BIO: Henshall was born and raised in the Perth suburb of Lynwood. He started to take basketball seriously at age 14 while attending Willetton Senior High School.

In 2021, Henshall led the Western Australia Under 18 Metro team to the gold medal at the national championships and was named the Western Australian Basketball League (WABL) Player of the Year while playing for the Cockburn Cougars.

Henshall represented WA and Australia on multiple occasions, being named WABL Male Player of the Year in 2021. He also debuted for the Cougars in the NBL1 West in 2021, averaging 6.17 points, 2.67 rebounds and 1.58 assists in 12 games. In 2022, Henshall moved to Canberra to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). He played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 and averaged 8.0 points, 2.24 rebounds and 1.65 assists in 17 games in the Wildcard conference.

In 2023, Henshall led the Western Australia Under 20 team to the gold medal at the national championships and won the Bob Staunton Medal as the most outstanding player of the tournament. He also helped the NBA Global Academy win the NBA Academy Games in the United States, averaging a series-best 16.83 points per game. With the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East, he captained the team to a 20–2 record and averaged 18.05 points, 3.57 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.86 steals in 21 games.

Henshall received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2022. He spent two years year there and played for the program’s state league team (2022, 2023).

FAMILY: Henshall is the son of Mark and Joanne.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Ben Henshall made his NBL debut with the Perth Wildcats at 19 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.

After finishing sixth with a 15-13 record and being eliminated by Cairns in the play-in tournament, Perth reshaped its roster for John Rillie’s second season as head coach. Luke Travers (to Melbourne), Todd Blanchfield (to Illawarra), Mitch Norton (to Brisbane), TaShawn Thomas and Brady Manek departed, while Keanu Pinder (via Cairns), Hyrum Harris (via Adelaide), David Okwera (via Melbourne), Next Star Alexandre Sarr, imports Jordan Usher and Kristian Doolittle and rookie Ben Henshall (via Centre of Excellence) were added.

The Wildcats signed Henshall to a two-year deal and placed him directly on the main roster after he helped Western Australia win the 2023 U20 National Championship and received the Bob Staunton Medal as the tournament’s most outstanding male player.

“We were attracted to his feel for the game and the swagger he approaches the game with, he has great positional size which will help separate him,” Rillie said.

“Offensively he will be dynamic in the open floor, defensively he will become a very disruptive defender, he has natural instincts for the ball.”

After not taking the court in Perth’s opening win over Tasmania, injuries to Tai Webster and Kyle Zunic created an opportunity two days later against South East Melbourne. Henshall produced his best game of the season in his NBL debut, finishing with a game-high 24 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals on 9-of-14 shooting in 24 minutes at John Cain Arena. Pinder (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Usher (12 points and 3 rebounds) provided support, while Tyler Cook (23 points and 10 rebounds) led the Phoenix to a 110-99 win. Henshall became the first Australian to top-score on NBL debut and joined Joe Ingles as the only players under 20 to score at least 20 points in their first NBL game.

Henshall (3.1 points across 16 games) found opportunities limited behind Perth’s experienced backcourt, averaging 6.1 minutes per game and never reaching double figures again after his opening performance.

His longest appearance since his debut came in Perth’s final regular-season game against Tasmania on February 17, where Henshall (5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) played nearly 14 minutes as the Wildcats lost 86-72. Sarr (17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and Tai Webster (15 points) led Perth, while Milton Doyle (24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) starred for Tasmania as the Wildcats finished second with a 17-11 record.

During the break before the semifinals, Henshall earned his first appearances for the Australian Boomers in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, scoring 14 points off the bench against South Korea before adding 4 points and 4 rebounds against Indonesia.

“It’s definitely been a good development season for me, I’ve learnt a lot of things being around guys like Jesse Wagstaff and Bryce Cotton, and then with the Boomers stuff I’ve learnt a lot of things,” Henshall said.

“Like everyone, I’d like to play more, but right now I’m just doing what I can to help the team win.”

