Recruiting notes: Interest rising in Ben Davis' Aaron Henry

It was trial by fire in Aaron Henry’s sophomore year at Ben Davis. The 6-5 wing showed plenty of promise in his first varsity season but was also learning on the job.

“Overall it was pretty solid,” Henry said. “But it didn’t go as well as I planned. I didn’t shoot the ball too well and I need to do a better job boxing out and getting stronger and more physical. I need to improve on quite a few things for next year.”

Henry, who is playing with the Gary Harris-sponsored Team Harris this spring and summer, is a versatile threat who has the physical makeup of a player who can and will play with more physicality as he matures.

“The last couple years I shot up five or six inches to 6-5,” Henry said. “Growing up, one year I’d play post and one year I’d play guard. My height shot up pretty fast. It was nice to wake up one morning and find out that I was 6-5. If I top out right there, I’ll be fine with that.”

Henry said he allows his coaches and parents to handle his recruitment at this point. He already has an offer from IUPUI and took a visit to Indiana State during the season. Big Ten programs Iowa and Michigan State have shown some early interest, as well as Detroit and Oakland.

“I try not to focus on it too much,” he said. “I’m trying to focus on my grades and playing as hard as I can.”

Ben Davis finished 14-11 last season, losing 63-52 to Southport in the sectional championship. Henry said Southport junior Paul Scruggs was the toughest player he faced all season.

“He beat my head in pretty good,” Henry said. “But I needed that.”

Ben Davis will return seniors-to-be Datrion Harper and Josh Brewer next season, among others. Henry seems to have the right attitude to improving his game.

“I really know what to expect now,” he said. “I was new to varsity last season after playing JV my freshman year. I needed to learn more and needed more experience. It was pretty intense. Now I feel like I know what to do.”

Etc.

• Former Pike guard Taishaun Johnson will take an official visit to Kent State the weekend of May 13-14. Johnson, a 2013 Pike graduate, will have two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot guard averaged 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds as a freshman at South Alabama. He played in just five games as a sophomore before leaving the team in what was described by South Alabama coach Matthew Graves as a “mutual decision.”

Cal-Fullerton, Iona, Cal-Bakersfield, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi and Wyoming are other schools that have shown interest.

• Scout.com released its final 2016 national rankings on Wednesday. Lawrence Central’s Kyle Guy, a Virginia recruit named IndyStar Mr. Basketball last week, came in as the highest-ranking in-state prospect at No. 42. Indiana recruit De’Ron Davis was No. 44 and Southport senior and Butler recruit Joey Brunk No. 98.

Indiana recruit Curtis Jones, Tech guard C.J. Walker (Florida State) and Notre Dame recruit Temple Gibbs were classified as four-star prospects who fell just outside the top 100.

• Fort Wayne Snider junior Malik Williams continues to pile up scholarship offers.

The 6-11 Williams, ranked No. 43 in the 2017 class by Scout, added offers from Maryland and Pitt this week.

Williams has offers from Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Xavier and others.

Call IndyStar reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.