Leon Henry
No. 15 – Townsville Crocodiles | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward / Shooting guard |
League | ANBL |
Personal information | |
Born | Auckland, New Zealand |
14 October 1985
Nationality | New Zealand |
Listed height | 202 cm (6 ft 8 in) |
Listed weight | 105 kg (231 lb) |
Career information | |
High school | Mount Albert Grammar School (Auckland, New Zealand) Avondale College (Auckland, New Zealand) |
College | College of Southern Idaho (2005–2006) |
Playing career | 2004–present |
Career history | |
2004 | Harbour Heat |
2008–2011 | Wellington Saints |
2008–2009 | U Mobitelco Cluj |
2010 | New Zealand Breakers |
2011–2013 | New Zealand Breakers |
2012 | OceanaGold Nuggets |
2013–2014 | Southland Sharks |
2014–present | Townsville Crocodiles |
2015–present | Wellington Saints |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Leon Pavihi Henry (born 14 October 1985) is a New Zealand professional basketball player who currently plays for the Townsville Crocodiles of the Australian National Basketball League (ANBL).
Contents
Basketball career
Early years
Henry played a lone season for the New Zealand NBL's Harbour Heat in 2004[1] before moving to the United States in 2005. He attended Southern Idaho Junior College in 2005–06 where he averaged 4.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 29 games.[2] During these early years, Henry also played in the Conference Basketball League (CBL) for Hutt Valley in 2004, Waitakere in 2005 and 2006, Porirua in 2007, and the Wellington Saints second team in 2008.
After a three-year absence from the New Zealand NBL, Henry returned to the league in 2008 to play for the Wellington Saints. However, Henry felt his career was declining, but former Tall Blacks' head coach Tab Baldwin recognised Henry's talent and took him to Romania for a season with CS Universitatea Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca. Up until then, Henry had been better known for his athleticism and acrobatic dunks than his shooting touch, and thus Baldwin tutored him in the need to develop an outside game. But like his US college experience, Henry found the culture of European basketball bewildering. Both he and Baldwin had their contracts with Cluj terminated following the 2008–09 season, and the pair both returned to the New Zealand,[3] as Henry re-joined the Wellington Saints for the 2009 New Zealand NBL season. Henry's change in attitude helped his game out immensely as went on to lead the Saints to a championship the following season. In addition, the CBL returned to action in 2010 after taking a year off in 2009. Henry subsequently returned to his roots, re-joining Hutt Valley for the five-day tournament held in Porirua. Henry dominated proceedings as he earned MVP honours after leading Hutt Valley to a grand final victory.[4]
New Zealand Breakers
After what was a break through year in 2010, Henry joined the New Zealand Breakers for the first three games of the 2010–11 NBL season as a replacement for Kirk Penney. Upon Penney's returned, Henry was asked to stick around with the Breakers as a training player and he did so for the entire season, showing his commitment and dedication. This and a solid 2011 season with the Saints earned him a full contract with the Breakers for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 NBL seasons.[5]
Nuggets and Sharks
On 11 October 2011, Henry signed with the OceanaGold Nuggets for the 2012 New Zealand NBL season, joining fellow Tall Blacks Mark Dickel and B. J. Anthony at the franchise.[6]
In March 2013, Henry signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season.[7] The Sharks went on to win the 2013 NBL championship with Henry winning the Final Four MVP award.[8]
On 1 May 2013, Henry was released by the New Zealand Breakers.[9]
In November 2013, Henry re-signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2014 season.[10] On 30 May 2014, he was suspended indefinitely by the Sharks after he and two other teammates were charged with "assault with intent to injure" following a fight outside a bar in New Plymouth the previous Sunday.[11] On 1 August 2014, he was sentenced to four months home detention and forced to pay $4000 after pleading guilty to two charges of injuring with intent and assault with intent to injure.[12]
Townsville Crocodiles and second Wellington stint
On 27 August 2014, Henry signed with the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2014–15 NBL season.[13] On 10 February 2015, he signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2015 New Zealand NBL season.[14][15] After missing a month of action due to a facial injury he sustained on 17 April, Henry returned to the Saints' line-up on 23 May to record 11 points and 8 rebounds in a win over the Nelson Giants.[16]
On 12 June 2015, Henry re-signed with the Crocodiles for the 2015–16 season.[17] On 9 December 2015, he re-signed with the Saints for the 2016 season.[18]
International career
In 2004, Henry competed for New Zealand at the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament.[19] He later was selected to join the Tall Blacks squad on 16 July 2009 for the first time, and participated in the FIBA Oceania Championship 2009. He recorded two rebounds and one assist in the one game he played.[20]
Personal
On 8 April 2015, Henry was sentenced to community detention, community work and supervision after pleading guilty to injuring with intent and assault with intent to injure following the May 2014 pub brawl.[21]
Henry's long-time partner is R&B artist, Aaradhna.[22][23]
References
- ↑ Junior Tall Blacks receive boost
- ↑ COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO – Leon Henry
- ↑ HENRY TO MAKE BREAKERS MARK
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Leon Henry slots in for NZ Breakers title defence
- ↑ Henry's unexpected Otago move upsets Mills
- ↑ Henry will boost Sharks squad
- ↑ Hungry Sharks claim unlikely NBL title
- ↑ HENRY RELEASED FROM FINAL YEAR OF CONTRACT
- ↑ Sharks buoyed after as Leon Henry re-signs
- ↑ Cavalry not coming to Waikato Pistons' rescue
- ↑ Ili and Henry Sentenced
- ↑ Crocs give Henry another chance
- ↑ Henry Back With Saints
- ↑ Wellington Saints land former Tall Black Leon Henry for upcoming NBL season
- ↑ Crocs Offseason Update Part 7
- ↑ LEON HENRY RE-SIGNS WITH THE CROCS
- ↑ Wellington Saints retain Leon Henry and Dion Prewster for 2016 NBL season
- ↑ Leon Henry top scores for New Zealand
- ↑ Leon Henry's profile – FIBA.com
- ↑ Leon Henry free to play for Wellington Saints against Hawke's Bay in NBL clash
- ↑ Basketball: Breakers' swingman's 'crazy run' is heading for the top
- ↑ Leon Henry on song for Sharks' title defence
External links
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- Use New Zealand English from September 2012
- All Wikipedia articles written in New Zealand English
- Use dmy dates from November 2011
- 1985 births
- Living people
- New Zealand basketball players
- New Zealand Breakers players
- People educated at Avondale College
- People educated at Mount Albert Grammar School
- Shooting guards
- Small forwards
- Southern Idaho Golden Eagles men's basketball players
- Sportspeople from Auckland
- Townsville Crocodiles players