Five-star wing Shelton Henderson — the No. 22 player in the 2025 class, per the 247Sports composite — has committed to Duke, he announced Saturday.
Henderson picked the Blue Devils over fellow finalists Louisville and Texas.
He is Duke’s fourth commit in the 2025 class, joining forward Cameron Boozer (No. 2 overall in 2025), guard Cayden Boozer (No. 21), and forward Nik Khamenia (No. 27). Jon Scheyer already had Duke in position to land the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class — which would be his third time doing so in four offseasons as head coach — and Henderson’s commitment only further solidifies that likelihood.
NEWS: 5⭐ Shelton Henderson (@shelt0n2) has committed to Duke he tells @TheAthletic
Henderson averaged 14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds & 2.8 assists per game
He could be the city of Houston’s first McDonald’s All-American since 2018 (Quentin Grimes)
Duke’s 2025 Class:
5⭐️Cayden… pic.twitter.com/NIVfnLW3Nf— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) November 2, 2024
At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Henderson is one of the more physically mature players in the class. The term “man child” isn’t inaccurate. Strictly in terms of Henderson’s build, with his long arms and muscled-up frame, he looks ready to play college basketball today.
And while Henderson’s skill set isn’t as advanced as his body is, he’s still more than capable of making an impact as a freshman — especially considering Duke is in line to potentially lose its entire starting lineup after this season. Henderson’s defensive aptitude and ability to guard multiple positions will fit well with Scheyer’s preferred coaching philosophy, which is predicated on smothering opponents with length defensively.
Offensively, Henderson is a bit more of a work in progress, but projects as a secondary ballhandler and potent slasher at the college level. Case in point: he took 32 free throws in seven games at Peach Jam this July, regularly putting pressure on the rim with his aggressive drives. On the flip side, Henderson only made 50 percent of those free throws (and 29.4 percent of his 3-pointers); improving his shooting touch should be among his bigger priorities before arriving on campus in Durham next summer.
But regardless, Henderson will have a role next season. That’s because Duke is expected to lose at least six players off its current roster, if not more. Wings Sion James and Mason Gillis are out of eligibility, and multiple others — including Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Kon Knueppel, Caleb Foster, and Tyrese Proctor — are expected to be early entrants for the 2025 NBA Draft. That leaves multiple holes on the perimeter… and Henderson as one of the primary replacements.
Duke is still in the running for several other top recruits, too, most notably wing Nate Ament (No. 4).
(Photo: Rich Graessle / Getty Images)
