Leon Henry

Leon Henry
No. 15 – Wellington Saints
Position Small forward / Shooting guard
League NZNBL
Personal information
Born 14 October 1985
Auckland, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealand
Listed height 6 ft 7 1⁄2 in (2.02 m)
Listed weight 231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school Mount Albert Grammar School
(Auckland, New Zealand)
Avondale College
(Auckland, New Zealand)
College Southern Idaho (2005–2006)
Pro career 2004–present
Career history
2004 Harbour Heat
2008–2011 Wellington Saints
2008–2009 U Mobitelco Cluj
2010 New Zealand Breakers
2011–2013 New Zealand Breakers
2012 OceanaGold Nuggets
2013–2014 Southland Sharks
2014–2015 Townsville Crocodiles
2015–present Wellington Saints
Career highlights and awards
  • NZNBL Final Four MVP (2013)
  • 2x ANBL champion (2012, 2013)
  • 3x NZNBL champion (2010, 2011, 2013)
  • CBL champion (2010)
  • CBL MVP (2010)

Leon Pavihi Henry (born 14 October 1985) is a New Zealand professional basketball player who currently plays for the Wellington Saints of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He attended Southern Idaho Junior College in 2005–06 where he played 29 games while averaging 4.1 points per game.[1]

Career

After playing his rookie season for the Harbour Heat in 2004,[2] Henry joined the Hutt Valley Lakers straight after for the 2004 CBL season. Henry had a fine CBL career as he played for the Waitakere Rangers in 2005 and 2006, Porirua in 2007, and the Wellington Saints second team in 2008. After the CBL took 2009 off, Henry re-joined the Hutt Valley Lakers for the 2010 Conference Basketball League competition, helping the Lakers win title and garnering the MVP award.[3]

After not playing in the NBL for four years, Henry joined the Wellington Saints for the 2008 New Zealand NBL season. He then joined CS Universitatea Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca of Romania for the 2008–09 season before returning to New Zealand and re-joining the Saints for the 2009 NZNBL season. In 2010, Henry had a solid season for the Saints as they went on to win the championship. His form earned him a short-term contract to replace Kirk Penney for the first three games of the 2010–11 NBL season with the New Zealand Breakers. When Penney returned, Henry was asked to stick around with the Breakers as a training player and did so for the entire season, showing his commitment and dedication. This and a solid 2011 season with the Saints earned him a full contract with the Breakers for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 NBL seasons.[4]

On 11 October 2011, Henry signed with the OceanaGold Nuggets for the 2012 New Zealand NBL season, joining fellow Tall Blacks Mark Dickel and B. J. Anthony at the franchise.[5]

In March 2013, Henry signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season.[6] The Sharks went on to win the 2013 NBL championship with Henry winning the Final Four MVP award.[7]

On 1 May 2013, Henry was released by the New Zealand Breakers.[8]

In November 2013, Henry re-signed with the Southland Sharks for the 2014 season.[9] On 30 May 2014, he was suspended indefinitely by the Sharks after he and two other teammates were charged with assault with intent to injure following a fight outside a bar in New Plymouth the previous Sunday.[10] On 1 August 2014, he was sentenced to four months home detention and forced to pay $4000 after pleading guilty to two charges of injuring with intent and assault with intent to injure.[11]

On 27 August 2014, Henry signed with the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2014–15 NBL season.[12] On 10 February 2015, he signed with the Wellington Saints for the 2015 New Zealand NBL season.[13][14]

International

Henry was selected to join the Tall Blacks squad on 16 July 2009 for the first time, and participated in the FIBA Oceania Championship 2009.

Personal

On 8 April 2015, Henry was sentenced to community detention, community work and supervision after pleading guilty to injuring with intent and assault with intent to injure following the May 2014 pub brawl.[15]

References

  1. ↑ COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO – Leon Henry
  2. ↑ Junior Tall Blacks receive boost
  3. ↑ "Hutt Take Title". Basketball.org.nz. 30 July 2010. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Leon Henry slots in for NZ Breakers title defence
  5. ↑ Henry's unexpected Otago move upsets Mills
  6. ↑ Henry will boost Sharks squad
  7. ↑ Hungry Sharks claim unlikely NBL title
  8. ↑ HENRY RELEASED FROM FINAL YEAR OF CONTRACT
  9. ↑ Sharks buoyed after as Leon Henry re-signs
  10. ↑ Cavalry not coming to Waikato Pistons' rescue
  11. ↑ Ili and Henry Sentenced
  12. ↑ Crocs give Henry another chance
  13. ↑ Henry Back With Saints
  14. ↑ Wellington Saints land former Tall Black Leon Henry for upcoming NBL season
  15. ↑ Leon Henry free to play for Wellington Saints against Hawke's Bay in NBL clash

External links