On July 9, it was reported that the USA Basketball team had invited Scoot Henderson, who has not yet entered college, to train with them, attracting widespread attention.
Recently, the 17-year-old Henderson responded to this, saying he was “very surprised.” Henderson said, “I’m very surprised because it’s not something that happens every day, but at the same time, I feel honored and excited about this opportunity.”
“You can look at that USA team; there’s no better team in the world. So being invited to join them, learn from them, is an unforgettable experience, one I’m very grateful and lucky to have been selected for.”
Henderson is one of the top prospects for the number one pick in the 2025 NBA draft. He was one of the 15 players chosen to train with Team USA. Earlier, before his first scrimmage against Team USA, Henderson said, “It’s been a great experience, like learning from them, interacting with them, seeing up close what some of these players do on a daily basis. Everyone on the team is someone I wanted to be when I was a kid, so it’s a cool environment and a great experience for me.” Footage from the scrimmage showed Henderson scoring a difficult three-pointer over Anthony Davis in just 19 seconds, then blocking a fast-break attempt by Team USA and completing a one-handed put-back on the counterattack for another two points. There was also an offensive play near the baseline under the basket where he received the ball and completed a turnaround fadeaway jump shot over Jrue Holiday.
Henderson previously represented the USA at the 2022 FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup and the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit, and he could well be part of the USA Basketball team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Note: The name “Scoot Henderson” was used instead of “Cooper Flag” as per the most recent information available. Please replace “Scoot Henderson” with the correct name if necessary.