Topic: Top New Yorker in the State and City
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| MillerplacePosts: 117Location: Join Date: February 24, 2008 11:06 PMSend Message |  July 10, 2009 3:24 PMTobias Harris top New Yorker in the State and City: PREP STAR - Rank 18th ESPN - Rank 19th RIVALS - Rank 27th - Just rewarded five star- Scout - Rank 29th July 9, 2009 King City Classic: Tobias rules Jerry Meyer MORE: It Takes 5IVE: Johnson impresses | It Takes 5IVE: Chandler has promise CLEVELAND - Make no mistake about it. The vast majority of the country's basketball talent is at Nike's King City Classic. A number of prospects stood out during the three sessions of games at Cleveland State, but none made a bigger impression than explosive lead guard Marquis Teague.
Other Guards Josh Selby created the initial spark of energy for the camp with his inspired play in the morning session, and he kept it up through the night. Along with Teague, Selby attacks the basket with equal prowess going either direction and can out quick defenders as well as bully them around. Selby has the athletic explosiveness and skill set to be an elite guard for years. J.T. Terrell drained three-pointer after three-pointer on Wednesday. Wired with the ultimate scorers mentality, Terrell does let a previous miss or defensive pressure thwart his desire to score. This mentality works well for him when he is on the role and/or his team is on the ropes. The Wake Forest coaches will need to work with him on shot selection, but they have to be awful happy they will have a scorer who presents them that challenge. Jelan Kendrick displayed the qualities that have shot him up near the top of the Rivals150 rankings. Playing the point guard position the majority of the time for his squad, Kendrick repeatedly got into the lane and created opportunities for himself and his teammates. Early in the day his shot missed off the back iron, but he was soon dropping in his patented floater. A prolific right handed slasher, Kendrick also went to work with his left hand when defenders forced him that direction. Keala King has spent most of the time playing off the ball since he is in the same rotation with Teague, but he has been able to display his passing ability in transition situation and on the occasional pick and roll with teammate Jared Sullinger. King has also contributed in a big way as an offensive rebounder and by being an opportunistic scorer. Kendall Marshall is well known for his ability to pass the ball up the court, and he rewarded his teammates who ran the floor on Wednesday. His jumper was a little shaky, but Marshall used his developing physicality and ever present craftiness to get into the lane with regularity. Jamal Branch impressed with his overall play. He has a burst of athleticism, doesn't over dribble as a point guard and makes plays on the defensive end. Will Barton did his usual damage with his scoring and rebounding. His shooting touch sometimes comes and goes, but he always uses his effort and length to impact the game in a positive manner. He is one of the better competitors in the 2010 class. Reggie Bullock isn't afraid to compete either. He was impressive on the defensive end as well as on the offensive end where he can produce points with relative ease. Close to being a pure shooter, Bullock also has the athletic and physical presence to make him the top shooting guard in his class.
Forwards Terrence Jones continues to impress with his versatility. The big left hander scored, rebounded, passed and blocked shots at a high level throughout the day. He has a unique feel for the game and could be something special if he plays in a system that utilizes him as a facilitator and runs the offense through him. Mike Gilchrist had a great showing in his afternoon game. The story is the same. No one competes harder or plays more physical. Gilchrist made plays off the bounce and also knocked down a deep ball. Perhaps most impressive was his lock down defensive effort on Austin Rivers. Tobias Harris has secured a five-star ranking when the Rivals150 is updated after the summer. The question now is how high of a five-star ranking. A skilled four-man like Jones, Harris is as versatile of scorer as there is at that position in his class. His composure in scoring situations is unique with his ability to attack off the dribble and then finish with runners, jump hooks and pull up jumpers. There is a Carmelo Anthony feel to his game. C.J. Leslie is also on the verge of breaking into the five-star ranks. He might be the best traffic rebounder and shot blocker of all the four men in the class. And on Wednesday he finished with more efficiency than in past settings. A great playmaker with the ball in his hands, Leslie would shoot up the rankings if he demonstrates improvement in his finishing at the basket and shooting in general. Adonis Thomas is on his way to establishing himself as an elite small forward in the 2011 class. His jumper is improving, and all the other tools are already in place. Similar to Gilchrist as a player, Thomas is just a notch below the No. 1 prospect in 2011. Quincy Miller displayed flashes of brilliance on Wednesday. When he didn't look so good, it was a strength issue. The skill set is in place for this elite prospect. The big challenge is to get stronger. Roscoe Smith swung from looking terrific to no so good throughout the day. Poor decision making and a lack of physical strength got him in trouble during the bad stretches, but when he played within his rhythm offensively, he was very good. Wired with a competitive nature, Smith is rough around the edges talent who could really blossom in the right situation in college.
