Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Golden State Warriors
Henley hits higher in NBA Draft evaluations
6/22/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
GCU star guard projects as possible 2-way player as draftee or free agent
At this time last summer, Grand Canyon guard Jaden Henley was working daily in the GCU Basketball Practice Facility to improve into the Lopes star who set career highs in nearly every major statistical category and put up a statistical line that only two other players in the nation matched last season.
Henley's work did not end when the 6-foot-7 wing took off the Lopes jersey for the last time in March. After working out for 15 of 30 NBA teams and starring at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Henley's NBA stock has risen to the point that he is a potential second-round pick with the NBA Draft running Tuesday (first round) and Wednesday (second round). ESPN broadcasts start each night at 5.
Even if he is not the first Lope drafted since 1988, Henley likely would get a free agent opportunity to play NBA Summer League and go to a franchise's training camp, where he could vie for a roster spot or line up a G League opportunity, including a two-way contract — a hybrid deal designed to develop players alternately with a franchise's G League affiliate and NBA parent team.
"It's a great credit to Jaden," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He loves the game. He works at the game to get much better at it. It's been so much fun to see his improvement during the season here and with his workouts. He just has done so well at them. We're really hopeful that his name is going to be called."
Henley is listed as a second-round pick on mock drafts by Sports Illustrated (No. 50 to Toronto), Bleacher Report (No. 53 to Houston), Yahoo! (No. 54 to Golden State) and The Athletic (No. 57 to Atlanta). Henley recently broke into ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo's mock draft at No. 57 but dropped out this week. With the NBA Draft having 60 picks, Henley is one of 65 players whose biography is included in the NBA Draft Media Guide.
"It's just an interesting development story," Woo said. "Henley's been at four schools and put it all together this year finally. He's still figuring it out and still needs to improve his shooting and decision-making. But with being a little bit younger (22 years old) relative to other seniors who are five- or six-year guys, I think he's got a little bit more upside than some guys to tap into. That makes him an interesting second-round candidate."
Henley averaged career highs for points (17.7), rebounds (5.7), assists (2.9) and steals (1.6) last season for GCU, making him one of three players in the nation to average those numbers. He had started 68 games prior to coming to GCU last season but had a conference-high usage rate (29.6%) with the 20-win Lopes because of his ability to drive in transition or out of half-court sets and put pressure on the rim with his authoritative finishes.
"Jaden Henley had a breakout year with his fourth school in four years," Bleacher Report draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman wrote. "He's a big wing and tough downhill scorer with shot-making ability, through 3-point shooting remains an obvious swing skill."
In a predraft press conference at Golden State, Henley acknowledged his need to improve his shooting range, which he showed with 35% 3-point shooting as a junior.
"Honestly, I'm just trying to continue to be me and not try to do too much outside of who I am," Henley said. "Obviously, show that I can play hard, play at a high level and guard the ball.
"I can see a lot of things on the court with my passing ability and also being able to grab a board, push it, play fast and being able to kick it ahead."
Henley was not invited to the NBA Draft Combine but made the all-tournament team for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He posted 18- and 19-point games, went 13 for 13 on free throws and added six- and four-steal performances.
"That's kind of where he built a little bit of momentum," Woo said of Portsmouth. "You get in that setting, and it's all seniors. It's usually evident pretty quick, especially from a physical perspective, which of those guys have an NBA-level athleticism and physical profile. He stood out in that respect.
"The predraft process has been positive for him as people learn more about him. I think he's put himself in the two-way contract conversation with maybe a chance to sneak into the second round."
When NBA evaluators call Drew about Henley, they tell him that his defense has stood out to them at Portsmouth and in pre-draft workouts. Those workouts' 3-on-3 scrimmages among prospects allow his strong 6-7 frame to flex.
"He's more mature physically," Drew said. "Our strength program is great and made his body stronger. Defensively, he's performed really well at his workouts after making big strides on the defensive end here. His overall decision-making is better. If you look back from the beginning of the season to the end, his ability to close out games, make decisions, play both ends for the whole game made big jumps.
"He's so dynamic with the ball, attacking closeouts or in transition. The NBA game has a lot more spacing and has a lot more room to attack closeouts and go one-on-one. Jaden excels in those areas."
The Athletic's Sam Vecenie projected that an improved outside shot would make Henley an NBA two-way contract prospect because it would force defenders to close out on him and leave them vulnerable to his downhill drives.
Henley's movement through four college programs is not a negative for NBA teams who understand that coaching changes played a role in his journey to GCU stardom.
