'12 IN SG Gary Harris (Offer)

BearcatTalk

Help Support BearcatTalk:

My first look at Gary Harris and all the hype I had heard was right on. The Hamilton Southeastern guard is better than advertised. He had four three-pointers, scored 23 and led his team to an overtime win over Missouri Thunder in the tournament play. Harris, whose mother played at Purdue and one set of his grandparents are from Louisville, is one of those players blowing up nationally this spring.

http://jodydemling.courier-journal.com/
 
This kid will be one of the most recruited players in his class. He is the total package.

While SYF came away with the win over D3 Heat, Gary Harris poured in 36 points, and asserted himself as one of the best players in the 2012 class. The 6-foot-4 Harris had his outside jumper working, finished with explosive athleticism, and was simply too big and too athletic for anyone on the SYF roster. It was a big finish to a breakout weekend for Harris.

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1085251
 
Harris scored 36 points in his team's 84-82 to loss to the SYF Players in the 17-and-under bracket on Sunday morning. Despite the loss and early exit, there was probably no hotter name than Harris among the 219 teams in the tournament.
Harris, whose team was playing up a year in age, has offers from Butler, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Vanderbilt and Xavier. He is likely to pick up a few more once things heat up in July.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100517/SPORTS0203/5170317/1057/SPORTS02/Harris-stock-rising
 
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s a slow news time, so I figured I’d switch things up and begin profiling some of the 2012 recruits on Indiana’s radar. We’ll kick it off with Hamilton Southeastern guard Gary Harris, who might be the best prospect in the state in this loaded class.

The Essentials: 6-4, 195 lbs guard for Hamilton Southeastern and D3 Heat

The Schools: Butler, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, IUPUI, Miami (FL), Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Xavier have all offered scholarships. Florida, Louisville, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon State and West Virginia have shown interest.

The Numbers: 14 points and five rebounds as a sophomore for Hamilton Southeastern, which finished 17-4.

The Scout Says: “Harris is more athletic than we’ve given credit for and he looked flat out explosive soaring for rebounds and dunks in the open court. He showed the full scoring package on Sunday, scoring off deep jumpers, mid-range pull-ups for drives to the rim.” – Scout.com analyst Evan Daniels on Harris’ play at the adidas May Classic.

The Highlights (courtesy of UMHoops.com)

http://www.insidethehall.com/
 
Hamilton Southeastern's Gary Harris (2012) will make an unofficial visit to Ohio State Friday after visiting Michigan and Michigan State Thursday with his teammate Jacobby Bledsoe.

Harris' mother, former Purdue standout Joy Holmes Harris, said her oldest son's rising stature as a prospect the last few weeks has been flattering, but she said the key is to keep from buying into it too much.

"He has a lot of people telling him he's doing a great job, but when he gets to college there are going to be a lot of players at that level or higher," she said. "You have to keep grounded and never be satisfied. You have to continue to make yourself better and push yourself to a higher level."

The 6-4 Harris has offers from Butler, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Vanderbilt and Xavier.

http://blogs.indystar.com/recruitingcentral/
 
Indiana has long been known as one country's basketball hotbeds, so when a prospect is revered as the best in the Hoosier State, it is truly an elite distinction. There is still much to be sorted out on the court over the next two seasons by members of that state's deep 2012 class, but Fishers (Ind.) Hamilton-Southeastern guard Gary Harris is thought by many pundits to be the prospect most worthy of the No. 1 spot.

Harris' 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals per game helped propel his Hamilton-Southeastern squad to a 17-4 record and a run to the state sectionals. At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, he bears many similarities to a current Michigan State Spartan.

"People say that with my explosiveness and stuff and because we're around the same height, I'm always compared to Durrell Summers," said Harris.

Outstanding athleticism is but one of Harris' defining traits. His tremendous versatility has also garnered a great deal of praise.

"A talented guard with impressive ball skills, Harris has the ability to play both guard spots," said ScoutHoops.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels. "He's got a strong handle, sees the floor well and is a terrific passer. His shot looks solid and his range extends to the 3-point stripe."

