It’s taken more than two years on the Hilltop, but Henry Sims finally gets it.

With the Hoyas two days away from a road date with Temple in Philadelphia, the junior center, who changed his uniform number from 30 to 14 before the season, has started to play up to his considerable physical talent.

Off to an 8-0 start for the second consecutive year, No. 9 Georgetown has been spurred by the play of its three star guards, but the play of its frontcourt, especially Sims, has the Hoyas turning heads.

“In many ways, he has no choice. He has to get better, he has to grow up,” Head Coach John Thompson III said of Sims’ progression. “This group needs him. He cares about his team, he cares about his teammates and he understands that’s a responsibility that he has. And he’s a junior now, so he knows what we need. He knows what’s going to be asked of him, and he’s done a very good job of providing that so far.”

A highly touted 6-foot-10 center in the same recruiting class as junior guard Jason Clark and current Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe, Sims did not show much promise during his first two years under Thompson. Aside from an occasional dunk or short-range jumper, he looked lost on the court, drifted toward the perimeter, committed bad turnovers and took more than a few ill-advised three-pointers.

From his freshman to his sophomore year, Sims received less playing time and was, at best, the fifth option in the frontcourt behind Monroe, senior forward Julian Vaughn and sophomore forwards Hollis Thompson and Jerrelle Benimon. After playing just under 10 minutes a contest his first year, Sims saw the floor for just 6.8 minutes per game as a sophomore, and coming into this season, he was averaging less than two points per game for his collegiate career.

“There were times last year where he was frustrated, I was frustrated,” Thompson said. “He was frustrated with the situation, I was frustrated with the situation. But we’ve moved on. Last year was a very difficult year for Henry Sims, that’s not a secret. He hung in there, he fought through it, and he’s seeing some of the fruits of the adversity that he went through last year.”

“[My] confidence is definitely growing, and it’s showing out on the floor,” Sims said. “I’m not as nervous or as tense as I used to be.”

Through eight games as a junior, the rejuvenated Sims is playing with noticeably more poise and self-awareness. He started the Tulane game, which Vaughn missed due to an undisclosed health issue, and on several key plays this season he has been on the receiving end of assists from senior guard Chris Wright. Most importantly, he’s been a reliable rebounder and a smart passer and has contributed to what has turned out to be a solid interior defensive unit. His minutes are up to almost 17 a game, and he is averaging 4.3 points and 4.6 boards.

“He is playing hard, for one thing,” Thompson said. “I think he’s pursuing rebounds and is keeping the ball alive, and that’s what we need him to do.”

Getting better with seemingly every game, Sims is in the midst of the best personal stretch of his Georgetown career; he scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 33 minutes against Missouri; and in 25 minutes against Utah State, the Baltimorean notched four points and six boards.

In both games, Sims received the most minutes of any Hoya big man.

With Thompson admittedly coaching on feel and flow of the game, Sims should continue to see increased action if he simply continues to play well, especially with Temple and senior forward Lavoy Allen coming up.

“Henry’s had a couple of good games in a row now,” Thompson said. “If he keeps doing what he’s supposed to do, he’ll keep playing.”

Sims and the Hoyas will tip off against the Owls at 9 p.m. Thursday night.”