The freshman from Indianapolis scored the first five points of Michigan State’s 80-63 East regional semifinal win over LSU Friday night, on an elbow jumper and a catch-and-shoot three in transition. He looked like a different player than the one who was shaken in MSU’s first-round game against Bradley just eight days ago.

“I just feel like I’m coming out of my shell,” Henry said.

He finished 2-4 from three and skied for five offensive rebounds, including a possession late in the first half where he grabbed two boards and then finished it off with another jumper. Henry said he doesn’t look at scoring as the main way to impact the game.

“Starting out getting a few rebounds, getting a few assists, it’s just more ways to get into the game than just hitting a jump shot,” he said.

Izzo referenced the situation from the Bradley game, when he was caught screaming at the freshman in a way that some felt crossed the line, when talking about Henry’s play Friday.

“I truly do appreciate Aaron Henry,” Izzo said. “I appreciate the fact that instead of moping and complaining like everybody else in the world, he went to work. And that's why he's going to be a great player before he's done, I mean a great player.”

Redshirt junior forward Kyle Ahrens, out with a severe left ankle sprain suffered March 17 against Michigan, said he talked to Henry this week about staying in the moment.

“Just stay calm, he had no pressure,” Ahrens said. “Just go out there and play basketball. Do what you’ve been doing your whole life. He did a fantastic job.”

Henry has struggled with confidence this season, and has been open with reporters about it. Reflecting after his career-high scoring performance, he said he has thought recently about how to not overthink the game.

“I’ve seen myself do certain things so many times,” Henry said. "It’s like, ‘why can’t I do this in a game? What’s stopping me?’”

When Henry knocked down the early three, he said it opened up his midrange game, with him scoring at all three levels Friday.

Senior forward Kenny Goins credited the hard coaching Henry has received.

“That’s a helluva performance as a freshman, in a huge game, really,” Goins said. “It was from the gate, we all knew he was ready to play. It just shows that hard style of coaching works. We all want to respond to what coach Izzo gives us on and off the court.”

Henry said, after a freshman season where he has played far more than he expected to, he finally feels he belongs.

“I feel at ease on the court,” Henry said. “I’m just glad I got a coach who has confidence in me, too. That was a question earlier, but I didn’t feel confident in myself because I didn’t feel coach had confidence in me to do certain things. He’s enticing me to do certain things, and I feel like that has a huge role in my success."

With the season on the line, in the biggest game of his young MSU career, Henry played his best.

“Aaron just keeps getting better,” Izzo said. “His shot is getting better. You know, it's fun to watch guys get better at the end of the year.”