K-Stated

Byrnes is the basketball coach at the Winchendon School. He confirmed Wednesday that Henriquez, a 6-foot-11 center from Port Chester (N.Y.) High who signed with Kansas State in May, will attend the Massachusetts prep school.

In fact, Byrnes said Henriquez just finished up a six-week summer session, earning a couple of Bs to boost his GPA over 2.0. It was also Henriquez’s first true introduction to the weight room.

“It was culture shock for him,” Byrnes said. “It was a huge challenge for him. But by the end of summer school, he was lifting three days a week. His body was starting to change, and he was taking pride in how he looked. But now, I lose him four or five weeks.

“It won’t be like starting over, but…”

Byrnes expects this season with Henriquez to be similarly challenging. He’s convinced the center, who averaged 15.3 points during his senior season and once blocked 14 shots in a game, is an intriguing prospect – “He’s a 6-foot-11 long, athletic kid who can block shots, runs well and can hit out to 15 feet,” he said – but it’s going to be a chore keeping on Henriquez in regards to playing through fatigue and pain and competing on every possession.

“He’ll get challenged here,” Byrnes said. “He’s an immature kid who has work to do.”

As he would have at K-State. Byrnes is tight with Frank Martin, dating back to Martin’s days as an assistant at Northeastern, which explains how he landed at Winchendon. Plus, as Byrnes points out, Henriquez is half-Panamanian, and Byrnes’ wife is Panamanian, so there’s a comfort level there.

Nothing, however, is guaranteed. Byrnes said he’s bringing in between 10-13 new players, and with no exceptions, only the best will play.

“My job is to get him ready for the Big 12,” said Byrnes, adding that Henriquez’s commitment to K-State remains solid.

His arrival date is now targeted for the 2009-10 season, when UConn transfer Curtis Kelly will also be eligible. This year’s newcomers will now be center Abdul Herrera and guards Denis Clemente and Buchi Awaji.