Tom Henderson learned his basketball in the Bronx and played for high school power DeWitt Clinton. He initially attended San Jacinto Junior College, where he averaged almost 30 points per game, but later transferred to the University of Hawaii. While at Hawaii he made first-team All-America in 1974. The 6-3 (1.90) guard was drafted in the first round of the NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks in 1974. He later played for the Washington Bullets and the Houston Rockets and in 1978 he helped the Bullets to win the NBA championship. He became a steady NBA performer but never a great star.
United States