The Basketball Interview with Max Henry
Bottineau guard Max Henry spoke with PHD today about the game of basketball entering his senior season.
At your school, what is your favorite part or parts about game days in terms of the routine leading up to the game?
MH: My favorite part of game days is all the excitement. Game days are the best because there’s more energy and buzz in the people around the school, especially in tournament time, and that’s a good feeling.
What makes your crowd unique? What is a memorable thing that they’ve done that you will always remember?
MH: Our crowd is always rowdy and ready to cheer loud for home games. It’s awesome to have them there to back us up. One game that really sticks out to me is when we played Dunseith at home my sophomore season. Dunseith had a good team and the game was back and forth the whole time. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a high school gym that loud before because our fans were cheering so loud after every play. There was so much energy in that building that it was tough to get to sleep that night because I was so wired.
Who is the toughest player that you have faced in your career?
MH: I’d say the toughest high school player to guard in Norht Dakota right now is Wyatt Hanson from Stanley but luckily I played on his team this summer so I didn’t have to guard him at all. Other than him though I’d have to say Brad Heidlebaugh from Rugby. I played against him my 8th grade and freshmen seasons. There was really no way to stop him.
Who is your biggest rival and what about them makes the rivalry both heated and memorable?
MH: Bottineau’s main rival would be Rugby. They always have a solid team and both teams show up to play hard every time we meet so the games are pretty intense. The crowds from both sides are always really into the game too so that makes it even better. Playing Rugby is always one of my favorite games of the year.
Who is your favorite basketball player in the world and why?
MH: My favorite player is Steph Curry. He’s my favorite because our playing styles are alike in a couple of ways. Obviously I can’t shoot as good as him, but he likes to shoot and he’s not very big so he has to be creative when he has the ball in order to score and set up others. I like watching videos on him to try and learn some moves that will help. We also wear the same number so that’s kind of cool.
All basketball players love gear. What brand of gear or type of gear are you partial to?
MH: Nike all day. All their stuff is comfy, especially basketball shoes. Their brand is pretty much all I wear.
What is your favorite venue to play basketball in that you’ve played in?
MH: Besides our home gym in Bottineau, I like going to play in the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The atmosphere there for tournaments is awesome and the building itself is super nice.
What court that you haven’t played on would you dream of playing on?
MH: Playing at Madison Square Garden would be really cool because of all the history there.
Explain the relationship varsity players have at your school with youth players?
MH: We have a program called “Little Braves” where the kids in the community come to the gym in the summer and some of our players help them with drills and teach them some fundamentals. That’s fun because they look up to us and it’s great to see them have fun in the gym.
What was the best advice you’ve received from a coach?
MH: The best coaching advice I’ve gotten is to play hard every play, on both sides of the ball, all the way through the game. My dad has taught me a ton about the game of basketball and about the life lessons that go with it and I have him and my mom to thank for a lot of the opportunities I’ve gotten so far. He always tells me to play hard because I can’t get these days back and the older I get the more I realize that and that really pushes me to work hard.
Who is your basketball influence?
MH: Like I said in the last question, my dad has taught me a lot about basketball and the life lessons that go with it so I’d have to say he’s my biggest basketball influence. He always has some kind of advice after games that helps me to be a better player.
NBA. Who is your team?
MH: T-Wolves all the way!