Analysis And Commentary: Is The Dre Henley Prep School Saga Over Or Is It Just Beginning?

July 3, 2009

10:35 A.M. CST

On paper, it looks as though the questions surrounding what prep school 6'5 class of 2011 swing man Dre Henley will be attending next year can be put to the side.  Henley has decided (at least for now) to enroll at Brehm Prep in Carbondale, IL.  Henley left De LaSalle Institute in Chicago last month primarily because of the fact that he was unable to stay academically eligible there.

Those who are behind Henley's decision are saying that Henley is going to Brehm in order to focus on improving his academic situation so that he will be eligible to play college basketball as a freshman.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that Henley will be part of a basketball program at Brehm that is loaded with other D1 prospects, including 6'6 class of 2011 forward James Siakam, 6'9 class of 2012 center Emmanuel Ochenje and 6'3 class of 2011 point guard Bruce Barron.  When you combine this with what several others are saying regarding this situation, there is more than sufficient reason to wonder whether or not Brehm will actually be Henley's final prep destination.

While we certainly don't dismiss the fact that academics are one of the factors behind Henley's decision to go the prep school route, several coaches in the Chicago Public League have told us that in reality the move has very little to do with Henley's academic status and everything to do with basketball.  They have even gone as far as to say that all of this has been pre-meditated and orchestrated from the get-go and that they have no doubt that Henley will ultimately end up at Morgan Park High School in Chicago.  These coaches argue that Morgan Park is solely trying to stockpile talent from the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program and they have said that they are concerned to the point that they are ready to band together and do whatever it takes in order to prevent it from continuing.

It is important to note that according to Chicago Public League by-laws, Henley would not have to sit out a year if he were to transfer from a Chicago Catholic League School (which De LaSalle is) to a Chicago Public League school (Morgan Park).  However, that doesn't mean that Henley would automatically be ruled eligible to play basketball immediately at Morgan Park.  According to rival Public League coaches, that is the main reason why Henley is going to Brehm, as those who are controlling his situation don't want to take any chances with respect to ultimately trying to get him at Morgan Park.  They say that by Henley attending Brehm, it gives the academic argument greater credence should he end up back on Chicago's south side and increases the likelihood of him being ruled immediately eligible.

At the present time, Morgan Park has already landed two transfers who both play for the Fire on the traveling team circuit--6'5 class of 2011 forward Wayne Blackshear (our #1 ranked player in Illinois from the 2011 class) and 6'4 forward Deshawn Greer.  There have also been strong rumors circulating for some time that both 6'4 class of 2010 shooting guard and University of Michigan commit Tim Hardaway Jr. and 6'7 class of 2011 forward Mike Shaw could transfer to Morgan Park.  However, we have reason to believe that come next season Shaw will still be at De LaSalle. 

We also think that Henley's prep situation will have little if any effect on his recruitment whatsoever.  Southern Illinois, Iowa State, Illinois, Marquette and DePaul are all among the schools in the running for Henley's services and we guarantee that won't change regardless of where Henley finishes his prep career.  There is no question that he is a high major prospect, as he currently ranks as our #2 prospect in the class of 2011 behind Blackshear and just ahead of University of Illinois commit Tracy Abrams from Mt. Carmel.  Therefore, that leaves only two possible factors as being behind Henley's decision to attend Brehm.  They are the incentive of improving his academic situation so that he can meet freshman eligibility in college, or the basketball incentive of taking the only means possible in order to make sure that he is still playing next season, knowing that in a year from now he could be attending a school other than Brehm.

If academics are the sole reason behind Henley's to attend prep school and if he does remain at Brehm for the next two years before heading to college, we say more power to him.  Several prep schools have been proven to benefit basketball players from an academic standpoint and have helped them get on track in order to be eligible to play as a college freshman.  The most reason example is University of Illinois class of 2009 recruit D.J. Richardson, who just prior to his senior year of high school decided to leave Peoria Central High School in Peoria, IL to attend Findlay Prep in Henderson, NV.  Since that time Richardson has met all requirements necessary in order for him to be eligible during his freshman season at Illinois.  Hopefully, Henley can achieve the same level of success when it comes to going the prep school route.  However, in order for it to happen he is going to have to stay there as opposed to ultimately going elsewhere.  Once again, we shall see! 

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