'Chip on my shoulder': Henshall's no fear mentality

• Ben Henshall has declared for the NBA Draft and will compete at the NBA Draft Combine, starting May 12 (Australian time) in Chicago
• He enjoyed a breakout second season with the Perth Wildcats, averaging 9.8 points per game and shooting the three at 36%
• Henshall is a former scholarship holder at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence

Ben Henshall has always had a chip on his shoulder — it's something that helped him win a National Under-18 Championship with WA Metro, earn a scholarship from the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence and then turn that into an NBL roster spot with the Perth Wildcats before starring for the famous franchise this past season.

But in two days time, it's that chip on his shoulder he believes will make him stand out against the best prospects from all around the world at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

The 20-year-old shooting guard has been based in Los Angeles, California for the past six weeks preparing for this moment and even had a workout with the Portland Trail Blazers this week, alongside fellow NBL young gun Lachlan Olbrich from the Illawarra Hawks.

And after being among 75 prospects invited to the combine, which runs from May 12-18 (Australian time), Henshall said he was ready to take his opportunity and make an impression on NBA teams.

"I'm ready for everything that's thrown my way," he told basketball.com.au in an exclusive interview.

"I've been working almost all day, every day since I've been (in LA) but I also feel that everything I've done so far in my career has prepared me for this moment.

"I'm honestly just ready to compete, there's no fear or anything from my end and I don't think you can have any fear going into something like this (the combine). You're competing at an event, where there's 75 of the best basketballers but only 60 picks at the draft. Everyone's career is basically on the line, so you just have to be ready to go out there and show what you can do."

As a 6'5" guard from the other side of the world, Henshall knows other draft hopefuls may think they can attack him in scrimmages and drills at the combine, but he said "bring it on".

"I feel like I have always had a chip on my shoulder throughout my career anyway, so that's nothing new... I don't know why I've had that chip on my shoulder or where it's come from but it's always been there when I compete," Henshall said.

"I'm a person who's always been confident in my ability as well, even when I was in juniors, so I look forward to all the challenged the combine will bring."

Known for his offensive ability, especially from beyond the three-point line, Henshall had a breakout second season with the Perth Wildcats, averaging almost 25 minutes per game along with 9.8 points, while shooting 36% from beyond the arc on 4.3 attempts per contest.

But when asked what will make him stand out at the combine and why NBA scouts should pick him in the upcoming draft, the Western Australian product's answer may surprise people.

"I think defensively I can be a lot better than people may think," he said.

"That's a huge focus for me heading into the combine is really showing what I can do on that end of the floor. If I can show my improvement defensively and focus on that, then everything else will fall into place for me.

"Obviously the ability to shoot the ball is always going to be a strength for me but I also just think my competitiveness. I want to compete and want to win."

Rewind four years ago when he helped lead WA Metro to a National Under-18 Championship and then fast forward to now, where Henshall is on the brink of making his childhood dream of making the NBA come true - he said it has been an incredible journey but one where there's a lot more chapters yet to be written.

"I remember at under-18 nationals, I really wanted to play well, obviously to win a championship but also to try and make the (Basketball Australia) Centre of Excellence, which I thought was out of reach back then to be honest," Henshall said.

"Then to have made that goal a reality, then to have gone on to the NBL then now have the chance to try and make the NBA by competing at the combine, it's just a bit surreal.

"But there's a lot of work left to do, which I'm looking forward to."

There's also been a lot of hype around Henshall potentially taking the US college route if he is not selected in the draft, with big-money NIL deals and the chance to join defending NCAA National Champions the Florida Gators on offer. A potential return to the Wildcats is also on the cards but Henshall said he was solely focused on the NBA and nothing else at the moment.

He also said Wildcats teammate and five-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton was instrumental in his development and helping him be ready to take on the NBA.

"Bryce was great for me, just helping me out every day with advice and letting me know what it takes to be a professional and play at such a high level each and every game," Henshall said.

"I was able to learn a lot from him."

Henshall's game has impressed some of the biggest names in Australian basketball, including NBA champion Andrew Bogut, and he will be looking to impress more experts at the Draft Combine in order to hear his name called at the NBA Draft is in Brooklyn on June 27 (Australian time).