Cotton (22.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.5 steals across 30 games) led Perth offensively and won his fourth NBL MVP award, while Pinder (13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals across 31 games) provided the second scoring option. Usher (12.3 points and 3.4 rebounds across 31 games), Sarr (9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 27 games), Doolittle (9 points and 6.7 rebounds across 29 games) and Tai Webster (8.9 points across 28 games) formed the other major contributors.

Henshall did not take the court as Perth opened its semifinal series against Tasmania at RAC Arena with an 89-81 victory. Pinder (25 points and 7 rebounds), Cotton (15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Usher (11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Wildcats, while Jordon Crawford (19 points and 3 assists), Jack McVeigh (17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Marcus Lee (16 points and 3 rebounds) were Tasmania’s best.

Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Henshall again remained on the bench as Cotton (26 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) and Doolittle (20 points and 9 rebounds) led Perth. Doyle (24 points and 6 rebounds), McVeigh (22 points and 5 rebounds) and Majok Deng (18 points and 5 rebounds) helped Tasmania win 102-94 and force a deciding game.

Henshall did not play in game three at RAC Arena, where Cotton (21 points and 4 rebounds) and Harris (13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Perth, while McVeigh (27 points and 6 rebounds), Doyle (24 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) and Will Magnay (18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block) led Tasmania to a 100-84 win.

2024/25
Following their semifinal loss to Tasmania, Perth farewelled Alexandre Sarr (to Washington), Jordan Usher (to France), Corey Webster (to Auckland) and Kyle Zunic (to Keilor). John Rillie returned for his third season as head coach and later signed a three-year extension, retaining captain Jesse Wagstaff, Bryce Cotton, Keanu Pinder, Kristian Doolittle, Tai Webster, Hyrum Harris and David Okwera while adding Elijah Pepper (via UC Davis), Next Star Izan Almansa (via G League Ignite) and Dylan Windler (via Atlanta). Michael Harris was promoted from the development roster, with Dontae Russo-Nance and Thomas Gerovich filling the development positions.

Henshall entered the second and final season of the two-year deal he signed with Perth in April 2023 after spending the off-season with the Otago Nuggets, averaging 19.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists and earning a nomination for the New Zealand league’s Youth Player of the Year award.

Perth opened the season against South East Melbourne during HoopsFest at RAC Arena on September 20, where Henshall (10 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) provided immediate impact off the bench as the Wildcats won 106-98, with Pinder (29 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals) and Cotton (26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) leading Perth while Jordan Hunter (19 points and 7 rebounds) was the Phoenix’s best.

Henshall (9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists across 28 games) made the most of his increased opportunities during his breakout second season, becoming a regular starter, averaging more than 23 minutes and lifting his field-goal percentage from 34.8 to 42.2 percent. His scoring increased from 3.1 points per game during his rookie campaign while his size, playmaking and defensive pressure gave Perth another option across both guard positions.

Against Sydney at RAC Arena on October 25, Henshall (2 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) missed all 10 field-goal attempts but continued creating for his teammates and finished plus-18 as Pinder (34 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals) and Almansa (14 points and 6 rebounds) led Perth to an 87-84 win, while Xavier Cooks (22 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks) was Sydney’s best.

Henshall’s best regular-season scoring game came against Illawarra at RAC Arena on November 1, where he recovered from his shooting struggles by making five three-pointers and finishing with 26 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 1 steal as Perth defeated the league-leading Hawks 113-105 without the injured Cotton. Windler (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Webster (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) provided support, while Tyler Harvey (25 points) led Illawarra. “I want to be known as a winner. I want to win basketball games and that’s all I want to do,” Henshall said.

His improved form earned selection for Australia’s FIBA Asia Cup qualifying games against Thailand and Korea during November, while his performances also placed him on several 2025 NBA Draft boards. Before the postseason, Henshall declared, “I think I’m a lottery player, I think I’m better than a lot of guys that are in this Draft.” Todd Withers (via Warwick) also joined Perth as a nominated replacement player during the season, averaging 5.8 points across 14 games.

