Boys basketball: Marcus' Henderson named MaxPreps coach of the year

The awards continue to pour in for the Texas boys basketball UIL Class 5A back-to-back state champions.

The latest nod of approval has come in the coaching ranks, where Marauders' head coach Danny Henderson was selected as the MaxPreps Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

Henderson, who has led the Marauders to the state tournament in each of his three seasons at Marcus, has now won consecutive state titles at two different programs having previously accomplished the feat while at Peaster in Class 2A.

"It's a big surprise," Henderson said. "It was something I was not expecting at all. But to be honest, it's a team honor and there are a lot of people who had more to do with it than me. The players, obviously, have the most to do with it, but our other coaches, such as Kenny Boren and Brian Blackburn, played a bigger role in it than I did. It was truly a collective effort."

It is the first time Henderson -- who was also one of six nominated for the 2012 Naismith Boy's Coach of the Year -- has been recognized as the top coach on the national level. Oak Hill's Steve Smith went on to claim the Naismith honor.

At Marcus, the Marauders have compiled a 115-6 record under Henderson.

Additionally, Marcus senior guard Marcus Smart was one of five players selected as a first team All-American by MaxPreps following a senior season in which he averaged 15.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and five assists.

Joining Smart on the first team are Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony's in New Jersey (MaxPreps National Player of the Year), Aaron Gordon (Archbishop Mitty, San Jose), Shabazz Muhammad (Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas) and Jabari Parker (Simeon, Chicago).

"Wow," Henderson said. "I didn't even hear that. What an honor. But [Smart] is an amazing player and an amazing kid and it is well-deserved."

Smart had previously been named the Gatorade Texas Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012, has been selected as his district's MVP or Co-MVP in each of his four seasons and was MVP of the 2011 State Championship Game.

In Smart and senior Phil Forte's four varsity seasons at Marcus, the Marauders compiled a record of 135-22 and won four district titles, including a 115-6 mark in the past three years. During that stretch, Marcus went 21-2 in the postseason with two state titles. The Marauders currently own a 14-game playoff and 38-game district win streak.

In 2012, Marcus finished the season as the No. 1 team in nation according to the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings and ranked No. 2 on the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national poll. The Freeman rankings are based strictly on results and scheduling, while the Xcellent poll incorporates "the human element."

"This group of guys just had an indomitable will to win," Henderson said. "It was an amazing group of guys. I know it's cliché, but they just refused to lose.

"Marcus, Phil and Nick (Banyard) got a lot of the ink, but everyone stepped up. A.J. (Luckey) is just a winner and the rest of the seniors, guys like Matt Ledford, John Malone, Jordan Hamilton and Jordan Johnson; had great seasons and were critical to our success."

To see the full rankings and All-American teams, go to MaxPreps.com.

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...