Jared Sullinger continued his nasty habit of breaking down the weak in body and/or heart on Wednesday. Straight out of the Kevin Love book of physical play, Sullinger dominates with his body, surprising athleticism, high skill level and knowledge of the game. His love of contact and his nasty streak puts fear into his opponents. Perry Jones, however, stood up to the challenge in his encounter with Sullinger on Wednesday. Jones actually blocked Sullinger's first three post move shots. After those three plays, Sullinger figured some things out and did score on Jones, but Jones made things difficult for Sullinger when he was on the court with him. Unfortunately in the second half, they were rarely on the court together. Jones has really blossomed as a player this summer. He is competing at a higher level on both ends of the court. His coast to coast finger roll finish with a behind the back dribble along the way was one of the highlight plays of the day. Adreian Payne put together one of the best performances we have seen him have in his opening game of the event where he got the best ofRakeem Christmas. Payne did most everything you would want out of a big man from blocking shots, rebounding in traffic, scoring in the post and hitting open jumpers. If Payne demonstrates the potential to sustain this type of effort, he will slide up the rankings from his present No. 20 spot. Dwight Powell was one of the more pleasant surprises of the day. He impressed at the NBA Players Association Camp, but he impressed even further on Wednesday. The second tallest player at the camp behind Perry Jones, Powell has impressive mobility and a rapidly improving skill game. He rebounded outside his area and scored both inside and on the perimeter. A focused and intelligent competitor, Powell has quite a high ceiling. Recruiting News Tobias Harris quickly rattled off Tennessee, Connecticut and Syracuse when asked about his school list. He then mentioned Memphis and Kentucky as schools that have just started recruiting him. Kentucky has yet to offer. Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and West Virginia are still on his list as well.
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| MillerplacePosts: 117Location: Join Date: February 24, 2008 11:06 PMSend Message | July 17, 2009 8:58 AM PHOENIX -- While absorbing each practice session at the Amar'e Stoudemire Nike Skills Academy, I could not help but wonder how player development would be different if the type of hands-on instruction given at the Nike camps was duplicated in high school gyms across the country on a consistent basis. The Nike staff did an exceptional job instructing some of the most promising big men in the nation on the proper fundamentals, skills and mental approach to playing basketball at the highest level. The Stoudemire skills academy was an interesting phenomenon because the camp consisted of only big men with no guards or wings of any kind. But oddly, with the exception of 6-foot-11Fabricio Melo (Weston, Fla./Sagemont School), the camp was void of legitimate centers. On the other hand, many of the forwards in attendance -- 6-9 Perry Jones (Ducanville, Texas) immediately comes to mind -- exhibited blossoming face-up skills. In a recruiting game in which true center-types are few and far between, big men around the country are becoming more versatile than in the past. At the camp, players were shifted between stations that emphasized different skills and fundamentals, like positional shooting drills, attacking your defender mechanics, cutting and screening drills and position-specific defense. Although each player in attendance had more than one exceptional moment, the aforementioned Jones and Melo along with Jared Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/ Northland), Meyers Leonard (Robinson, Ill.) and Tobias Harris (Dix Hill, N.Y./ Half of Hollow West) appeared to be a cut above the rest. Here's a look at the players who were the cream of the crop in several key offensive categories.