Harris' game has really matured over the past year according to his AAU coach, former Cleveland State assistant Sean Bledsoe. Now his star pupil is punishing opponents on a regular basis.

"He plays like George Gervin," Bledsoe told Scout.com. "A few years ago, his main m.o. was that he could shoot the ball. Since last year in the summer the biggest improvement I've seen is his aggressiveness. Gary's always been strong, but he's figured out how to be tough now. Because he's tough, he does things on the court like a man. He really knows how to play."

Harris' scholarship tally certainly backs up that assertion. Though only a sophomore, he has already secured verbal offers from Butler, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, IUPUI, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon State and Xavier. Michigan appears poised to extend an invitation as well.

"I went up there to see (Michigan) play Notre Dame in football and then I saw them play UConn and beat UConn during the basketball season," Harris said. "The Big House, yeah that was crazy!"

Harris' most recent visit to Ann Arbor took place last Thursday. During his time on campus John Beilein made clear exactly what the Wolverines think of him.

"They said I was a priority and they would love to have me," Harris said. "They like my game and they said on June 15 they would offer me a scholarship when they can call us players."

Michigan's offer timetable may differ slightly from their contemporaries, but there is a reason for that -- one that should mitigate any perceived disadvantage.

"The NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) has developed, I guess, an unwritten rule that you try to do things that (won't) allow recruiting to jump down to seventh grade, eighth grade, ninth grade," Bledsoe said. "Now it is more of a gentleman's agreement than anything. Coach Beilein (who is the chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Ethics Coalition) does things by the book. He likes to make sure that he does things out of respect for everyone else. You've got to respect him for that because he can be out here offering all these eighth graders and ninth graders, but you want Michigan to be something special."

The Wolverines' headman has certainly made a strong impression on Harris. So, too, has his vaunted two-guard offense.

"Manny Harris led the Big Ten in shot attempts," Harris said. "They let their guards (play). If you can play, they let you play. I could see myself fitting into that system. (Beilein) is a great guy. He's a great coach. We just hit it off when we were down there. We really enjoyed each other's presence."

After wrapping things up with Beilein in Ann Arbor, Harris headed over to Michigan State. He has even greater familiarity with the Spartans thanks their decision to begin building a relationship with him almost two years ago.

"I worked for (Michigan State assistant) Coach (Mike) Garland from 2003 to 2006," Bledsoe said. "I've always called him about different kids. I remember when I first saw Gary I called (Garland) and I said, 'I know it is early, but this kid is going to be special.' Mike came down and he was one of the first guys that saw us. We played up (on an older AAU team) when Gary was an eighth grader, so (Garland) saw us in July and I remember him saying, 'Man, Gary's got a chance, he's really good.'"

The attention from Garland put MSU in an enviable position when the time came for Harris to decide on his first unofficial visit. He headed to East Lansing.

"The first time I went up on campus was last year," Harris said. "It's a great school. They're always up there as one of the top teams in the country. (Tom) Izzo really knows how to coach the team. (Last Thursday) my mom was up there for the first time. They showed us around at the Breslin Center. They showed us the practice gym, they showed us around the locker rooms, and then the coaching offices, but we really couldn't go into the actual arena because they had graduation. (Izzo) said that I was priority and that he's going to be out watching me this summer and they would love to have me."

Despite his strong feelings for both Michigan and Michigan State, Harris claims no favorites. At the moment he is content to visit as many of his suitors as possible in order to accurately assess what they each have to offer.

"I think I'm going to do Notre Dame later this month," he said. "Notre Dame and Xavier. All the campuses are the same -- they just differ in the size and location. The real big difference is going to be the coaching staff and the relationships that we have with each other. There is no specific timeline (for determining the best fit) right now. I'm just trying to see what's best for me. When I find out what's best for me, I'll make a decision."

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100610/OPINION03/6100430/1132/#ixzz0rJoUnIpH
 
Harris hasn't yet whittled down his list to a handful of favorites - something he plans on doing after the July evaluation period - but Illinois likely will be in the running to make his top-five.