Cotton (28.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 24 games) led Perth offensively and won his fifth Andrew Gaze Trophy, another scoring title and All-NBL First Team selection. Pinder (15.1 points and 6.3 rebounds across 25 games), Doolittle (14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across 24 games) and Windler (11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 24 games) formed the remainder of the leading group, while Webster (8.2 points across 16 games), Almansa (7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds across 29 games) and Pepper (7.5 points across 29 games) completed the main rotation. Cotton received the Gordon Ellis Medal as club MVP, Doolittle won the Players’ Player and Best Defensive Player awards, Henshall was named Perth’s Most Improved Player and was an NBL Most Improved Player finalist, while Michael Harris (2.9 points across 26 games) received the Coaches’ Award.

Perth closed the regular season against Adelaide at RAC Arena on February 7, where Henshall (3 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) started as the Wildcats defeated the 36ers 112-104 behind Cotton (49 points and 7 assists) and Pinder (18 points and 11 rebounds), while Kendric Davis (34 points and 8 assists) led Adelaide. Perth finished third with an 18-11 record and secured a home Seeding Qualifier.

The postseason opened against South East Melbourne at the Perth High Performance Centre, where Henshall (11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), Pinder (35 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks), Cotton (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Doolittle (20 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Windler (13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks) led Perth to a 122-105 win. Angus Glover (25 points and 2 steals), Matt Hurt (24 points and 3 steals) and Nathan Sobey (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists) led the Phoenix before the Wildcats advanced to the semifinals.

Game one moved to John Cain Arena, where Henshall (8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals), Pinder (24 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists), Doolittle (22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Cotton (22 points and 6 assists) led Perth. Chris Goulding (41 points), Ian Clark (22 points) and Jack White (13 points and 10 rebounds) carried Melbourne to a 105-93 win and a 1-0 series advantage.

Facing elimination at RAC Arena, Perth recovered from a 20-point deficit to win game two 96-89, with Henshall (1 point, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block) helping on the defensive end despite missing all seven field-goal attempts. Windler (27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks), Cotton (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Doolittle (17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the comeback, while Goulding (15 points), Matthew Dellavedova (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists), White (13 points and 6 rebounds) and Clark (13 points) were best for Melbourne.

Game three returned to John Cain Arena, where Henshall (9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), Doolittle (37 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals), Cotton (33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals), Pinder (15 points and 5 rebounds) and Windler (13 points and 7 rebounds) kept Perth within reach, while Clark (38 points), Goulding (30 points and 4 rebounds), White (15 points and 9 rebounds) and Dellavedova (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists) led Melbourne. Wagstaff (3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) tied the scores with a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining, but Dellavedova found Goulding under the basket and Henshall was called for a foul with 0.8 seconds left. Goulding made the first free throw and deliberately missed the second as Melbourne defeated Perth 113-112 and won the series 2-1.

Ben Henshall — Top Plays of NBL25

Watch NBL25 highlights on YouTube

2025/26
Henshall’s place on Perth’s roster remained uncertain during an off-season that followed the Wildcats’ semifinal loss. After withdrawing from the NBA Draft, the young guard pursued a move into US college basketball, but the eligibility and contractual requirements proved too difficult to complete and he returned home on a new two-year deal. Five-time league MVP Bryce Cotton (to Adelaide), Keanu Pinder (to Akita), Hyrum Harris (to Kanazawa), Michael Harris (to Adelaide) and Izan Almansa (to Madrid) departed.

John Rillie returned for his fourth season as head coach, retaining Kristian Doolittle, Dylan Windler, Elijah Pepper, captain Jesse Wagstaff, David Okwera, Dontae Russo-Nance and Thomas Gerovich. Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (via Alexandria), Sunday Dech (via Adelaide), Lat Mayen (via Adelaide), Mason Jones (via Stockton), Jaron Rillie (via Northern Colorado), Next Star Noa Kouakou-Heugue (via France) and development player Cameron Huefner (via Sam Houston State) were added to the roster.

Perth began its campaign at RAC Arena on September 20, where the returning guard (8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) started and provided energy at both ends, while Jones (16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (15 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block) led the Wildcats, but Bryce Hamilton (26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals) carried Tasmania to a 75-72 win.