Best low-post offense
Legitimate 5-men with an advanced back-to-the-basket game are a rare commodity, especially on the high school level. Dominant center-types need to learn how to hold position (spread eagle while bending the knees) and develop efficient fundamental footwork. In addition, they need to acquire an assortment of moves (drop-step, up-and-under, jump hook with either hand and turn-around jump shot) to be effective scorers against high-level competition, unless of course they have the physical attributes of a Dwight Howard or a Shaquille O'Neil.
[+] Enlarge  Andrew Shurtleff for ESPN.comFabricio Melo is getting interest from UConn, Florida and Louisville, among others.
Melo may be the best center prospect in the country. He has a tremendous frame with solid length and good hands. He holds position well, and is relatively patient about making his move. He has a strong drop-step (solid foot work), and he turns over his left shoulder well for the soft jump hook; he even tossed in a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-like hook. In addition, he has a solid turn-around jump shot from the block, but he does have a tendency to fade away. 2. Jared Sullinger, 2010 (Columbus, Ohio/ Northland) Sullinger, who is bound for Ohio State, was the most polished player at the camp (inside and out). Although he doesn't have great lift, he is crafty, and has a variety of pivot moves. His footwork is impeccable, and he can finish with either hand. In addition to having a power game, he can step out and attack off the dribble with tremendous body control and use his soft touch at elbow. 3. DaJuan Coleman, 2012 (Syracuse, N.Y./ Jamesville-DeWitt) Coleman, who reminds me of a young Zach Randolph, more than held his own in the paint, despite his youth. He'll have to monitor his weight (280 pounds) throughout his career, but he knows how to use it to maneuver inside. He has soft hands, good instincts and has deceptively quick pivot moves. His key move is a Hakeem Olajuwon-like double shake in which his massive frame gets defenders on their heels. He has a remarkably soft touch, but limited bounce. 4. Perry Jones, 2010 (Duncanville, Texas) Jones, a future Baylor Bear, was quite possibly the best prospect at the camp and a probable future NBA Draft pick. His skills are just starting to mature, but he can get off the floor in a hurry, and his hang time is stunning. He has a terrific jump hook on which he gets great extension, and his turn-around jump shot is unblockable because of his lift. Although he is more comfortable around the basket, he did nail quite a few jump shots out to the foul line, and he handled the ball well in transitio. Maybe a future hybrid 4-man?
Best face-up offense
In today's basketball climate, big men across the country are becoming more versatile in their overall approach to the game. Hybrid 4-men can be a nightmare matchup because defenders must have the agility to guard out on the perimeter and stop the drive, as well as the power to hold their own inside. For example,7-footer Kevin Garnett revolutionized the game by being able to convert inside and out. As a result, many of the big men coming through the ranks possess that same type of resourcefulness. Being able to face up your opponent, and use the jab step and/or the pump fake can keep defenders off balance; if you add the skill to shoot the jump shot at a consistent rate, the possibilities are limitless. 1. Tobias Harris, 2010 (Dix Hill, NY./ Half Hollow Hills West) Harris has the skills and body type to be a face-up 4 or even a 3 someday. He has the bounce to elevate over defenders in the post, but presently his frame is too slender to bang inside. Out on the perimeter, he has the skills, athleticism and motor to be an outstanding college player. He attacks the basket with reckless abandon. Because of his slender frame, he is able to slither through the defense for the finish, usually with a nice floater. His handling is slick for his size, and he can knock down the pull-up jumper. | ||||||||||||||||
| MillerplacePosts: 117Location: Join Date: February 24, 2008 11:06 PMSend Message | July 17, 2009 8:59 AM
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| MillerplacePosts: 117Location: Join Date: February 24, 2008 11:06 PMSend Message | July 17, 2009 9:00 AM| Peach Jam: Day 1, Part A |   Tobias Harris |
N. AUGUSTA, S.C. – July’s going well for Tobias Harris. On Sunday night he spearheaded a win and hosted a party with some of America’s big name head coaches in attendance.
