RALEIGH — Apparently seven minutes now qualifies as a complete season for the NCAA. Terry Henderson found out the hard way.The senior guard for NC State was denied a sixth year of eligibility for a season in which he played just seven minutes before sitting out due to a serious injury. After just one full season at NC State, Henderson will no longer be eligible to play college basketball due to the NCAA’s ruling.”I would like to thank everyone who supported me since day one through this appeal process,” Henderson said in a release. “Unfortunately, the decision was turned down by the NCAA and I will now turn my focus towards a professional career. I want to thank Wolfpack Nation, WVU, the coaches and all of my teammates for all of your teaching and support during my time in college.”Prior to playing college basketball, Henderson was a guard for Neuse Christian Academy. As a three-star shooting guard coming out of Raleigh, he signed with West Virginia before returning to his roots at NC State.Henderson recently graduated from NC State, but his playing days are effectively over in the red and white. Despite not being able to play under coach Kevin Keatts, Henderson gave his stamp of approval for the new NC State head coach before his departure from the program.”It was an honor and privilege to come back to Raleigh and play college basketball in my hometown,” Henderson said. “Great things are coming for the future of Wolfpack basketball and I will forever bleed red and white.”Henderson finished that statement with “#WPNforever” and “#BelieveinKeatts.”The loss of Henderson is a huge blow for Keatts’ first season in Raleigh. Henderson ranked first on the team with a 38.4 three-point shooting percentage and second on the team in scoring at 13.8 points per game last season.However, Keatts has prepared for this possible outcome by building his roster with graduate transfer guards. Al Freeman and Sam Hunt from Baylor and N.C. A&T, respectively, offer two outside shooting guards who can collectively fill the role for Keatts. Incoming freshman Lavar Batts, the No. 1 recruit in N.C., will also be expected to carry some of the load next year.The decision by the NCAA is a puzzling one — especially given the sixth year awarded to Michigan State’s Ben Carter and seventh(!!!) year granted to Jalan West of Northwestern State. But now with the final word on Henderson, the Wolfpack still likely needs more help to turn things around in year one under Keatts.
