Thanks to a little honesty and luck, Bonnie Henrickson came up big – literally – for Kansas University’s 2007 recruiting class.

Henrickson has received an oral commitment from Krysten Boogaard, a 6-foot-3 center from Regina, Saskatchewan.

“She (Henrickson) is a really honest person, and I liked that,” Boogaard said in a phone interview. “I like her coaching ways. I like how she’s honest with me and tells me the truth, and that’s what I like in a coach because I can’t have a coach that’s going to lie to me.”

Boogaard, who graduated in 2006, was invited to be a member of the inaugural 12-player team at the National Elite Development Academy – an elite training center in Hamilton, Ontario – which led to Kansas getting into the mix on the recruiting front.

“The only reason KU got in was because I took this extra year because I had other schools before KU (recruiting me),” said Boogaard, who took a visit to Kent State last year and received looks from Gonzaga and Colorado. “Otherwise, I’d be at a university right now, and KU wouldn’t have got me.

“I felt I could do more at KU than I could at probably Colorado or Gonzaga,” added Boogaard, who likely will be the tallest member of the Jayhawks squad. “At least that’s what I figured in my head. I don’t know if it’s good to say this, but I felt more needed there (KU). But that was kind of what my vibe was.”

Boogaard made an official visit to Kansas on Oct. 14, the day after Late Night in the Phog. Though she missed the live festivities, she still got a glimpse of the atmosphere in Allen Fieldhouse.

“From the videotape, it looked like a good environment to be in,” Boogaard said. “And I want to be surrounded by that. Good vibes – everyone being there supporting their school.”

Boogaard chose to join NEDA with the chance to play tougher competition before heading to the college level. The squad already has played against high school boys teams in Canada and will face prep schools from the U.S. in future months before traveling to France and Belgium to compete.

“The future of Canadian basketball is, I think, going to improve a lot over these next few years with this academy, and I just wanted to be part of that,” Boogaard said. “I didn’t want to miss out on this. I think it is something that will make me improved as a player and help me along the way. : I think it’s going to help out KU, because it’s making me better, and I’ll still have all my years of eligibility.”

Boogaard, who has played internationally on Canada’s junior national teams, said the transition from Canadian-style basketball to the United States’ brand wouldn’t be too difficult for her.

“It’s helped me understand the game a lot better and understand players,” Boogaard said of playing other countries. “I’ve played a lot of countries, and here in North America, and I think that will help me when I go to KU and just understanding the difference between Canadian basketball and U.S. basketball. And that’s how I feel that I can fit in at KU – because of my international experience.

“The girls are a lot stronger than us Canadian girls. Obviously, there’s better competition down in the States than here in Canada.”

The Canadian center was always competing physically while growing up. Boogaard has two older brothers who play hockey professionally. Aaron is a member of the Tri-City Americans – a Western Hockey League team in Kennewick, Wash. – while the oldest, Derek, is an enforcer for the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.

“You have to be tough to be the sister of those boys,” Krysten Boogaard said. “They’re really supportive of me, too, though : and I love them for it. They’re kind of my role models, so I look up to them a lot.

“This past summer when I was playing for the under-18 team in Colorado Springs for the world qualifiers, Derek actually flew down to watch me in that tournament. And just being there, the support and showing that he actually cares about what I’m doing, is really amazing, and I love it. It drives me to make myself better.”

Boogaard intends to return the support when she goes to her first NHL game March 9 when the Wild play in Buffalo.

“I’m really looking forward to that because it’s going to be my first NHL game watching it live, and it will be my brother playing. I’m actually looking really, really forward to watching that,” Boogaard said.