"I like them a lot, man," Harris said. "I like (UI assistant coach) Jay (Price) and Coach (Bruce) Weber. They're both great guys. I like everything about them. There's not just one thing that sticks out about them. It's a great school with a great tradition."

http://www.illinoisloyalty.com/GoIllini/20100625_gary_harris_on_illini_i_like_them_a_lot
 
After Tuesday no one can question Harris' toughness. After an inadvertent collision of heads, Harris was sent to the training table with a nasty cut above his left eye. Harris simply got it taped up and came back a few minutes later once the bleeding stopped. When on the floor, Harris was knocking in threes, scoring off the dribble using his athleticism, and also playing lock down defense. Above it all, Harris has a tremendous basketball IQ and really passes the ball well. He has to stay aggressive at all times, but Harris showed why he is such a coveted prospect in the 2012 class.

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1102703
 
He is still a bit more potential than production in terms of what he does on the floor, but that is slowly but surely changing. At 6-foot-5 Harris is now playing on and off the ball, and going against Martin Bros., he was asked to do a lot. Harris hit contested threes, used his athleticism to get to the bucket, and now that his handle is improving, his step back jumper is becoming a major weapon for him. He needs to be more aggressive at all times and realize he is usually the best player on the floor, but there wasn't much to complain about with the play of Harris in his team's only game on Thursday.

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1103491
 
Gary showed a complete game this weekend, knocking down jump shots when given space, but going to the rim for buckets too. In a game against Mac Irvin Fire he hit five 3-pointers, and knocked down several mid-range jumpers on his way to a 28-point performance. In a game against the Rockford Ambassadors, Harris attacked the defense primarily off the dribble, scoring 22 points. Perhaps what was most impressive about Gary was his willingness to get after it on the defensive end of the court. He racked up several steals in all his games, and used his length to impact the glass and block a couple shots. There really wasn’t much Gary didn’t do in Merrillville, showing off athleticism, ball-handling, smooth shooting touch, and game changing defense. Something to keep in mind is that he’s doing this all while still recovering from an ankle injury.

http://www.insidethehall.com/
 
Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris: A two-sport star
by Zachary Osterman in Recruiting | August 11th, 2010
It’s not as crazy as it seems. Yes, Gary Harris is an elite basketball recruit, particularly after what has been a successful and massively impressive summer. But there’s value, he said, in finding his escape from the hectic universe of basketball recruiting — it comes with pads and a helmet.

“(It’s) just another way for you to compete,” Harris said. “It’s fun.”

Harris, one of the top 20 players in the 2012 class, already has an offer list pages long, with Michigan State, Indiana, Illinois, Butler, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Xavier among the schools in the mix for his services.

And yet, in an age where multi-sport athletes are discouraged in favor of concentrating solely in one field, Harris will be finding his fall fun under the Friday night lights.

The 6-foot-4 Harris plays wide receiver for Hamilton Southeastern, a team that finished last season 10-2.

“It’s like you can just get away,” Harris said. “You can’t play basketball 24-7. … Football is just kind of a good release.”

Of course, Harris will be playing basketball again come wintertime. And given the summer he had, the Royals’ gym ought to sport a who’s-who lineup of college coaches. Harris’ play has made him one of Indiana’s most sought-after 2012 recruits.

http://www.insidethehall.com/
 
According to his coach he is down to these 5 schools. Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Indiana, and Xavier. Michigan State is said to be the current leader for his services.
 

Similar threads

B
'12 OH PF Adolphus Washington
Replies
7
Views
14K
bearcat jeff
bearcat jeff
B
'13 KY SG/SF Darryl Hicks
2
Replies
34
Views
20K
bearcat jeff
bearcat jeff
B
'12 KY PG Jaylen Beckham
2
Replies
24
Views
23K
bearcat jeff
bearcat jeff
B
'13 OH SG Dontonio "DJ" Wingfield Jr.
Replies
11
Views
10K
bearcat jeff
bearcat jeff
B
'10 CA PG Deonte Burton (Nevada Verbal)
14 15 16
Replies
302
Views
94K
Thegreatone
Thegreatone

Latest posts

Back
Top