Henderson's Decision No Surprise; But Is There a Doubt?

Let me preface everything that I'm about to say with, Gerald Henderson is going to be a solid pro prospect next year.

His decision to enter the NBA draft is no surprise. Duke fans have been expecting it for weeks. However, the way in which it was done leaves me with some lingering doubts.

Unlike Stephon Curry, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson, there was no press conference or major announcement. Simply a press release.

After weeks of waiting, Duke fans essentially got what amounted to a Dear John letter.

One would have been hard pressed to realize the decision was even made unless you, like most other Duke fans, were clicking refresh on their computers every half-hour waiting for a Henderson update.

Perhaps it was the NFL Draft frenzy, or the Duke Basketball Banquet but it just seemed that the Henderson story was lost in the mix. I guess I was expecting something a little less anti-climactic.

But perhaps, and this is the glass-half-full side talking, that is exactly what Gerald Henderson and Coach K wanted. Perhaps Henderson is simply, to borrow the over used phrase, testing the waters to see what he needs to work on.

Perhaps he, unsatisfied with the way the year ended, wants to come back and lead next year's Duke team to a final four and put an exclamation mark on his career.

Or perhaps, and this is the most probable scenario, I'm just another Duke fan left to think wishfully about what could have been with Henderson on next years team.

What I should be doing is getting ready for an improved Duke football team this fall and not worry about next year's basketball team.

I should also just accept that Henderson is gone, fanfare or not, and that Duke with or without him will be good next year.

Yet, what makes sports fun are the what ifs. So it is fun to dream that Henderson will be dawning a Duke uniform next year even if it is just wishful thinking.