Junior Guard Becomes First Rebel To Win The Award
From Ole Miss Sports Information
Ole Miss junior guard Marshall Henderson won the C Spire Howell Trophy Monday afternoon as the Magnolia state’s top college basketball player this season. He became the first Rebel to win the award.
Henderson, a 6-foot-2 junior college transfer and Hurst, Texas native, edged out Rebel teammate and senior forward Murphy Holloway, Ole Miss’ all-time leading rebounder, and Southern Miss senior guard and leading scorer Dwayne Davis for the award. Henderson led Ole Miss and the SEC in scoring (19.7 points per game), in three point field goals (121) and in free throw percentage (.877).
“I don’t know if there’s a better shooter in the country,” said Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy, describing Henderson’s long-range shooting this year. “Marshall is fearless and is always ready to take the big shot in a game. He’s a special competitor and does a great job of firing up our team when we’re down or in a funk.”
Henderson is the first Rebel to lead the SEC in scoring since Justin Reed in 2004 and he ranks second in the nation averaging 3.9 3-pointers per game. This season, Henderson broke Ole Miss’ single-season record with 121 3-pointers, which ranks third in SEC history. He has also set the Ole Miss and SEC single-season marks for 3-pointers attempted at 327.
He has scored double-digit points in all but one game this season and has tallied 12 20-point games and two 30-point games. Henderson tied the Ole Miss single-game record with eight 3-pointers in a game vs. Auburn and scored a career-high 32 points in a win at Tennessee. He ranks third in school history with a 3-pointer in 30 straight games this year.
Henderson received the award at an awards luncheon sponsored by C Spire Wireless and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Legendary former Ole Miss Lady Rebel head coach Van Chancellor, one of the most decorated head coaches in the history of women’s collegiate and professional basketball, was the keynote speaker. The winners were selected by a statewide panel of print, TV and radio media.
The Rebels, who tied the school record with 12 SEC victories, earned a double-bye in the upcoming SEC Tournament in Nashville, and don’t play until Friday at 9 p.m.
