Senior guard Henry Domercant is going to leave a legacy when he finishes his last season at Eastern. Conference, and maybe even national records will fall.

All of these things are just a part of what Domercant has been dreaming about since he first began dribbling a basketball. The All-American guard is seen as one of the best jump shooters in the nation and has received interest from the NBA.

His 40-point, eight-assist and eight-rebound night against Evansville Saturday showed exactly why he has gained that recognition. It is also why he has been chosen as this week’s Top Cat.

If Domercant gets to the NBA, it is not just because of his nice shooting touch. It is because he has worked hard and is determined to be the best player he can be.

“I was taught early that you get out of it what you put into it,” Domercant said. “I realized my dream and put everything toward it. I love to play this game and I want to get the most out of it.”

Despite the shooting skill and hard work, the NBA is still concerned with with Domercant’s ball handling ability.

“They love that I can shoot the ball, but the one thing they want to know is if I can be a primary ball handler,” Domercant said. “I’m definitely confident, but sometimes in our system I am not able to do that.”

Eastern head coach Rick Samuels said he is confident that Domercant has what it takes to make it to the next level, but for more reasons than determination and skill alone.

“He is a young man with a lot of great character and some of the guys in the NBA are lacking that,” Samuels said. “You don’t read about him being in trouble, you hear about Henry reading at church and talking to youth basketball teams, and that is why he is special.”

This season he has worked hard at trying to become more of a complete player on the court. Driving to the basket and getting to the free throw line are two things that need to happen on a regular basis for him to do that.

“I have to finish and be more assertive at the basket,” Domercant said. “Sometimes I don’t use my athletic ability that I do have around the rim. You have to get to the free throw line.”

Against Evansville he made 20 trips to the line making 14. Any other night, he would have made 18 to 19 of those shots as he is an 85.9 percent free throw shooter on his career.

Last year Domercant was troubled by tendinitis in his knees and was slowed by the end of the season. He plans on taking it a little bit easier on going to the gym every day so the Panthers don’t make a late season skid.

“I am trying to save my legs and keep my bounce,” Domercant said. “Where I am at right now – I am trying to work smarter and not harder. As far as last year, I just wanted to get repetition, and now I work more on specific things.”

Domercant believes the Panthers are a better team this year than they were last year. He thinks they have what it takes to battle for the Ohio Valley Conference title and earn a trip to the NCAA tournament in March.

Until then he is going to enjoy the game he loves and the life that God has given him.

“I am fortunate and God has blessed me,” Domercant said. “If i can help anyone out I want to do that because life is bigger than basketball even though sometimes I might forget that.”