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While I know the season isn't technically over and I hope the guys play another few weeks and go and win the NIT, I couldn't wait until the season was over to write this post. (I have no idea if any of the players actually read the boards, but hopefully the good stuff gets their way sometimes.)
Thank you for everything, Ja'Shon Henry
I have followed Bradley basketball extremely closely for the last 20+ years. The teams have had their ups and downs, but their always have been guys who have shaped the identity of a team. Some were the star players, like Darrell Brown, who had a tenacity that you never felt out of it late in games. Some have been more role players. I think of somebody like J.J. Tauai, who started out being overlooked and turned into a defensive stalwart on the best team we had since I've really closely followed the team.
Then there are guys like Ja'Shon, who have such a unique career that it's hard to even encapsulate all that they do. Ja'Shon is and will always be (at least in my opinion) the heart of Bradley basketball during his years here. I worry for the future because we just don't have anyone like him and traits like his are extremely difficult to replace and it goes well beyond talent.
Yes, Ja'Shon has been extremely skilled at what he knows he's good at - being an absolute menace around the basket and finding ways to score, even when surrounded by nearly the entire team on the floor of his opponent. He has had a killer instinct that he came up with countless key rebounds, steals, held balls, blocks or whatever was needed. And he always was in the thick of it - unless he was in foul trouble, you could rarely ever say, "man, where was Ja'Shon tonight?" And I can't remember almost any player that would be as intense as he could be, firing up his entire team, but then calmly say nothing when the ref makes a lousy foul call against him the next possession. His controlled emotions were so unique and impressive.
These things in itself would make him a leader and a key contributor. But, then after going through all of his concussion issues, he could have easily just hung it up and nobody would have said a word or questioned him for a second. Yet here he was, even during a difficult championship game loss, giving his all every moment like it was his last.
We've really never had a player quite like him (at least since I've been watching). He always played stronger and taller than his listed size on the team roster.
I hope the current and upcoming returnees take a look and remind themselves that playing more like him is what it really takes to be a winner.
Thank you for everything, Ja'Shon Henry
I have followed Bradley basketball extremely closely for the last 20+ years. The teams have had their ups and downs, but their always have been guys who have shaped the identity of a team. Some were the star players, like Darrell Brown, who had a tenacity that you never felt out of it late in games. Some have been more role players. I think of somebody like J.J. Tauai, who started out being overlooked and turned into a defensive stalwart on the best team we had since I've really closely followed the team.
Then there are guys like Ja'Shon, who have such a unique career that it's hard to even encapsulate all that they do. Ja'Shon is and will always be (at least in my opinion) the heart of Bradley basketball during his years here. I worry for the future because we just don't have anyone like him and traits like his are extremely difficult to replace and it goes well beyond talent.
Yes, Ja'Shon has been extremely skilled at what he knows he's good at - being an absolute menace around the basket and finding ways to score, even when surrounded by nearly the entire team on the floor of his opponent. He has had a killer instinct that he came up with countless key rebounds, steals, held balls, blocks or whatever was needed. And he always was in the thick of it - unless he was in foul trouble, you could rarely ever say, "man, where was Ja'Shon tonight?" And I can't remember almost any player that would be as intense as he could be, firing up his entire team, but then calmly say nothing when the ref makes a lousy foul call against him the next possession. His controlled emotions were so unique and impressive.
These things in itself would make him a leader and a key contributor. But, then after going through all of his concussion issues, he could have easily just hung it up and nobody would have said a word or questioned him for a second. Yet here he was, even during a difficult championship game loss, giving his all every moment like it was his last.
We've really never had a player quite like him (at least since I've been watching). He always played stronger and taller than his listed size on the team roster.
I hope the current and upcoming returnees take a look and remind themselves that playing more like him is what it really takes to be a winner.
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