Ben Henshall: Why it was always the Perth Wildcats

• Ben Henshall signed a new two-year deal with the Perth Wildcats earlier this month
• Henshall took part in the NBA Draft combine and then was believed to be headed to play college basketball for Texas Tech
• He was part of the Boomers team which won the FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia

Australian Boomers guard Ben Henshall revealed he turned down big money offers to re-sign with the Perth Wildcats for NBL26 because he "definitely wanted to be in Perth" and he knew "exactly what I'm coming into".

Henshall signed a new two-year deal with the Wildcats earlier this month following an uncertain offseason, where he took part in the NBA Draft Combine before pulling his name out. He then appeared destined to play Division 1 college basketball in the US after receiving offers believed to be upwards of $800,000 from schools such as Texas Tech.

However, the 21-year-old’s eligibility to play college basketball couldn’t be worked out, which then led to the Wildcats beating out other NBL teams, including the Cairns Taipans and defending champion Illawarra Hawks for the shooting guard's signature.

Henshall, a West Australian who is still eligible for the 2026 NBA Draft, said he had unfinished business at Perth.

"I definitely wanted it to be Perth. There was definitely good offers around the league, but my last two years, I'm comfortable around these guys," he told basketball.com.au.

"(John Rillie) is a great coach and he gets the best out of me. Also, the guys that were returning, I loved playing with them, in Do (Kristian Doolittle) and Dyl (Dylan Windler), they're two great imports in the league.

"I signed pretty late, so seeing the roster unfold, it was just something I wanted to be a part of.

"Being around it last year and the year before, I know exactly what I'm coming into, so I think this is going to be a big year for me.

"This next year's the last year I can get drafted, so hopefully we can come away with a championship for Perth, and then hopefully my dreams can come true."

Henshall revealed how close he came to signing to play college basketball and how tough the uncertainty around his future was during the offseason.

"It would have been nice, for sure. There was definitely some teams out there that I was looking into, but, you know, some things didn't work out, things didn't align, and that's all good. I'm happy being back in the NBL and back with Perth," he said.

"(The offseason) was something I haven't been through before — not knowing where you're going to be and it was definitely hard at times, but I always had basketball to fall back on, just playing the game as much as possible, trying to keep my mind off things.

"I kind of let my agent deal with that side of stuff, and all my job was to just keep playing basketball, stay fit and healthy and ready to go for whatever the opportunity was.

"But yes I haven't been in that situation before, so when I finally put pen to paper and knew exactly where I was going to be, it was definitely a big relief, and now I just need a good block of training and a good preseason leading up to the season.

"I'm glad I'm finally back in Perth and can get into a good rhythm and a routine and can build towards the championship."

The former Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence scholarship holder is in Canberra for the NBL Blitz, less than two weeks after returning from Saudi Arabia, where he was part of the Boomers team which captured its third straight FIBA Asia Cup gold medal. Despite some modest numbers and court time at the tournament, Henshall said representing his country gave him a lot of motivation and confidence heading into NBL26.

"It's always an honour and a privilege to put on the green and gold and go out there and represent your country... Everyone was super cool, it was a fun group to play with, and the coaching staff were elite and it was a great experience all around," he said.

"I hadn't played basketball in a while and playing some organised basketball again, it's prepared me for a good preseason and since I've been back, I feel great out on court, I feel super confident, I feel free."

Since returning to Perth, there's one big absence Henshall has had to get used to and that's no longer having five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton alongside him and the protege said he could not wait to face his old teammate for the first time.

"That game is going to be great. I think there's going to be a lot of shit-talking happening and me trying to get under his skin," Henshall said.

"I feel like we've had so many battles at practice and I always say, at practice, I call myself the Bryce-stopper and again, just try to get under his skin. So I think, it's going to be a great battle.

"I've got nothing but love for that guy. He's taught me a lot, and I'm excited to play against him for the first time ever. It's going to be a fun battle."

Without one of the greatest players to ever touch an NBL floor, Henshall will be expected to take on more of a role, especially on the offensive end but he said his mindset and approach to this season doesn't change.

"I'm going to come out, and all (Perth) want for me is for me to be myself, and that's what I'm going to do," Henshall said.

"I'm going to come out confident, I'm going to come out aggressive, do all the little things, play hard on defence, and ultimately, I just want to win a championship, so anything I can do to help the team win basketball games, that's my goal for sure."

Henshall also spoke about Perth's big additions for NBL26, including dominant big man Jo Lual-Acuil and defensive stopper Sunday Dech.

"We have a really balanced roster this year," he said.

"Sunday's an elite defender, the small amount I've been on the court with him so far, he's very knowledgeable about the game, and he's very easy to play with, so I'm excited to be playing with him. Then JLA, I haven't had a chance to be on court with him, but he's an elite local big in this league and we're lucky to have a guy like that with such a big presence."

He also warned for people writing off the Wildcats, to do so at their own peril.

"I haven't really been looking to be honest. I don't know what people have been saying and if people want to discount us, that's on them," Henshall said.

"I think we know what we have in the team, and we know we're around each other, we know what practice has been like and I think there's just a really good vibe about this group. I mean, I think we might catch a couple of people off by surprise, but I think they know Perth's history, and we're a winning team, and I don't think anything's going to change this year."

The Wildcats will take on Melbourne United in the Blitz opener at 5.30pm (AEST) at the AIS Arena today before facing the Illawarra Hawks on Saturday at 8pm (AEST).