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We are still about 2 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Columbia SR G Kitty Henderson, who talked about being a great defender and her expectations for this season.
You were born in England/raised in Australia: what made you choose Columbia? When I came to Australia my high school had a lot of basketball teams and I loved the sport so much. My coach told me about the US system and showed me what it was like. I did not think I was that good when I was younger and my confidence was not where I needed it to be, but as I got older it was something that I wanted to do. I wanted a change for college and really wanted to challenge myself. I love playing in the college environment and I had a very good relationship with my coaches from a young age, which is super-important for me.
You play for Coach Megan Griffith: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? Coach G teaches us so much, but the main thing is that how you do anything is how you do everything. You might not think that things outside basketball will matter but they will easily creep into your game. I try to put the same effort into everything in my life. She challenged me to be a better player/person, which I appreciate about her.
You started 23 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I really trusted the process and trusted my coaches. I just wanted the best for the team and did not have huge expectations: I remember being on the scout team and trying to make my teammates better. I got into the starting lineup a couple of games into the season and capitalized on that opportunity by trying to have a good impact. We are very equal-headed and there is no hierarchy: everyone respects each other equally and the upperclassmen made me feel confident in my role.
In the 2022 WNIT you made the Elite 8 and in the 2023 WNIT you made the title game: what is the key to winning games in March? The season is so long that by March your team culture comes out. Everyone is so tired that it comes down to who had good habits all year, and you need to set that standard early. We talk about winning 1st: it needs to be done much earlier than March, so we all have that mindset. Every possession/practice matters: you cannot suddenly show up in the postseason.
Last year you were named 2nd-team All-Ivy: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot: I will do anything to get our team over the line, and last year I took a bigger role in terms of scoring/stats. I could have done a little better, but that is my motivation this year to get even better as a senior.
You also led the conference with 55 STL: what is the secret to being a great defender? You must be able to anticipate a little bit, which comes through watching film. It is super-fun when you know what your opponent is doing and a lot of my STL comes from knowing what actions they are running. Defense is a 5-person job, so you have to be aggressive…but also be smart with your anticipation.
You are captain of the team and 1 of 2 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? Me/Cecilia/Perri are the 3 captains this year. I do not feel pressure because I have been put in this role since I was a sophomore so I am really used to it. A big role is keeping other people accountable by being very good every day. Pressure is a privilege, as people say.
Your father Simon was a professional rower, your sister Annie plays pro basketball in Australia, and your sister Fliss is 1 of your teammates: who is the best athlete in the family? It is funny because we are all such different athletes. Fliss has super strength and Annie is so quick. I was more of an all-around athlete who was pretty good at all the sports I played, and my dad is 6’6” who rowed/played rugby. We got a lot of our athleticism from my dad, while my mom had the smarts/personality.
You are majoring in Economics and after graduating next spring you will be joining Goldman Sachs as a Financial Analyst: why did you decide to go into private wealth management? I had no idea what I wanted to major in when I arrived: I took economics and psychology classes and liked both. I decided to major in economics but am also concentrating in psychology. I did an internship last summer at Goldman and interned at a smaller firm the previous summer. I enjoyed working with high-net-worth individuals and learning about the opportunities that involve giving money to charity. I am keeping my options open in case I can keep playing basketball.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? We obviously want a repeat of the Ivy title but have never won it outright. We have always had a bad game in the Ivy tourney so we would like to make the NCAA tourney…and the Sweet 16…and beyond. For me, I want to play with the confidence of a senior, get up good shots as 1 of our main players, and remain consistent. I have our team goals in mind all the time and being a top-25 program is something that we can reach thanks to our super-tough schedule.