NBA prospect adds firepower to Wildcats' NBL title bid
Henshall put himself on NBA scouts' radars during a breakout campaign with the Wildcats last season, earning a nomination for the NBL's most improved player award.
The 21-year-old West Australian initially nominated for the NBA draft but withdrew with an eye to bolstering his future prospects.
"It is exciting to have Ben back while trusting us to help him chase his goal of the NBA," Wildcats coach John Rillie said.
"His shot-making and explosive scoring ability complements the other pieces on our roster."
Henshall will play for the Australian Boomers as they seek to claim a third straight FIBA Asia Cup title this month.
The 195cm swingman will then turn his attention to helping the Wildcats launch another championship push following the messy departure of club legend Bryce Cotton.
The hometown kid is back! ❤️The Perth Wildcats are excited to announce that West Australian guard Ben Henshall has signed a new two-year deal 🤝Read more: https://t.co/ndYYUC8UUd pic.twitter.com/VOTeUqnbgg
— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) August 1, 2025
"Super excited to re-sign and continue my journey with Perth," Henshall said.
"Can't wait to play in front of the Red Army again and chase that championship."
The Wildcats have managed to piece together a strong roster despite five-time NBL MVP Cotton leaving to join the Adelaide 36ers.
US imports Kristian Doolittle and Dylan Windler have returned, while marquee centre Jo Lual-Acuil is a huge addition.
Veteran forward Jesse Wagstaff, Sunday Dech and Elijah Pepper are also on the books.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NRL fans fume over missed Reece Walsh act as Bennett rocked over 18th man drama
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett was left stunned after the Rabbitohs were forced to play the game against the Broncos without an 18th man due to injuries as Reece Walsh copped backlash for a questionable tackle late in the game. Bennett has never received the wooden spoon as a NRL coach throughout his illustrious career, but the Rabbitohs' injury toll is making it a very difficult task in 2025 with the side lining up against Michael Maguire's men with only 17 fit players. Peter Mamouzelos was selected as 18th man, but was a late withdrawal after suffering from delayed concussion symptoms from his head knock two weeks ago. And this left the Rabbitohs struggling to field a full team and they were hammered 60-14 after Walsh and Kotoni Staggs led the Broncos riot. Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, Campbell Graham and Cody Walker are all out injured with a number of other stars missing in the squad. Bennett has been dealing with an extensive list of absentees all year and Mamouzelos' late withdrawal left him in a position he had never been before. South Sydney had no one else they could place in the 18th man role with too many injuries in the squad leaving them depleted. Jamie Humphreys was also a late withdrawal due to concussion. To make matters worse for Bennett's side, they lost dummy-half Ryan Gray to a shoulder injury early in the match. And Bennett was nearly lost for words having seen it all in his 38 year coaching career. "I haven't gone close to that," Bennett said post-match about playing with no 18th man. "We had eight or nine at Redcliffe last year at one stage, but we're on 13 today. We didn't have an 18th man tonight. The 18th man pulled out before the game. (Mamouzelos) had headaches from concussion two weeks ago and he'd been cleared and passed all the tests but he still wasn't well. We made the decision before the game not to put him on the bench." The Rabbitohs and Bennett have now lost nine straight games and are entrenched on the bottom of the ladder. He has never received a wooden spoon since starting coaching in the premiership competition in 1987. With one bye still to go, the Rabbitohs face the Eels and Titans in their remaining fixtures. The Titans are also equal-last on the ladder on 16 points with a game against the Penrith Panthers this weekend. While their was no lack of effort from the Rabbitohs contingent in the 60-14 thrashing, they would have felt aggrieved after Walsh faced no sanction for a questionable tackle in the 70th minute. Reece Walsh escaped penalty for questionable tackle Walsh was instrumental in the 60-14 hammering having scored a try, provided three try assists and made a linebreak. Although it was a tackle in the 70th minute that had fans fuming. The Rabbitohs made a rare break down field after an intercept and Staggs chased down Bayleigh Bentley-Hape. The Broncos were scrambling on the following play when Walsh got back into the line and delivered what looked like a shoulder charge on Tyrone Munro. "What is happening," Billy Slater said in Channel Nine commentary as the game continued. And fans were left fuming at the incident. Amid the chaos and tired bodies, Walsh appeared to make little attempt to wrap his arms around Munro as he launched himself into the Rabbitohs back. Fortunately for the Rabbitohs, Lachlan Hubner scored two plays later in a consolation try. But fans were left fuming Walsh escaped punishment, which followed Rabbitohs five-eighth Jack Wighton copping a four-game ban last week for a shoulder charge. Fans could not believe the moment was let go without even a penalty. The Match Review Committee will have a chance to review the tackle - to see if there was anything in the tackle - and the game, before making a decision. Reece Walsh gets away with an obvious shoulder charge. The guy is a protected species.#NRLBroncosSouths — Laurence Pratt (@laurence_pratt) August 1, 2025 100% it was I don't know how it was missed — Deni🐓 (@d_mcguiness08) August 1, 2025 So Walsh's shoulder charge goes unpunished? — BulldogMike (@Olak1975) August 1, 2025 Shoulder charge by Reese Walsh @NRL I bet this is missed by the MRP. — Ashley Warren (@Peanut87Butter) August 1, 2025
