Shooters shoot: How the ‘Steph Curry of Minnesota’ is more like the superstar than you think
CAMBRIDGE, Minn. (BVM) — “It’s hard to compare him to any other player, within our program or even that I’ve seen, because of his drive and goals of being successful in this game.”
That’s what Cambridge-Isanti boys basketball coach Mike McDonald had to say about his senior point guard, Henry Abraham.
Coach McDonald is right, it is hard to find comparisons that properly capture what the 5-foot-11 guard has been able to do since making varsity as an eighth grader. One nickname has stuck though, the ‘Steph Curry of Minnesota.’
When asked about the nickname, Abraham embraced the comparison.
“I like it a lot, personally because he’s my favorite NBA player and I’ve tried working my game into his game,” said Abraham.
Abraham is second all-time in state history for 3-pointers made. He is one of only 12 Minnesotans to ever pass 3,000 points in their high school career. The Cambridge-Isanti graduate holds school records in scoring, assists, and steals.
“This year he was by far our leader, he led us in about every statistical category with the exception of rebounding, but he was still one of our better rebounders,” said coach McDonald.
In the 2019-20 season with the Blue Jackets he averaged 33.6 points, 3.9 steals and 7 assists leading his team to a 24-4 record. In the MSHSL 4A playoffs, they finished the season with a win over Duluth East, sending Cambridge-Isanti to their second state tournament appearance in a row.
Unfortunately, the season was cut short and Abraham was unable to continue his historic senior season with the cancellation of the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I feel like it was unaccomplished just because of the cancellation, but if you can end a season like that it was one of the best ways to end a season – on a win,” said Abraham.
With his prep career over Abraham leaves high school a three-time conference MVP, five-time all-conference selection and made the AP all-state team this year.
Abraham has an amazing resume and a work ethic that is second to none. His self-proclaimed “limitless range” mixed with the fast pace that he plays the game makes him a dangerous guard. Curry-esque in more ways than you think because he is also underrated coming out of high school.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nyNuH6W_ckM
“I personally think I am underrated, just because they don’t base it off of stats or what I’ve done they’ve always based it off of is this guy taller or more athletic because they look at my height and say this guy is not as good because he’s 5-foot-11, but my stats show I’m better than most people in the state,” Abraham explained.
A premier distance shooter, Abraham hasn’t received many college scholarship offers. However, interest in him from the next level heated up throughout his senior season.
“I think more people are starting to notice. I’ve had some college coaches reach out to me recently,” said Abraham.
No matter what, Abraham has his mind set on continuing his basketball career.
“I want to see how far I can take it. I want to for sure get professional playing basketball,” said Abraham.
And he’s taking a page out of his favorite player’s book.
“There’s lots of people that I’ve seen go through college, not been looked at like at all by the NBA even, and then they turn out to be an NBA All-Star and Steph Curry is the best basketball example of it,” added Abraham.
Abraham will be successful and he won’t stop until he reaches his goal. In the words of his coach, “He’s a gamer.”
A gamer that was able to accomplish his dream of playing Division I basketball. On April 1, he announced via Twitter that he would be attending college at Eastern Illinois University to play for the Panthers men’s basketball team.
After great conversations with Coach Spoonhour and Coach Chappell, I am very thankful to have received my first division 1 offer from Eastern Illinois to continue my education and basketball career! pic.twitter.com/1qmyYwV7cS
— Henry Abraham (@henonba13) April 2, 2020
“After the season ended I sent out some emails and Eastern Illinois texted me. Chappell, their assistant coach, asked for some game film. Then about a week later they reached out again and he said the head coach wants to talk to you and then after that I had a good conversation with the head coach (Jay Spoonhour) about how I’d be used there and everything like and then the next day he offered me,” explained Abraham.
For Abraham this is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance.
“It just feels fulfilling and all the hard work paid off. It shows that no matter what your size if you put in work you can get where you want to get.”
