AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Every once in a while, Andrew Henke’s game experiences are what could be called a power surge.
He can be going along as part of the well-disciplined style Air Force has displayed over the past five winning basketball seasons, and then suddenly erupt.
The surge might come in the form of a stunning behind-the-back pass to set up a layup on the end of a fast break. Or it might show up with Henke bringing the ball quickly down the floor and pulling up to hit a 3-pointer in an offense that demands a pass or two or three before a shot.
After an episode, Henke might even glance at the AFA bench as if to say “the devil made me do it” before settling back into the routine flow of the game.
“I like to get out there and just play,” Henke said. “I think it’s a lot easier for everybody to stop worrying about the offense and just try to make plays. The offense gets us the looks and the opportunities to step up and make plays.”
Henke is having his best year so far, averaging 13.6 points, hitting 53.8 percent of his 3-pointers and 52.4 percent overall.
At 6-feet-6, Henke has displayed the ability to play every position on the floor. AFA coach Jeff Reynolds played Henke as a sixth man last season, mainly because he could enter the game at any position and provide a spark.
Henke doesn’t consider his occasional burst as too flamboyant for Air Force.
“I’m an emotional player,” Henke said. “I ride on emotion when things are going well. I think everyone tries to have fun and make different plays. I like to think I can hold my own in a recreation center-type game.”
Asked if there’s a Magic Johnson hidden inside of him, Henke defers to the team approach, claiming he isn’t talented enough to be a Magic Johnson.
Reynolds says Henke has the ability to pull off the spectacular.
“Andrew plays off emotion,” Reynolds said. “He has the ability to make unordinary plays, but he doesn’t get emotionally out of touch with things. He’s one of those players who requires a little bit more freedom than others. He’s not a selfish player, but we need him to freelance a little bit.”
Fellow senior Anwar Johnson likes to use the word “spontaneous” when describing Henke’s actions.
“He picks and chooses his spots,” Johnson said. “He can create his own shot when he has to. He’s the best shooter on our team right now.”
Henke comes from a basketball family. Mitch Henke, an older brother, played at Santa Clara and is playing in Europe this season. Henke’s parents, Brad and Linda, back home in Minnetonka, Minn., were basketball players of note.
“My dad shoots the heck out of the ball,” Henke said. “He might think he could beat me in a game of horse, but I don’t think so.”
Henke’s career at Air Force has paralleled some of its recent success. Although recruited by coach Chris Mooney, Henke played two seasons for Jeff Bzdelik and is in his second season with Reynolds.
“It’s a tough transition for any program when there’s a coaching change,” Henke said. “There for a while we were used to having a new coach every year. Coach Reynolds is a fiery individual. He likes to get after it, and we’re developing that mentality.”
While Henke has been in the Air Force lineup, the Falcons are 74-32 — including 8-2 this season going into this weekend’s Golden Bear Classic at California.
Henke’s defense has been questioned at times, but he defies the reputation by guarding even the opposition’s center in Air Force’s switching defense.
“I’m going to play at the same energy and spark whether it’s the beginning of the game or the end,” Henke said. “I take it personally to get our team ready to play a game. It’s just something inside of me.”
Henke has only one regret. He still smarts from the 2006-07 season, when the Falcons finished the regular season 23-8 and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. They went to the NIT and won three games before losing 68-67 to Clemson at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“We want to make this a special season,” Henke said. “We all have big plans in mind. We know the Mountain West Conference is going to be tough. But they all have to come into Clune Arena, and we don’t like to lose at home.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