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Timberwolves sign forward whose only college choice was to walk-on after academic scholarship
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a new two-way player. His name is Enrique Freeman, and he's got one of the most inspirational stories in the NBA. ESPN's Shams Charania reported the signing on Friday morning. Freeman was cut by the Pacers after averaging 16.6 points per game in Summer League. Freeman's journey didn't always look destined for professional basketball. He had no college basketball offers out of high school in the Cleveland area, so he accepted an academic scholarship at the University of Akron and walked-on to the basketball team. Freeman grew four inches before his sophomore year of college and became a star in the MAC. After Akron, Freeman was the 50th overall pick in 2024 and played 22 NBA games as a rookie, averaging 2.1 points in 8.2 minutes per game. MORE: Bronny James reveals health issue caused by heart defect, cardiac arrest In the G League, he put up 16.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. And then in Summer League this year, he averaged 16.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 72.5% from the floor and 55.6% from 3. Freeman seems like the kind of late bloomer who can legitimately help a contending team. The Timberwolves won't need him to be a high-usage player, of course. But he can do so many different things on the floor that he should find a way to fit in when called upon in the NBA portion of his two-way contract. And he's worked so hard to get to this point. Who would bet against Freeman now? MORE: Nikola Jokic nearly retired at shockingly young age, reveals former teammate
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former NBA Player Danilo Gallinari's Pregnant Wife Attacked by Shark
Originally appeared on E! Online Danilo Gallinari's family experienced a scary underwater incident. The former NBA star's wife Eleonora Boi shared that she was bitten by a shark in Puerto Rico—where Danilo plays professionally—during what she called 'the worst day of my life.' 'I never thought I'd be attacked by a shark, especially near the shore on a crowded beach,' Elenora wrote in an August 1 Instagram post alongside a selfie from a hospital bed. 'Fortunately, my baby and I are fine.' Elenora—who is expecting her third child with Danilo—shared that she received immediate care that saved her and her unborn child from further harm. 'I was rescued promptly, and the surgery to repair my poor, bitten leg went well,' she said. 'Now I just have to recover from the terrible scare and try to forgive the great friend who betrayed me.' Finding light in the situation, the sports journalist—who married the Italian basketball star in 2021—quipped to the shark, 'you'll hear from my lawyers soon.' More from E! Online Bachelor Nation's Madison Prewett and Husband Grant Troutt Share Plans to Spank Their Daughter Savannah Chrisley Declares Lindsie Chrisley 'No Longer Family' Amid Years-Long Estrangement American Eagle Breaks Silence on Controversial Sydney Sweeney Jeans Ad Elenora also thanked her followers and had a sweet message for her husband who missed out on a special event due to the incident. 'I thank my husband, who, despite marrying Fantozzi-Boi, gave me all his love and so much courage,' she said. 'Today he even missed the Bad Bunny concert, but he shouldn't get his hopes up, it's only for a short time.' The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) shared the news of the incident but didn't confirm the victim's name. However, Elenora's name and incident was reported by local news outlet El Nuevo Día, who confirmed that on July 31, 'The woman suffered an open wound to her thigh,' during the attack at the Carolina Resort. According to DRNA biologist Nilda Jiménez, Elenora's injury is being investigated to determine the species of shark involved. "Based on the photographs provided to us, we believe the characteristics of the bite could be consistent with those of a shark,' Nilda said in a statement to El Nuevo Día translated from Spanish. 'But to validate this, a series of analyses would be necessary. For this purpose, medical personnel were asked for samples, which, if available, would be analyzed promptly.' Keep reading for more stars who have shared their health journeys… Lupita Nyong'o's Uterine FibroidsSuki Waterhouse's HerniaBrian Austin Green's Perforated AppendixAdam Devine's Long-Term Injury From Childhood AccidentJason Tartick's Back InjuryMatt Kirschenheiter's Heart AttackTracy Morgan's Medical EmergencyChristy Carlson Romano's Eye InjuryAmy Schumer's Cushing SyndromeCasey Fitzgerald's Neck Injury From Hockey Skate BladeHailey Bieber's Blood ClotJustin Bieber's Ramsay Hunt SyndromeJamie Foxx's Brain Bleed & StrokeEmilia Clarke's Brain AneurysmCori Broadus's StrokeShailene Woodley's Health Battle
