Men's Basketball Adds Offensive Firepower With Pair Of High-Scoring Recruits
April 17, 2008 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb men's basketball signed
guard Anton Silver and forward Joshua Henley to National Letters of
Intent Thursday, infusing the program with immediate scoring
help.
Silver, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard, was a first-team All-NJCAA
Region X selection this past season at Louisburg (N.C.) Junior
College under Coach Aaron Denton. An athletic wing player with
three-point range and a penchant for getting to the rim, Silver led
the Hurricanes in scoring by averaging 17.4 points per game. He
also chipped in 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game
in 2007-2008.
Silver's sophomore season wasn't his only strong year, as he led
the ‘Canes in scoring as a freshman with 17.0 points per game.
The former Concord (N.C.) High standout scored more than 900 career
points and knocked in 124 three-pointers in two seasons on the
junior college level.
A highly recruited prospect, Silver chose Gardner-Webb over a host
of Division I programs.
"Anton is a tremendous athlete, and a guy we felt could come in and
fit very well with the young men we have returning next season,"
said GWU head coach Rick Scruggs. "He can score in a number of
ways, and was a very effective shooter this past season down at
Louisburg. We expect some great things from him next season."
Henley is a muscular, 6-foot-4, 220-pound forward, who played prep
basketball at Hunters Lane (Tenn.) High in Nashville. The versatile
Henley is rated the nation's No. 70 small forward prospect and No.
2 forward prospect in Tennessee by ESPN.com in the Class of 2008,
and showed why by averaging 18 points and 11 rebounds per game as a
senior.
On April 12, Henley played in the 2008 Tennessee Coaches'
Association East/West All-Star Game, and was impressive with 18
points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Henley knocked down 9-of-11
shots to help the West team to a 121-82 win.
Henley, a three-time All-District selection, had a career-high 41
points to go with 16 rebounds in a win over White's Creek (Tenn.)
High as a senior, and poured in 33 points against Antioch (Tenn.)
High. He scored 20 points or more 10 times as a senior under Coach
Anthony Sewell.
A product of the Tennessee Travlers AAU program, Henley chose
Gardner-Webb over Tennessee Tech, Holy Cross, Evansville, Army and
Austin Peay, among others. He averaged 20 points and nine boards
per game as a junior, and contributed 13 points and 12 rebounds per
game as a sophomore.
Henley was rated the nation's No. 112 overall prospect as a ninth
grader by Hoop Scoop Online.
"We really have gotten a warrior in Josh Henley," said Scruggs.
"He's a guy who can play both forward spots for us, and really adds
a strong, active body on the glass. With our top rebounder
graduating, we need someone to come in and help clean up the
boards, and Josh is a guy who can help. He can also score inside or
outside, and is a tremendously strong young man. He had
opportunities to play Division I football, but wanted to
concentrate on basketball here at Gardner-Webb."
RECRUIT BIOS
Anton Silver * 6-3 * 175 * G * Concord, N.C. / Concord
HS / Louisburg JC
Two-year star at Louisburg (N.C.) College under Coach Aaron Denton
... Led team in scoring for two-straight seasons ... Scored over
900 career points ... Made 124 career three-point shots ...
Averaged 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per
game for the Hurricanes as a sophomore ... Made 67-of-134 shots
from three-point range (50.0 percent) ... Shot 54.5 percent overall
from the floor (171-of-314) ... Averaged 17.0 points, 3.8 rebounds
and 1.6 steals per game as a freshman for the Hurricanes ... Chose
Gardner-Webb over Youngstown State and USC Upstate. High School:
Played at perennial state power Concord (N.C.) High under Coach
Andy Poplin ... Helped team to a 25-6 record and a Class 3A runner
up finish as a senior ... Averaged 11 points per game ... An
All-Conference and All-Region selection ... Named to the Class 3A
All-Western Region Tournament Team after helping Spiders to the
title.
Joshua Henley * 6-4 * 220 * F * Nashville, Tenn. /
Hunters Lane HS
Played at Hunters Lane (Tenn.) High under Coach Anthony Sewell ...
A very muscular, athletic forward ... Rated the nation's No. 70
small forward prospect and No. 2 small forward in Tennessee by
ESPN.com for the Class of 2008 ... A three-time All-District
selection ... Averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game as a
senior ... Scored 18 points and had 17 rebounds in the 2008 TACA
East/West All-Star Game ... Scored at least 20 points in 10
different games ... Had a career-high 41 points to go with 16
rebounds in a win over White's Creek ... Had 33 points vs. Antioch
... Averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game as a junior ...
Posted averages of 13 points and 12 rebounds per game as a
sophomore ... Played AAU basketball for the Tennessee Travlers ...
Was rated the nation's No. 112 prospect as a high school freshman
by Hoop Scoop ... Also played one year of football (receiver) ...
Landed scholarship offers in that sport as well ... Chose
Gardner-Webb over Tennessee Tech and Holy Cross (Mass.) ... Also
considered Austin Peay, Evansville and Army.
