As Tennessee basketball continues through its summer practices, sophomore guard Troy Henderson continues to rehab his left shoulder. Henderson underwent left shoulder surgery on Wednesday, April 8 after battling the shoulder injury the back half of his freshman season.
While it’s still relatively early in the offseason, Henderson’s rehab is going well according to Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes.
“He’s doing good,” Barnes said. “He’s probably ahead of schedule. We’re trying to slow him down a little bit. He wants to — he’s chomping at the bit to get back out there. We had to slow him down a little bit, but he’s doing good.”
During last Thursday’s practice open to the media, Henderson mostly watched off to the side but also did some stationary shooting— a benefit of the injury being on his left and not right shoulder.
Henderson suffered a left shoulder injury and played through it the back half of his freshman. Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said in March that Henderson was gritting his way through the remainder of the season before undergoing offseason surgery.
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The 6-foot-1 guard originally announced intentions to enter the transfer portal this offseason before changing course and deciding to return to Tennessee.
“Thinking further about my future and having a great conversation with Coach Barnes and the staff, I’ve realized there is no place I’d rather be than right here on Rocky Top,” Henderson wrote.
Henderson played in 28 games during his freshman season at Tennessee, averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 assists in seven minutes per game. The combo guard proved to be a solid three-point shooter, making 15 triples at a 34% clip over the course of the season. He made just a pair of two-pointers during the season.
The Virginia native competed with Ethan Burg for Tennessee’s backup point guard spot behind Ja’Kobi Gillespie. At points throughout the season, Henderson was the Vols’ backup point guard. However, Burg ended up winning that job down the course of the season with Henderson playing just four minutes in Tennessee’s final five games played.
Henderson will have to battle for playing time in a backcourt that should be stellar next season. Tennessee landed Terrence Hill, Dai Dai Ames, Juke Harris and Tyler Lundblade out of the transfer portal while signing high schoolers Marquis Clark and Manny Green.
