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Henson to Return for Fifth Season in 2015-16
DURHAM, N.C. – Coming off playing a career-high games and minutes this season, Duke University women’s basketball senior Amber Henson has decided to return for a fifth year in 2015-16, following graduation in May. With her two redshirt seasons, Henson actually has two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Blue Devils.
“I am really excited about the decision,” commented Henson. “It is finally good to get it out there and stop having to answer questions about it and thinking about it so much.”
A native of Tampa, Fla., Henson has gone through six knee surgeries since arriving at Duke, after suffering an injury in high school. The 6-4 forward has posted career highs in every stat category this season, while averaging 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 blocks. Henson has started 14-of-30 contests, including the last five in a row.
“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie on the news Henson was returning next season. “I have been talking to myself about it and making sure that I didn’t say anything to Amber or indicate anything because it is such a personal decision for her in terms with what she wanted to do. I kept thinking in my mind because she is not going to come back, graduate and go on with her career just because it wouldn’t hurt so bad when she left. The fact that she has made that decision to be at Duke and pursue her master’s degree we are so thrilled. What she can do for our teams is phenomenal and what she does for the student body at Duke is also phenomenal. She deserves a chance to really, really see what she can do, after a year to get her feet and balance under her a little bit.”
Henson played in eight games as a freshman at Duke, before having surgery. She went on to miss the 2012-13 campaign coming back from knee surgery. In 2013-14, Henson appeared in 27 games and started five contests. She averaged 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds.
“When you are hit with adverse circumstances like injuries and things, you try to make the best out of it,” said Henson. “To be able to go to school for two more years and get two degrees from a school like Duke is really an amazing opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
A McDonald’s All-America and a top-10 recruit coming out of Walter L. Sickles H.S., Henson totaled 2,027 points and 1,218 rebounds over her prep career. She was a three-time Parade All-America and Florida Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.
Henson recently took the GMAT and has applied for the Master of Management Studies at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke for next year. She will receive a public policy degree in May.
“A big part of my decision was the young players like Rebecca [Greenwell], Azurá [Stevens], Kendall [Cooper] and Oderah [Chidom]. They are great players. To be back with them, I know we are going to accomplish some great things in the future.”
#GoDuke
“I am really excited about the decision,” commented Henson. “It is finally good to get it out there and stop having to answer questions about it and thinking about it so much.”
A native of Tampa, Fla., Henson has gone through six knee surgeries since arriving at Duke, after suffering an injury in high school. The 6-4 forward has posted career highs in every stat category this season, while averaging 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.9 blocks. Henson has started 14-of-30 contests, including the last five in a row.
“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie on the news Henson was returning next season. “I have been talking to myself about it and making sure that I didn’t say anything to Amber or indicate anything because it is such a personal decision for her in terms with what she wanted to do. I kept thinking in my mind because she is not going to come back, graduate and go on with her career just because it wouldn’t hurt so bad when she left. The fact that she has made that decision to be at Duke and pursue her master’s degree we are so thrilled. What she can do for our teams is phenomenal and what she does for the student body at Duke is also phenomenal. She deserves a chance to really, really see what she can do, after a year to get her feet and balance under her a little bit.”
Henson played in eight games as a freshman at Duke, before having surgery. She went on to miss the 2012-13 campaign coming back from knee surgery. In 2013-14, Henson appeared in 27 games and started five contests. She averaged 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds.
“When you are hit with adverse circumstances like injuries and things, you try to make the best out of it,” said Henson. “To be able to go to school for two more years and get two degrees from a school like Duke is really an amazing opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
A McDonald’s All-America and a top-10 recruit coming out of Walter L. Sickles H.S., Henson totaled 2,027 points and 1,218 rebounds over her prep career. She was a three-time Parade All-America and Florida Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.
Henson recently took the GMAT and has applied for the Master of Management Studies at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke for next year. She will receive a public policy degree in May.
“A big part of my decision was the young players like Rebecca [Greenwell], Azurá [Stevens], Kendall [Cooper] and Oderah [Chidom]. They are great players. To be back with them, I know we are going to accomplish some great things in the future.”
#GoDuke
