Dedication pays off for Henry

Nick Henry wasn’t a star at Bangor’s Husson College. But he didn’t care. He just wanted to be a productive member of the basketball team and he has certainly been that, both on and off the court.

The Penobscot native and former three-sports standout at Blue Hill’s George Stevens Academy is one of those young men who understands his plight in life and finds a positive spin in every exploit.

Did I mention that he will graduate this May with a master’s degree in business after already earning his bachelor of science degree in accounting? Or that he will start a job for an Ellsworth accounting firm on June 2?

He never received anything lower than an A-minus in his five years at Husson and has a GPA in the vicinity of 3.8-3.9.

He also captained the team his last two seasons and is one of just two Eagles to have won all three major team awards?

Those are the Allan Kenyon Basketball Scholarship (dedication to Husson basketball) and the Durost (teamwork) and Nelson Degrasse (athletic ability, courage and sportsmanship) awards.

And these accomplishments came after an inauspicious beginning to his college career.

Playing basketball in his “second or third day” on campus, Henry blew out his knee.

It required two surgeries and he wound up being a medical redshirt his freshman year.

But, as is his nature, he tried to “take a positive out of it.”

“I was a scrawny kid. I was a lot weaker than my teammates,” said Henry, who used the year to build himself up while rehabilitating his knee.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” added Henry. “If I hadn’t gotten hurt, I never would have played my freshman year. It’s a lot more fun to play.”

Husson College basketball coach Warren Caruso is quick to point out Henry “never missed a day of rehab.”

“I came to Husson to play basketball and I was going to do whatever it took to get back,” explained Henry.

Henry, who played on GSA’s 2003 state Class C basketball championship team, is coming off his best season at Husson.

As the sixth man, his role the past three years, he averaged four points and four rebounds a game while playing a career-high 19 minutes per game.

“He’s a very good rebounder for his size. He never quits. He gets every ounce out of his body,” said Caruso, who added that he shot better than 50 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the foul line during his career.

Henry is listed at 6-foot-3, but he admits he is “more like 6-1 or 6-2.”

One of the keys to his success has been his adaptability and acceptance of his role. He never displayed an ego.

“Ego gets in the way of things,” he explained. “All through high school, I was never the big dog until my senior year. I knew my teammates at Husson were a lot better than me and that my role would change. I just do whatever it takes [to get the job done]. Playing defense and rebounding doesn’t take a lot of skill.”

They take hard work and that suits Henry perfectly.

“He has a phenomenal work ethic. Second to none,” said Caruso.

“He is the best student-athlete I have ever coached in my 20-year affiliation with the school,” said Caruso.

Henry’s five years at Husson will always be special to him. If he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“The time went by so quickly,” said Henry, who credited his time management skills for success in juggling his basketball and academic careers.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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