Editor's note: Interviews for this story with K-State senior point guard Denis Clemente were conducted in Spanish.

"Comunicarme." — "Communicate." As long as one has the opportunity to watch Denis Clemente play basketball, there is no need for a translator. To watch Clemente during a game as he points, calls, gestures and instructs is to know exactly what it means to communicate with others. This is what the senior leader from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, does.

There was speculation amongst media members about Clemente's limited scoring this season, as he had been averaging about 14 points a game before breaking loose with 24 against Texas A&M. Although that average made him second on the team in scoring, it was less than what people had come to expect. But the senior contributes much more than points to the Wildcats.

Take for instance a single play during the K-State game at Missouri. Clemente was playing defense when an offensive player set a screen on him. But when a shot went up, Clemente crashed the board, got the rebound, cruised through everyone like a motorcycle on a deadlocked highway and passed it off to Pullen, who then had a perfect opportunity for a textbook layup.

Hustle. Speed. Vision. Clemente may not always physically put the ball in the hoop, but he is more often than not a catalyst for the plays that generate points.

Junior guard Jacob Pullen once described Clemente as a floor general. For any team, it is essential that the members are "en la misma pagina" – on the same page. While Clemente does lead by example, averaging 32 minutes a game, the most on the team, a slight language barrier does not hinder him from taking a vocal leadership role as well.

"Denis has led us in so many different ways," junior forward Dominique Sutton said. "Even though you can't understand his English too well, being around him for three years, you catch on to bits and pieces of what he's saying, and you understand some of the Spanish that he's saying."

Clemente, whom head coach Frank Martin has called the fastest guy with a basketball in his hands he has ever seen, has come a long way to play at K-State. His first stop for basketball in the United States was Calusa Prep High School in Miami. After two seasons there, his jersey was the first in school history to be retired. Next on the docket was the University of Miami, where Clemente spent two years before coming to K-State.

Clemente said he was 16 years old when his mom informed him of the opportunity to play basketball in the United States.

"Fue un poco dificil a primero." - "It was a little difficult at first." Like any teenager moving to a country where he or she did not speak the language, Clemente found the transition hard initially, but he said after awhile he adjusted to life in the United States and wanted to stay.

While he now speaks English well enough, Spanish will always be his first language. He keeps his heritage close — on his left arm, to be exact. Included in his tattoo is a Puerto Rican flag, "que representa de donde vengo" — it represents where he comes from. While his starting point is important, where he is going is even more so. That is why there is also a basketball in his tattoo.

Clemente hopes both to play professionally and to bring his mom to where he lives. Of course, for now, all he wants to do is win.