Tobias Harris, PF, Albany City Rocks: There’s a direct correlation between his rise as a player and the development of his body. Harris thrust himself into all-america contention and he’s done it because he’s more mobile. The toning of his body has allowed for the expansion of his game and he’s turned himself into a face up forward who can create, score it a bunch of ways and rebound. He’s got so many ways to beat you he’s now an extremely dangerous weapon. He went off Sunday night
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| MillerplacePosts: 117Location: Join Date: February 24, 2008 11:06 PMSend Message | July 17, 2009 9:02 AM NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- On the first day of 17U pool play at the Nike Peach Jam, two terrific Class of 2010 combination forwards matched up. Tobias Harris (Dix Hills, NY./Half Hollow Hills West) of the Albany City Rocks and I-5 Elite's Terrence Jones (Portland, Ore./ Jefferson). Both players are about 6-8 and displayed excellent skill and versatility. In the end, Harris was more productive scoring 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds and pulled out a 66-62 win. Class of 2012 power forward Ricardo Gathers (Reserve, La./Reserve Christian) also showed some impressive ability in North Augusta. He is a powerful force in the lane for Louisiana Select -- at 6-6, 245 pounds. He scored 15 points and pulled down 8 rebounds in an 87-49 blow out win against the St. Louis Eagles.
Standout playerClass of 2010 Combination forward Tobias Harris (Dix Hills, NY. / Half Hollow Hills West) displayed a variety of skills as he attacked the basket in transition and in the half court. He has the ability to drive both ways and really likes the floater going to his left where he has excellent touch and concentration on the rim. Harris handled the ball well and was able to beat his defender and get into the lane on a regular basis. He is an excellent and willing passer on the move as he weaves in and out of traffic. Harris also made his presence felt on the glass, sprinting in from the perimeter for timely tips or to keep the ball alive. On the defensive glass, he has the ability to go coast-to-coast and finish through contact. Harris also showed the midrange pull up and knocked down an open 3. He is a match up nightmare; he can also post smaller defenders. As he adds strength his post up game, which is already solid, will become more of a weapon because he will be able to hold his post position for a longer period of time. Defensively, he did a good job using his length to pressure the ball while not getting beat off the dribble. Overall, Harris had an excellent all-around performance. | ||||||||||||||||
| MillerplacePosts: 117Location: Join Date: February 24, 2008 11:06 PMSend Message | July 17, 2009 9:03 AMTobias Harris the “Story of the Summer” | ||||||||||||||||
July 17, 2009 9:04 AMN. Augusta, S.C. -- Harrison Barnes was his normal dominant self on Monday, but Tobias Harris and Rakeem Christmas played at high level on Monday at the Peach Jam as well. | ||
Harrison Barnes, SF, Howard Pulley – The nation’s top 2010 prospect was on his game during the morning session against the Houston Hoops. When Barnes wanted to score, he did, whether it was strong drives to the hoop or pull-up jumpers from 22-feet. Barnes finished with 36 points and 10 boards. Jacob Thomas, SG, Howard Pulley – Likely a mid-level prospect, Thomas, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard, is quite the shooter from long range. Against the Hoops he got hot and buried jumper after jumper from behind the stripe. Going forward he’ll need to diversify his game, by adding some mid-range moves. Tobias Harris, PF, Albany City Rocks – It’s pretty hard to do what Tobias Harris has been able to accomplish. The 6-foot-8 power forward got his body in shape, tightened up his skill set and has now become the talk of quite a few high major coaches. During the evening session he went about his business scoring a number of buckets off drives to the rim and in the paint. His mobility has improved and he’s got great touch around the basket. He finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Boo Williams. Travis McKie, SF, Boo Williams – While Harris was scoring buckets for the Albany City Rock, McKie was doing his best to keep Boo Williams in the contest. The futureWake Forest wing did drop in a handful of jumpers, but majority of his points came from attacking the rim. His overall game continues to develop and his wing skills seem to improve every time we see him. McKie finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Jeremy Lamb, SG, Georgia Stars – There hasn’t been a large amount of guys that have raised their stock considerably in July, but Lamb appears to be one of them. High major offers are rolling in and for good reason. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound wing can shoot it from deep and has the potential to be a good defender because of his length. Some may be worried about his lack of strength, but he appears to be a pretty good looking prospect.
