Henry Thengvall Joins Wichita State As a Preferred Walk-On

Henry Thengvall hails from Wichita, Kansas and will join Xavier Bell (also an Andover Central standout) as preferred walk-ons at Wichita State next season as preferred walk-ons.

Thengvall says his status as a walk-on doesn’t affect his motivation to put in hard work during practice or help teammates grow, as well as his desire to earn playing time as soon as possible.

Early Life and Education

Henry Thengvall hails from Wichita, Kansas and will join the Shockers basketball program as a preferred walk-on this season as one of three local players committed – following recently committed Xavier Bell and Steele Gaston-Chapman from Campus. At Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School he played football, track & field and one of Kansas’ premier middle distance runners on track and field team. Henry Thengvall’s parents Andrew & Emily Thengvall as well as William & Nathan as one of three brothers to join their track and field program and he currently sits on their Student Athlete Advisory Committee membership.

Professional Career

Henry Thengvall excelled both on the basketball court and academically at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School, earning All-Class and All-State honors. Additionally, he competed as one of the state’s premier runners in middle distance track & field events and as one of its premier middle distance track runners. Now committed as a preferred walk-on to Wichita State, Henry plans on continuing his athletic and academic pursuits after college graduation.

He joined hometown product Xavier Bell (an Andover Central star), Steele Gaston-Chapman and others on the Shocker roster. He said he chose them because the program fit both academically and athletically – hoping to contribute as part of a scout team to assist teammates during practice sessions this summer. Isaac Brown offered Division II interest, yet he chose the Shockers because they believe their program is on an upward trend.

Achievement and Honors

Henry Thengvall was part of Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s squad that won an undefeated City League Championship, finished 21-2 overall and secured first seed in Class 5A state tournament. For his efforts he earned The Eagle’s Player of Year honors as well as all-class, all-state honors.

Thengvall, with his strong range and powerful frame, will add great depth and intensity to Shockers practice sessions each day. He plans on being an asset on their scout team as well as regularly contributing his expertise at practice sessions.

He becomes the third Wichita native to commit for next season, joining recently committed Xavier Bell and walk-on Steele Gaston-Chapman. Thengvall has long been an avid supporter of the Shockers, saying wearing their red, white and blue means everything to him.

Personal Life

Isaac Brown of Wichita State says Thengvall fits their program perfectly – they need someone who will assist the starters with practice drills while adding energy and spirit to the squad.

Kapaun High School had one of its greatest three-sport athletes in Thengvall – playing both football and track and field. He was an integral component of a team which won both City League Championships and qualified for Class 5A State Tournament competition.

He will join recent commit Xavier Bell and walk-on Steele Gaston-Chapman on next season’s Shockers roster, providing further motivation to wear their uniform in their hometown. His commitment is an extra boost for a program which hasn’t added any scholarship players since 2014-15; rather it relied largely on redshirt players and walk-on talent instead.