Sanford Seminole two-sports freshman standouts DeMari and Ja’Cari Henderson were both offered football scholarships by UCF on Friday, the first offers for the twin 2022 cornerbacks.
The Henderson twins did not play varsity this past season in order to get more playing time and experience on the junior varsity, but they are expected to play big roles in the future for Seminole head coach Don Stark.
Britt Henderson, father of the twins, said he was shocked to hear the news.
“It was great. The kids are just so humble and nonchalant and they don’t really like a whole lot of attention, but just to be offered … the experience they went through, they’ll never forget it,” dad said of the 5-foot-11, 160-pound twins. “But they’re still hungry and wanting to get better every day. They’re just super athletes with natural talent. God has blessed them
“It’s very rewarding but at the same time, with them not having any varsity experience, they know the radar is on they’re back.
DeMari and Ja’Cari are very quiet young men who are a bit shy and even embarrassed sometimes when much is made of their skills.
“I was shocked and surprised about it when I got the text. They didn’t even text me when they first heard about it, because they don’t like all the attention,” Britt Henderson said. “They said, ‘Dad, now don’t be putting this on Facebook and all that.’ … But at the same time, I want them to be kids.
“They know they can’t slack off just because they’re getting a lot of attention.”
And they are used to the attention. They have already played a key role on varsity in basketball at Seminole High on a team that was 17-4 and No. 1 in the district heading into Friday night’s home game. DeMari averages 9.5 points per game and Ja’Cari averages 6.5 points. Both players can play any of the three guard positons and are ranked nationally at point guard by Future Jr. 150.
DeMari is the No. 43-ranked player overall for the class of 2022, and the No. 17 point guard. Ja’Cari is No. 100 overall and the No. 39 point guard.
Also Friday, Seminole 2021 quarterback Timmy McClain was offered by the Knights, who already have Sanford products WR Gabe Davis and CB Bam Moore currently playing big roles at UCF, while two other players have recently committed to UCF in junior TE-OL Jordan Davis and WR Zion Jackson.
