC is a tough league, won this season by reigning national champion Randolph-Macon College.

In his 15th season at Lynchburg, head coach Hilliary Scott, a longtime coaching peer of Richardson’s, is looking for Henderson to make a major impact with the Hornets.

“They like the way I play,” Henderson said. “I fit in with what they needed. They came out and watched my practices with the head coach, and to the games. They really love me.”

Richardson said he anticipates Lynchburg moving to more of a position-less, up-tempo style of play, which Henderson grew accustomed to in his two seasons with the Colts, and that Henderson was at the top of the Hornets’ recruiting board.

When it came down to making a decision, Scott’s staff showed Henderson the most “love.”

“I was happy for them as a staff,” Richardson said. “No offense to those that recruited him and offered him, but we just felt like, ‘Love who’s loving you,’ and that was a perfect fit.”