Terrence Jones, PF, I-5 Elite – One college coach said Jones had a “unique” game, and honestly that may be the best way to describe it. The 6-foot-8 face up forward goes about his business differently than most on the court because of his skill set and versatility. Against Team Final, Jones proved himself defensively, as he drew the task of guarding Michael Gilchrist, and he held him to just five points. Offensively, Jones couldn’t fully get it going against Team Final, but he still finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. | ||
July 17, 2009 9:06 AM
Tobias Harris: Image from ESPN
Okay, so we really don't have a great chance with TH. But as long as he's listing us, he's a target. So get ready for the biggest amount of links relating to Tobias Harris that you could ever imagine.
Tobias Harris Love from Rivals
I have a feeling Harris will see a Will Barton-esque rise pretty soon...like right now.
Tobias Harris (2010 Albany City Rocks)- Speaking of forwards who are difficult to guard, no four man in the class scores like Harris. Composed and efficient with the ball in his hands, Harris puts up points that will easily translate to the next level. His stock is rapidly rising.
In other news, it appears we're hot after Terrence Jones:
Head coaches from Memphis, UCLA, Maryland and Washington are watching Terrence Jones.
More on Harris - Models Game After Melo
Tobias Harris could be our Carmelo. Only he's from New York and not Baltimore. Whatever.
Harris has made the most of his time in the Peach Jam. The 16-year-old power forward has averaged 22.6 points and nine rebounds in his first three games as his team has gone 2-1. It wasn't until Harris was 14 that he first beat his sister Tesia (now a junior forward at Delaware) in basketball. But, as Tobias has grown from 6-2 three years ago to 6-8, he's kept the quickness and ball handling skills of a smaller player.
Tobias Harris: "The Story of the Summer"
Okay, this is probably hyperbole, and the Tobias Harris coverage is entering ad nauseum territory, but the kid is blowing up, big time.
"He’s the best offensive forward in the country," the coach said. "He can face up, he can post up, he can drive. He can do everything. If they took a picture of his body from last year and compared it to this year, he can make millions of dollars doing body sculpting or weight loss ads. He looks thin, quick and bouncy. "He’s really good. He’s the story of the summer."
Is it a stretch for him to be top 15 by the next re-rank? Top 10 even?
MaxPreps: Harris, Jones, Leslie
Okay, this isn't only Tobias Harris, but we're starting with him.
Tobias Harris (Long Island, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) got the better of his matchups many a time whether it be against wings or bigs. Kentucky and Memphis have made recent plays to get in with Connecticut, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Maryland, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
Terrence Jones (Portland, Ore./Jefferson) showed off going coast-to-coast in games and is about as wide open as it goes with programs also coast-to-coast feeling they can land him. He noted hearing recently from Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Oregon for schools looking to evaluate him during the week.
C.J. Leslie (Raleigh, N.C./Word of God) is a game-changer who’s as passionate and versatile as Barnes and is continually improving as he tightens up his focus. His crowd of coaches backs it up as he said Connecticut, Oregon, Wake Forest, North Carolina and Kentucky were definites along with Florida, who he wants to visit in August.
