Henderson gives update on signing

Here is a report from the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

Questions with Bob Sansevere: Talking with Cretin-Derham Hall's Seantrel Henderson

Seantrel Henderson had been planning for Thursday to be the day he officially signed his national letter of intent to play for Southern Cal. That didn't happen.

Is he wavering?

He says no. Actually, at different times Thursday, he said, 'No.' And: 'I don't think so.' And: 'Not really.'

Anyway, Henderson says he will sign his national letter of intent Tuesday at Cretin-Derham Hall, the school he helped lead to a state championship in football. Now he's trying to win another state title, this time in basketball.

I caught up with Henderson, the nation's top-rated high school football player, after basketball practice at Cretin-Derham Hall. Henderson has used his 6-foot-8, 340-pound size to help carry Cretin to the Section 4AAAA final tonight against Henry Sibley.

BS: Are you disappointed you didn't get to sign your national letter of intent on the day you were planning to do it?

SH: No, it was fine. It still gave me more time to myself, more thinking for me and more time for me and my family. And Tuesday, get it over and done with.

BS: It's still going to be Southern Cal, right?

SH: Yes, sir.

BS: Have you considered just signing the letter of intent and mailing it in without having a ceremony or is it important to have one?

SH: I think it's important to have for the community because they were always involved with me, so I think it's only right to do it.

BS: Is there any chance you'll change your mind about
Southern Cal? That's what people are wondering.

SH: I've been hearing some stuff, too. But no, I don't think so. I'm still kind of thinking a little bit, but I don't think so.

BS: Are you still thinking about another school?

SH: Ah, no, no. Not really. Not really. Just thoughts.

BS: Were the Gophers ever truly in the running?

SH: Yeah, they were. But then after I started going on my visits, I just thought I wanted to leave for school.

BS: Are you excited or nervous about playing college football?

SH: I think I'm both at the same time. It's going to be a whole different state, all different people I don't know. Any time I get on the field my whole state of mind changes, it's like 'Rah.'

BS: Did you watch 'Blind Side?'

SH: Yeah, yeah. I actually met the guy.

BS: Michael Oher (the Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle whose life the movie is based on)?

SH: No, not Michael. I met the actor who played him. (The actor's name is Quinton Aaron.)

BS: You're going to be in California at Southern Cal. Do you think you'll pick up any acting gigs?

SH: I think that would be nice if I could do that. I'd like to do that.

BS: If they need a guy who's 6 foot 8 and 340 pounds, who fits the bill better than you?

SH: Right, right.

BS: On a scale of 1 to 10, you're a 10 in football. Where on the 1-to-10 scale are you as a basketball player?

SH: I'd say a 6 or a 7.

BS: If you concentrated just on basketball would you be an 8 or a 9?

SH: Yeah, I think so.

BS: Could you play Division I basketball if you put your mind to it?

SH: I know for a fact if I put my mind to it I could play D-I basketball.

BS: Have you thought about trying to play basketball in college once the football season is over?

SH: As long as it's not overly too much for me, that's exactly what I'm going to do. That would be a lot of fun.

BS: Has it been a goal of yours to win state titles in football and in basketball?

SH: I think that would be a big deal and, for the state, it would be a shutout and everybody would be surprised by Cretin-Derham Hall.

BS: What is your long-term goal — to play in the NFL?

SH: Yeah, that's my long-term goal. After college, I'll try to play in the NFL, and after that, I'll try to do something that involves communications.

BS: What are the chances of you leaving Southern Cal early?

SH: I'm going to graduate, regardless, whether I stay or leave early. If the coaches think that it's good for me to leave early and I could maybe be a high pick in the draft, I would do that. Especially if they're giving me the go-ahead. But if they told me I'm not ready, I'll stay my last year and do my thing.

BS: You're the top-rated high school player in the country. Does that mean anything less than being a first-team All-America tackle means you've somehow failed to live up to your billing?

SH: Being the No. 1 high school football player in the nation, I don't think that makes me better than anybody else. It's things for the media and the Internet and people. I don't think that makes me automatically better than anybody under me in the rankings.

BS: Your father does rap. Do you also rap?

SH: No, no. Nope.

BS: Are both your parents going to move to California with you?

SH: Yeah. My dad, my mom and my grandmother.

BS: Will you live with them or on campus?

SH: I'll live on campus.

BS: Have you stayed in touch with (USC) coach (Lane) Kiffin?

SH: He can call me once a week, and I can call him whenever. I talk to him a couple of times a week.

BS: You're one game away from the state tournament, and four games away from winning a state title. Are people going to see the four best basketball games of Seantrel Henderson's life?

SH: It's going to be the best four games. We never won the sectional final before. (If) we get to Target Center (for the state tournament), it's going to be crazy.