As a gangly, 6-foot-3 sixth-grader, all Henry Sims wanted to do was fit in.
So began the story of the tallest class clown Owen Brown Middle School in Columbia has ever seen.
“Growing up, everybody thought I was the serious kid,” he said. “They?d say I was intimidating. Everybody else was 5-foot-5. I had to come out of my shell. I would keep to myself. Just because I?m 6-foot-6 in eighth grade, doesn?t mean I?m any different. I?m a normal kid.”
But he?s not anymore. The 6-foot-11, 225-pound star center for top-ranked Mount St. Joseph can single-handedly take over games in the area?s best league. It?s a major reason why one of the nation?s most sought-after recruits will play next year at Georgetown, which has produced some of the NBA?s most dominating centers, including Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo.
But still, he?ll always be known for his humorous antics that grab as much attention as his rim-rattling dunks.
Sims admits he?s taken the stereo faceplate from teammate Justin McCoy?s car regularly, and is quick to ask teammates if they need a car seat to ride the team bus. And in another instance, he thought it would be a good idea to hide a teammate?s cell phone and gym shorts so sophomore point guard Eric Atkins would have to borrow clothes for practice.
“He?s always making jokes and stuff,” Atkins said “He?s really goofy, actually. Maybe too much.”
But what Sims does on the court is no laughing matter.
Consider: Since Sims joined the Gaels as a freshman, they?ve won two MIAA A Conference Tournament and Baltimore Catholic League titles, made three appearances at the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament and has played twice on national television. They are 121-15 entering last night?s game against John Carroll in the semifinalsof the MIAA A Conference Tournament. The winner advances to play Towson Catholic on Sunday afternoon at 5:30 in the championship game at Towson Center.
“We?re all silly,” Sims said. “We all joke around, unless we?re on the basketball court. Then, it?s all business.”
This season, Sims is averaging about 18 points and 13.5 rebounds per game ? a year after earning All-Examiner first-team honors by scoring 11.1 points and grabbing 9.9 rebounds per game.
“A lot of people used the term ?adjusting? or ?growing into his body?. I could remember him as a freshman, really gangly and weak physically,” Gaels coach Pat Clatchey said. “He needs to get stronger to play at the next level, but what he can do now, versus what he could do as a freshman, is like night and day.”
Sims is expected to be the next great center at Georgetown, as he will replace Roy Hibbert, who is expected to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft this spring. But it won?t be easy. Sims, who chose the Hoyas over Virginia, still is adjusting to his body, much like Hibbert did when he struggled to run the court early in his Georgetown career.
“I was just tall and no coordination at all,” Sims said as he reflected upon his high school career. “I knew I was tall. But I didn?t really know how to play. I didn?t give that much thought. I just thought I was 5-foot-11 like the other guys, and I played like that. And because of that, they?d call me soft.”
Still, he has no regrets about attending Mount St. Joseph?s, well, almost.
“Mount St. Joe wasn?t really built for tall people,” he said with a laugh. “Most of my classrooms, I?m ducking to get in. The desks are close together. The teacher sits me two seats behind the next person. The school fits my personality.”