"New coaches, new playing styles, new people – I think it helps you," Henley said. "You get up to this level, and you never know. You can be ending up in another city. Just having that ability to adapt to the new situations, new systems and also new people and just growing within that, I think helps a lot."
Henley's work did not end when the 6-foot-7 wing took off the Lopes jersey for the last time in March. After working out for 15 of 30 NBA teams and starring at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, Henley's NBA stock has risen to the point that he is a potential second-round pick with the NBA Draft running Tuesday (first round) and Wednesday (second round). ESPN broadcasts start each night at 5.
Even if he is not the first Lope drafted since 1988, Henley likely would get a free agent opportunity to play NBA Summer League and go to a franchise's training camp, where he could vie for a roster spot or line up a G League opportunity, including a two-way contract — a hybrid deal designed to develop players alternately with a franchise's G League affiliate and NBA parent team.
"It's a great credit to Jaden," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He loves the game. He works at the game to get much better at it. It's been so much fun to see his improvement during the season here and with his workouts. He just has done so well at them. We're really hopeful that his name is going to be called."
Henley is listed as a second-round pick on mock drafts by Sports Illustrated (No. 50 to Toronto), Bleacher Report (No. 53 to Houston), Yahoo! (No. 54 to Golden State) and The Athletic (No. 57 to Atlanta). Henley recently broke into ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo's mock draft at No. 57 but dropped out this week. With the NBA Draft having 60 picks, Henley is one of 65 players whose biography is included in the NBA Draft Media Guide.
"It's just an interesting development story," Woo said. "Henley's been at four schools and put it all together this year finally. He's still figuring it out and still needs to improve his shooting and decision-making. But with being a little bit younger (22 years old) relative to other seniors who are five- or six-year guys, I think he's got a little bit more upside than some guys to tap into. That makes him an interesting second-round candidate."
Henley averaged career highs for points (17.7), rebounds (5.7), assists (2.9) and steals (1.6) last season for GCU, making him one of three players in the nation to average those numbers. He had started 68 games prior to coming to GCU last season but had a conference-high usage rate (29.6%) with the 20-win Lopes because of his ability to drive in transition or out of half-court sets and put pressure on the rim with his authoritative finishes.
"Jaden Henley had a breakout year with his fourth school in four years," Bleacher Report draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman wrote. "He's a big wing and tough downhill scorer with shot-making ability, through 3-point shooting remains an obvious swing skill."
In a predraft press conference at Golden State, Henley acknowledged his need to improve his shooting range, which he showed with 35% 3-point shooting as a junior.
"Honestly, I'm just trying to continue to be me and not try to do too much outside of who I am," Henley said. "Obviously, show that I can play hard, play at a high level and guard the ball.
"I can see a lot of things on the court with my passing ability and also being able to grab a board, push it, play fast and being able to kick it ahead."
Henley was not invited to the NBA Draft Combine but made the all-tournament team for the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He posted 18- and 19-point games, went 13 for 13 on free throws and added six- and four-steal performances.
"That's kind of where he built a little bit of momentum," Woo said of Portsmouth. "You get in that setting, and it's all seniors. It's usually evident pretty quick, especially from a physical perspective, which of those guys have an NBA-level athleticism and physical profile. He stood out in that respect.
"The predraft process has been positive for him as people learn more about him. I think he's put himself in the two-way contract conversation with maybe a chance to sneak into the second round."
When NBA evaluators call Drew about Henley, they tell him that his defense has stood out to them at Portsmouth and in pre-draft workouts. Those workouts' 3-on-3 scrimmages among prospects allow his strong 6-7 frame to flex.
"He's more mature physically," Drew said. "Our strength program is great and made his body stronger. Defensively, he's performed really well at his workouts after making big strides on the defensive end here. His overall decision-making is better. If you look back from the beginning of the season to the end, his ability to close out games, make decisions, play both ends for the whole game made big jumps.
"He's so dynamic with the ball, attacking closeouts or in transition. The NBA game has a lot more spacing and has a lot more room to attack closeouts and go one-on-one. Jaden excels in those areas."
The Athletic's Sam Vecenie projected that an improved outside shot would make Henley an NBA two-way contract prospect because it would force defenders to close out on him and leave them vulnerable to his downhill drives.
Henley's movement through four college programs is not a negative for NBA teams who understand that coaching changes played a role in his journey to GCU stardom.
"New coaches, new playing styles, new people – I think it helps you," Henley said. "You get up to this level, and you never know. You can be ending up in another city. Just having that ability to adapt to the new situations, new systems and also new people and just growing within that, I think helps a lot."
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