Hendersonville’s Dynamic Duo
Hendersonville High School in Western North Carolina has been home to some of the best athletes in the area including four professional football players, Mickey Marvin, Sam Gash, Tiger Greene and Thane Gash all of whom played in the National Football League. Basketball is the sport that is making a name for itself over the past few months in the small retirement town known for it’s annual Apple Festival of Hendersonville about 30 minutes from Asheville.
The Bearcats have one of their stronger teams in recent memory this season with 6-foot-9 big man Ben Beeker, a junior and classmate Kalin Ensley, a 6-foot-4 forward who is also the teams’ quarterback.
Beeker has been dominating the paint against conference foes so far this season and Ensley has been doing some scoring and rebounding from the wing spot for Head Coach Marvin Featherstone’s squad.
Easley transferred over to Hendersonville last season from North Henderson High School. He was a three-sport standout at North Henderson and played with now USC-Upstate freshman Austin Nelson who was an all-state guard selection.
Beeker played last summer with Team Loaded 704 out of Charlotte and garnered some attention from some college coaches. He is the size that can’t be taught, he moves well laterally, he can defend, block shots, has a good shot from the perimeter and has a soft touch around the basket. All key attributes for a developing big man. Beeker is just a junior and has another two years to prove what he is made of. Beeker is averaging around 17 points and 12 rebounds this season for The Bearcats.
Ensley can score the basketball at this level but will probably be more of a threat on the football field. He is a all-conference selection on the grid-iron and has the size to succeed on either playing surface.