Known by his old head coach Sammy Duane as the “Glue Guy,” Corona del Sol’s senior-to-be Tyrell Henderson looks to play an even bigger role for a team in pursuit of an unprecedented five consecutive state titles.
Before the start of his senior year however, Henderson made news about his future with the game of basketball after high school as he was offered a scholarship and committed to Portland State.
“I just wanted to find the best fit for me and I like the coaches up there,” Henderson told Sports360AZ. “Jase Coburn, Coach (Tyler) Geving. Me and my family talked about it and decided it was the best move for me and I think I’ll have success up there.”
Portland adding a piece that hails from the Valley of the Sun is nothing new. There are actually multiple connections from Henderson’s home state on the current roster and coaching staff. Something that made this decision that much more appealing.
“A lot of the guys are familiar with Arizona,” Henderson explained. “They have Calaen Robinson (Former Corona guard who initially went to ASU before transferring to Portland State) playing there. We’ve worked out in the past, he’s a pretty good friend of mine. Khari Holloway (Mountain Pointe HS/Mess CC), Jase (Coburn, assistant coach) coached here and played here.”
“Just the comfortability of people who know Arizona and knowing my coach, knowing me personally so, that’s probably the biggest thing for me,” he added.
Robinson was a star of the Corona team that won the Aztecs’ first of four straight state titles and Coburn played for Mesquite High School before beginning a coaching career as an assistant at Corona del Sol and then Phoenix College before taking his first head coaching job at McClintock high school from 2007-2011. He is going into his third year as assistant for the Vikings.
Henderson as mentioned has played a key role with the Aztecs during both his sophomore and junior seasons. A new role this coming season will be thrusted on him and that is being a senior leader with a lot of young talent around him.
“I feel like the responsibility is laid on me now more as a four-year senior,” Henderson stated. “We’ve had Casey (Benson) in the past and other guys who’ve graduated so I feel that is my role now, that’s what I need to do and take that responsibility.”
