Oh, Henry!

SUU senior is talented jumper

By DAVID DeMILLE
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

It’s like an explosion. There is an assembly under the rim, a chaotic mass of high-energy that can only instigate some release of pressure, and then there is one figure rising up out of the throng below and finishing at the rim.
It’s almost violent, the way SUU forward Kevin Henry attacks the basket underneath, intimidating larger defenders with athleticism and a fearless drive to control the basket area. He doesn’t need time to gather himself or to assess the situation. He simply looks up and explodes off the floor.
The determined Henry, a senior from Hobbs, N.M., is listed at 6-foot-3. An arresting combination of strength and leaping ability allows him to provide the Thunderbirds with strong play underneath, defying his obvious size disadvantage and thriving in the midst of traffic in the lane.
“I was blessed with the ability to jump,” Henry said. “I try to use it. I can’t be scared to go up in there. I’m more of a power jumper, getting up to
the rim.”
The ability to get to the rim and dunk in traffic has helped Henry to a .587 shooting percentage on the season, and the senior’s inside presence has been a key to the T-Birds’ successes this season.
Using upper-body strength and leverage, Henry is a force in the post, and his style of play leaves him able to contend with players six or seven inches taller underneath.
“He’s like Godzilla,” teammate Donnie Jackson said. “He’s like Charles Barkley — your classic undersized big man.”
With a pair of tough road games left before the conference tournament, the T-Birds still have their work cut out for them, but with the parity in the conference this season, the eventual tournament winner — and the Mid-Con representative in the NCAA tournament — could be SUU.
“We’ve still got a way to go,” Henry said. “We hope we can take care of business in the tournament and get to the Big Dance. We’re having pretty good practices right now, which is nice to see, and we’ll see what happens.”
One thing is for sure: Henry will have put forth his best effort, no matter the outcome. The son of Diane and Willie Henry has averaged just over seven points and three rebounds per game this season, and his defense — he’s third on the team with 18 blocks — is always solid.
Henry’s worth to the team from a basketball standpoint is undoubted — his strength and athleticism go a long way in helping SUU on both ends of the floor — but his attitude and work ethic are also big contributors.
“First and foremost, he’s a tremendous guy,” SUU coach Bill Evans said. “He’s a good kid and a good teammate. He’s an unselfish guy who just wants to win. I’d take a guy like Kevin on this team any time.”
That selfless posture is reflected in who Henry looks up to as a basketball player. Despite his game being more reminiscent of a power post player, his favorite players have always been team-oriented guards.
“I really liked Magic Johnson growing up,” Henry said. “He reallynspired me. Now my team is Sacramento. I’ve met Mike Bibby and played with him in a tournament in high school. He’s one of my bigger influences now.”
Henry’s hard work and personality have helped him to develop solid relationships with his teammates, and the chemistry on the team has only gotten better as the season has gone on.
All of the Thunderbirds have the same goals for the team, and the focus is dedicated to basketball.