Former Radford High School basketball Scottie Hendricks is continuing his professional basketball career in Norway. He recently signed a contract with Asker Aliens.
Marty Gordon
A former Radford High School basketball star is headed back overseas after signing a new contract with a professional team in Norway. Scotty Hendricks will play for Asker Aliens, BLNO in the Norwegian Premier Basketball League.
He signed a one-year contract, according to Hendricks, with an option for a second year with this particular team, because they have a history of winning (five national titles).
“Hopefully after a successful season this year, I’ll be offered a multi-year deal which I would highly consider,” he said.
Hendricks was a member of the Radford High School team that played in the 2009 state championship and also played at King College before venturing into a pro career.
Hendricks said competition in the BLNO is high with many import players coming from Division I schools in the United States like the University of Tennessee, Loyola Marymount and Drexel.
“We also have veterans who have played in several countries including Euro League experience. So night in and night out, you have to come ready to play,” he said.
The biggest challenge for Hendricks and his team is the fact they have a group of young players. The season started this past weekend and the Radford alum was expected to make his debut on Monday.
This is Hendricks’ fourth professional team in five years—one year touring Spain, France and England and now the premier team in Norway.
“Even though I’m still very early in my career, it’s been years that I’ve put into perfecting my craft to get to this point,” he said.
Last season, he helped a team in England reach the national semi-finals before suffering a season-ending injury to his shooting hand.
“My injury really left me very hungry for this season. I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to many places rehabbing my hand and working with some of the best skilled trained in the U.S. I’m ready for a great season ahead, that’s for sure,” Hendricks said.
With the English team, he was top 10 in the league in points, steals and assists and is hoping to build upon that type of energy in Norway.
When his basketball career is all said and done, he hopes to inspire young ball players to follow their dreams. During the offseason, he’s helped instruct several youngsters at the Christiansburg and Radford recreation centers.
“I hope I just inspired one kid to follow his dreams. To fall in love with the process of working hard and truly going after what they want to get in life,” he said. “If I inspire one of many, that’s my ultimate goal.”
