Michigan State’s Aaron Henry looks to pick up where he left off from strong Final Four run

Final Four: Michigan State vs. Texas Tech - April 6, 2019

Michigan State forward Aaron Henry (11) goes up for a layup during the second half of their NCAA Tournament Final Four game against Texas Tech at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Texas Tech won the game, 61-51, to advance to the national championship game against Virginia. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

EAST LANSING -- Aaron Henry started last season as the eighth player in the rotation for the No. 10 team in the country.

He finished it in the Final Four as a starter for a national title favorite.

It's safe to say his second season with the Spartans likely can't top the first for unpredictability.

"I feel like I'm prepared more than I've ever been before, especially going through some of the things that I went through last year," Henry said.

As Henry prepares for his sophomore season with the Spartans, he does so with a better idea of what to expect and of what his role will be.

Henry moved into the team's starting small forward role last year due to injuries and admits he struggled at times with a role he wasn't quite ready for yet. Now, he takes over the spot full-time after a strong end to the season, when he averaged just below double digits scoring and 5.6 rebounds per game in the final 10 games of the season. He also drew the toughest perimeter defensive matchup on most nights as he blossomed into one of the team's best defenders.

That end is what he'll look to build off as he takes on a key role for a team that enters the season as a national title favorite.

"There were some things I wasn't ready for and I had to grow into that role, and I feel like going towards the end of the year, I did," Henry said.

Henry said he'll be playing nearly 10 pounds lighter this year compared to last year, which he hopes improves his quickness.

He'll also look to continue an improved finish to the season in terms of his shooting. Henry shot 28 percent from 3-point range in his first 28 games of the season and attempted less than one 3-pointer per game. That became an issue in the Spartans' offense, as opponents played off of him to help more in the low post and deny Henry from his preferred method of scoring: driving.

In his last 11 games, though, Henry shot an even 50 percent from 3-point range. Now, he said he's being encouraged to shoot by everyone in the Spartans' practice gym, by Tom Izzo.

"He knows what I can do, he's seen me shoot it at a higher rate, and so is everyone else in the gym," Henry said.

Driving may be his strongest suit, but Henry has worked to make his offensive game more well-rounded by making his jumpshot shot more reliable and by altering his mindset.

"I'm still trying to work myself out of just being the driver," Henry said. "I may pass up some shots, but when I shoot it, it's a better chance than last year of it going in.

Izzo said Henry's ballhandling has improved along with his shooting. But what really seemed to have the Spartans' coach excited was the prospect of Henry playing alongside a healthy Joshua Langford, which would give the Spartans two strong perimeter defenders on the floor at the same time.

“I’d say he’s got a chance to be one of our best defenders, which would be really good if we got Josh on one side and him on the other that could guard people and with (Cassius Winston) better that would make us a better team,” Izzo said.

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