Blacktop Tales | Season 2 | Episode 8 | Joel Henry | New City College
As a player develops their basketball fundamentals, they will undoubtedly be taught the importance of the triple threat. It's an offensive stance assumed by a player being guarded that allows them to be ready to dribble, pass, or shoot. The pivot foot serves as the foundation for any movement that follows. The pivot is crucial.
Joel Henry’s first basketball pivot was an unintentional one — the closure of his secondary school led to a move to Greig City Academy, a school renowned for its basketball success. His introduction to the sport felt like a movie — Space Jam, to be exact. The game was fast-paced, there were cheerleaders, and it was indoors. The warmth of a gym was a welcome change for Joel, who had been playing football at a high level until that point. The damp of a soggy pitch was replaced by solid hardwood, but the principles of hard work and dedication only intensified. No blood, no foul.
Although only 5'5" and with a limited skill set, Joel was undeterred. A mentality rooted in grabbing every opportunity with both hands placed him in situations where his confidence and self-belief could grow. One such opportunity came while playing U16s at Greig City Academy, when the team travelled to Virginia, USA, to attend the Boo Williams AAU camp (with Allen Iverson's camp happening on the day Joel landed on U.S. soil). The moment hundreds of campers declared in unison, "I believe in myself," left a lasting mark. Later, while climbing the ranks at Uxbridge Academy, another trip — this time to Miami — brought more high-level games and inspiration. Joel may have picked up a basketball late, but he never backed down from tough competition.
"The only way you're gonna be the best is by beating the best. I trained hard, learning the game, intentionally guarding the best players, trying to score against the quickest on the court. I wanna beat you at your best — that’s how I know I’m the best."
As a teenager, basketball told only half of Joel’s story. While studying at Hackney Community College (now New City College), he benefited from the tough coaching of Andrea Norton. The college’s sports hall is vast, with two full-size courts marked by chipped paint and tatty backboards. Each imperfection tells a story of hard work and legacy — a culture instilled by Coach Andrea. Anyone who was somebody outside the gym understood who was in charge on the court. Joel needed that structure. Outside, he was immersed in gang life — anything associated with being on road. But witnessing the murder of a close friend became a pivotal moment, forcing him to reassess the direction of his life. Thankfully, basketball offered a path and purpose.
"From there, I had to change my life and pick a road, I had to become a pro."
Pivot.
Joel earned a reputation as a shooter and secured a pro contract with the Surrey Scorchers, breaking shooting records and making his mark on British basketball. But shooting wasn’t his only weapon — Joel had developed the kind of bounce you usually only see in viral videos. At just 6ft, a modest height in the basketball world, he punched his first dunk at age 16. His first in-game dunk came not long after. Relentless drills with coaches throughout his journey built the core strength needed to fly. As a U18, he became a two-foot dunker, thanks to a summer of medicine ball dunks in Forest Gate with Mike Speranza, intense workouts at Hackney Community College with Jeff Danchi, and in-depth training with his current trainer, Pierre Henry-Fontaine. From there, Joel soared — literally and figuratively. Midnight Madness dunk contests gave him a name. By 2016, he had a manager who opened doors to international contests — and with that, Joel realised he could travel the world as a dunker and get paid for it.
Just like when he first picked up a ball and sought out the best, just like the toughest training sessions in London’s gritty gyms, just like growing up in a rough part of the city — Joel’s journey made him fearless. That fearlessness launches him skyward, catapulting over people stacked on shoulders, standing on chairs. He snatches the ball from the hands of someone atop a ladder and flushes it with ease — collecting a cash prize in the process.
Today, Joel Henry is an internationally renowned professional dunker — usually throwing it down in another time zone. He’s battled some of the best in the world, on the biggest stages, in front of the biggest names. And when he’s in his bag, thanks to his appearance at the 2014 Nike World Basketball Festival, he’s known as The Royal Guard. You can thank Kyrie Irving for that.
The Royal Guard has big plans to help develop the next generation of athletes — with unique jump programs and expert insight. For now, though, he stands grounded and ready — firmly anchored in the triple threat stance.
Pivot.
At New City College, Joel Henry is wearing the Ja 2 “Swarovski Scratch Bling.” He describes them as “a breathable, stylish hoop shoe that makes me feel free to do what I do.” Available now in-store at BounceWear London or online at Bouncewear.co.uk.
