Wildcats Ink Exciting Local Talent

The Perth Wildcats have added to their burgeoning list of West Australian talent by signing exciting guard Ben Henshall on a two-year deal.

Henshall, 18, will join the main roster for NBL24, and is currently representing the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in NBL1 East alongside the likes of Rocco Zikarsky and Alex Condon.

The CoE is currently undefeated after six games in the competition – including a massive 73-point win over Penrith. Henshall is averaging 22.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game in the competition.

“I’ve been watching the Wildcats for a long time now, so it feels amazing to finally get to suit up and play with the boys,” Henshall said.

“The coaches are really focused on development and getting me to where I need to go, and they’re going to invest a lot of time into me.

“I think I’ll be able to bring a lot of versatility. I’ve got good size for a guard, I can be another option for scoring, or just whatever (John) Rillie needs me to do – I can get out there and do it.”

Henshall joins fellow West Australians Keanu Pinder and David Okwera in committing to the club for next season.

“We were attracted to his feel for the game and the swagger he approaches the game with – he has great positional size which will help separate him,” Rillie said.

“Offensively he will be dynamic in the open floor, defensively he will become a very disruptive defender. He has natural instincts for the ball.”

Henshall was also named as WABL Male Player of the Year in 2021, and won the Bob Staunton Medal for the most outstanding male player of the 2023 U20 National Championships in which West Australia won gold.