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Michigan’s ‘best senior’ chooses UD

LaDontae Henton’s decision gives Flyers commitments from their two primary targets.

LaDontae Henton of Eastern High School grabs a rebound during a game Jan. 22 in Lansing, Mich. The 6-foot-6 Henton averaged 26.8 points and 15 rebounds per game last season as a junior, and the University of Dayton is hoping to use one of its two remaining scholarships for the 2011 class on him. Lansing (Mich.) State Journal photo by Kevin W. Fowler

State Journal photo by Kevin W. Fowler LaDontae Henton of Eastern High School grabs a rebound during a game Jan. 22 in Lansing, Mich. The 6-foot-6 Henton averaged 26.8 points and 15 rebounds per game last season as a junior, and the University of Dayton is hoping to use one of its two remaining scholarships for the 2011 class on him. Lansing (Mich.) State Journal photo by Kevin W. Fowler

ENLARGE PHOTO

Hard work paying off for Flyers in recruiting

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 9:46 PM Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Lansing Eastern High School senior LaDontae Henton took just three days to grab one of the two basketball scholarships the University of Dayton had in the 2011 class after Detroit post player Percy Gibson claimed the first one Sunday, Aug. 1.

But that wasn’t soon enough to suit UD coach Brian Gregory.

“When I called him to say I was coming, he laughed and said, ‘What took so long?’ ” Henton said after making a verbal commitment Wednesday. “I told him, ‘You’re right, I shouldn’t have taken that much time.’ ”

The 6-foot-6 Henton, who could play both the 3 and 4 positions, is already a three-time Michigan Class A (big school) all-state player and averaged 26.8 points and 15 rebounds last season.

He had offers from Penn State, Utah and South Florida, according to his coach.

“I’m biased, but he’s the best (senior) in the state of Michigan,” said Rod Watts, who coaches Henton at Lansing Eastern and on the AAU Michigan Mustangs. “There’s a couple kids going to Michigan State, but he’s better than them — and I’m not the only one who believes that. He’s the best the state has to offer.”

Steve Bell, who covers recruiting in Michigan for the website MLive.com, shares Watts’ sentiments about the agile lefty.

“You can make the argument that in his class of 2011, here and now, he’s the best actual basketball player. He’s just produced so much from day one,” Bell said. “The upper-Big Ten teams project him as a ‘tweener, but he plays so hard and does so much. ... He’s the kind of guy you have to have on the floor.”

Although they won’t be bringing in a top local recruit for the first time since 2006, the Flyers met their needs for inside help by getting commitments from the two prospects who had emerged as their primary targets.

Contact this writer at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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