Henshall (8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds across 34 games) moved between starting and reserve roles before taking on greater responsibility as Perth’s point guard, improving his defensive impact and producing the strongest playmaking performances of his NBL career.

One of his most complete games came against Illawarra at RAC Arena on January 16, where Henshall (15 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 block) helped Perth win 92-87, with Doolittle (21 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (20 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) leading the Wildcats, while Todd Blanchfield (16 points) was the Hawks’ leading scorer. The victory was Perth’s fourth in succession and improved the Wildcats to 15-10.

Henshall (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists) recorded his season-high assist total against South East Melbourne on January 28, controlling the offence as Windler (23 points and 11 rebounds) and Pepper (22 points and 6 rebounds) helped Perth win 101-93 at RAC Arena, while Nathan Sobey (28 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) led the Phoenix.

His best regular-season performance came three days later in Wollongong, where Henshall (17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal) produced season highs in scoring and rebounding as Perth defeated Illawarra 106-99. Doolittle (26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Windler (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) provided support, while Quentin Peterson (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Hawks as the Wildcats improved to 18-11.

After opening the season 3-2, Perth released Jones (11.4 points across five games) and signed David Duke Jr (via San Antonio) as his replacement. Duke Jr (12.1 points and 3.2 assists across 19 games) became the starting point guard before an elbow injury interrupted his season, allowing Henshall to return to the starting lineup and spend more time handling the ball.

Doolittle (17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 37 games) and Lual-Acuil Jr (16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks across 37 games) formed Perth’s leading offensive combination, while Windler (13 points and 6.8 rebounds across 32 games), Pepper (10.3 points and 3.3 rebounds across 37 games) and Jaron Rillie (8.1 points across 14 games) provided the other main scoring contributions.

Doolittle earned All-NBL First Team honours and won the Gordon Ellis Medal as Perth’s club MVP and the Best Defensive Player award. Wagstaff (3.2 points across 35 games) received the Watto Award as Players’ Player, Okwera (5 points and 3 rebounds across 34 games) was named Most Improved and Gerovich (0 points across five games) received the Coaches Award.

Perth closed the regular season against Adelaide at RAC Arena on February 20, where Henshall (0 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) helped distribute the ball, while Pepper (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (21 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 block) led the Wildcats. Nick Rakocevic (18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks) was Adelaide’s best as Perth recovered from an early nine-point deficit to win 86-74 and secure fourth place with a 21-12 record.

Perth opened the postseason at John Cain Arena on March 4, where Henshall (11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists), Doolittle (22 points and 6 rebounds) and Windler (13 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks) led the Wildcats, while Sobey (24 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists), Owen Foxwell (18 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals) and Ian Clark (16 points) carried South East Melbourne to a 111-94 win in the Seeding Qualifier.

Three days later, Henshall (2 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists) helped organise Perth’s offence as Lual-Acuil Jr (28 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks), Doolittle (24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) and Windler (18 points and 9 rebounds) led the Wildcats. Milton Doyle (13 points), Tyson Walker (12 points) and Jesse Edwards (12 points and 8 rebounds) were best for Melbourne, but Perth outscored United 51-24 after half-time to win 95-77 at RAC Arena and advance to the semifinals.

Game one of the semifinals moved to Qudos Bank Arena, where Henshall (5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists) helped Perth pressure Sydney’s guards, while Doolittle (31 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals), Duke Jr (20 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (19 points and 12 rebounds) led the Wildcats. Kendric Davis (35 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals), Torrey Craig (20 points and 9 rebounds) and Matthew Dellavedova (11 points and 3 assists) led Sydney, with the Kings surviving Perth’s final possession to win 105-104.

Game two moved to RAC Arena, where Doolittle (15 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Lual-Acuil Jr (9 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) provided support for Perth, while Davis (27 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), Makuach Maluach (23 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks) and Craig (12 points and 7 rebounds) led Sydney. The Kings pulled clear after half-time and completed the semifinal sweep with an 89-75 win, with Henshall (20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) making five three-pointers during his best scoring game of the season and playing 26:23 minutes in the loss.

Ben Henshall played three seasons with the Perth Wildcats. He averaged 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 82 NBL games.