Trail Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson told reporters over the weekend that he’s always dreamed of playing football at the University of Oregon, prompting Ducks head coach Dan Lanning to check in on Portland’s guard.
Lanning jokingly asked Henderson whether or not Henderson had any college eligibility left, indicating he might have a spot on the Oregon football team if he were eligible.
“Got any eligibility left Scoot?” wrote Lanning on Twitter.
Henderson, who didn’t play college basketball and instead joined the G-League Ignite team prior to being selected with the No. 3 pick in this year’s NBA draft by the Trail Blazers, boasts a big body, measuring in at 6’2” and 195 pounds. Athletic as they come, a hypothetical transition to football doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility for the 19-year-old.
Got any eligibility left Scoot? https://t.co/mxZ1yn8hby
— Dan Lanning (@CoachDanLanning) July 2, 2023
After all, Eugene is a mere two-hour drive from Portland.
While it’s an intriguing hypothetical, Henderson is focused on his rookie campaign with the Trail Blazers.
Amid the reported trade request from Damian Lillard hanging over the team, Henderson admitted he’d embrace becoming one of the faces of the franchise should its superstar point guard get dealt.
Henderson will make his NBA Summer League debut later this week, so Lanning will have to look elsewhere if he’s hoping to fortify his football squad ahead of the 2023 season.
