UNF men’s basketball forward Carter Hendricksen may have played his last game in an Osprey uniform, but it’s clear to see the impact he’s left on the program.
Spinnaker recently had the chance to sit down with Hendricksen at UNF Arena and discuss his time as an Osprey.
While this interview, which can be viewed below, focused mainly on the emotional aspect of his collegiate career, let’s take a look at the numbers and see how successful the Kentucky native was in his time at UNF.
Hendricksen arrived on campus as a freshman having received just one Division I scholarship offer, courtesy of Matthew Driscoll and the Ospreys. He had a chance to soak up large amounts of leadership and skill as part of a talented group in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
The Ospreys ultimately fell short to Lipscomb University in a heartbreaker in the 2020 ASUN semifinals, but Hendricksen was able to gently ease into the college game during this span, all while contributing nearly 15 points and 7 .1 rebounds per game in just his time. second season.
The 2020-21 season served as a key turning point in Hendricksen’s career. With the departure of stars Garrett Sams, JT Escobar and Wajid Aminu, Hendricksen quickly found himself leading a young and inexperienced group.
Hendricksen admitted that this was a challenging time, as he was forced to step into a position he was not used to being in.
“It actually took quite a while,” Hendricksen said. – I was not prepared for that at all.
Through trial and error, he settled into this role and became the face of UNF basketball. In a hectic season filled with injuries and COVID-19 protocols, the Ospreys struggled to an 8-15 record. Even so, Hendricksen still produced 14.9 points per game.
The next campaign was plagued by injury to both Hendricksen and co-leader Jose Placer. It was another disappointing season, with UNF finishing 11-20. But some big wins down the stretch from the squad in the pair’s absence showed what this team was capable of.
The 2022-23 season loomed as Hendricksen’s final stint on campus. He produced the best statistical effort of his career, averaging 16.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The osprey didn’t quite get as far as they wanted, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom.
Hendricksen took the course for the last time as an Osprey on 24 February. As the team’s lone senior, he led them to victory on senior night with 25 points in a key win over Bellarmine University to improve UNF’s seeding in the ASUN tournament.
“It was a very special moment,” Hendricksen said. “It was really cool to feel all the support and love from everyone here.”
Hendricksen will now focus on a professional career, with ambitions to make an NBA roster. Now that his time at UNF is over, let’s take a look at where he stacks up among the greatest Ospreys of all time.
Hendricksen ranks second all-time at UNF in scoring, contributing 1,651 points as an Osprey. Only Dallas Moore, point guard from 2013-2017, scored more points in UNF history.
In addition to his size, part of what made Hendricksen so dangerous was his deep shooting ability. It’s no surprise that he ranks fourth in three-pointers, knocking down 271 during his career. Scoring wasn’t his only skill, also ranking third all-time in rebounds and eighth in assists.
Whether it’s on or off the court, it’s clear to see the impact Carter Hendricksen has made on UNF men’s basketball. He is hopeful for the future of the program and is grateful for the time he got to spend as an Osprey.
Be sure to check out the full interview linked above for more!
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