Yes, more Tobias Harris
But this time, it's a negative factor - he was 15 years old and still had baby fat. He apparently shed 15 pounds of it, and I believe it. I've seen a decent amount of video on Tobias, and all the old video is pretty rough-looking. Hopefully he is much thinner, because that would vault him up a bit in my eyes. Seriously, he was pretty chubby.
July 17, 2009 9:07 AMNORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – The Peach Jam is considered by many to be the premier team event of the spring and summer. Not only are the very best Nike-sponsored teams on hand, the mid-July timing makes for more cohesive play now that prospects have become accustomed to playing with their summer teammates.
In contrast to much of our shoe camp coverage from last week, when so many new players broke onto the scene while projecting at a variety of college levels, the Peach Jam primarily is about the big-timers. One of the best guys so far has been NY forward Tobias Harris.
July 17, 2009 9:10 AMJuly 13, 2009
Brown on the mark at Peach Jam
Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst
Talk about it in Basketball Recruiting Board
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| Lamb has been the biggest surprise at the Peach Jam. |
Markel Brown (2010 Louisiana Select)- Does Oklahoma State ever have a good one in Brown. A bouncy scoring machine, Brown drained three-pointers and attacked the rim authority in a win over Team Texas. And on the defensive end, he was impressive as well. No longer an under the radar prospect, Brown will likely grab a fourth star in the post summer rankings.
Phil Pressey (2010 Team Texas)- When Pressey stays within himself and keeps his game efficient, he is one of the better point guards in the class. At times, however, he falls into lapses of over dribbling and forcing shots. When his focus is on creating rhythm shots for teammates and letting his points come to him, he is as fun to watch as any point guard in the class.
Austin Rivers (2011 Team Stat)- The scoring combo guard started out the event with an 18 point first half in a blowout win over Howard Pulley. With his teammate Brandon Knight drawing Howard Pulley's top defender, Rivers took advantage with slashing right hand drives to the rim and deep threes.
Brandon Knight (2010 Team Stat)- Besides his tendency to force some bad shots, Knight has the total package as a point guard. He gets to the rim with punishing drives either direction, scores from all three levels, creates scoring opportunities for his teammates and defends and rebounds at a high level. In his game against Howard Pulley, Knight was the game's lead scorer with 20 points. In his second game of the event, however, he suffered a foot injury that has him on crutches.
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| Harrison Barnes scored 28 points against Indy Spiece. |
Tobias Harris (2010 Albany City Rocks)- Speaking of forwards who are difficult to guard, no four man in the class scores like Harris. Composed and efficient with the ball in his hands, Harris puts up points that will easily translate to the next level. His stock is rapidly rising.
July 17, 2009 9:13 AMJuly 14, 2009
NYCHoops: Peach Jam Notebook
Justin Young
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer
Related Links:
Nike Peach Jam UpdatesTalk about it in theMessage Boards
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – With the Albany City Rocks, New York Gauchos and a handful of New Yorkers at the Nike Peach Jam, there are plenty of things to talk about from this year's prestigious event.WANTED: TOBIAS HARRIS
Since the LeBron James Skills Academy and the King City Classic, those that weren't already standing in line to recruit Tobias Harris now are.
The 6-foot-8 forward is in the best shape of his life and playing about as good of basketball as he's ever played in front of college coaches. There is a buzz amongst those that line walls of the gym regarding the big fella.
J. YoungTobias Harris has played well all weekRightfully so. He's been one of the best players at the Peach Jam and he has his Albany City Rocks team primed and ready for a run for the championship at the prestigious event. Check a box score at the end of any Albany City Rocks game and Harris will probably have a 20 point and 10 rebound minimum. He's been the toughest big man outside of Jared Sullinger, an Ohio State commitment and mountain of a teenager, to defend at the Peach Jam. Harris's ability to score on the wing, drive with the ball, pass from the high post and score on the low blocks have drawn in the recruiters from all over.
According to Torrel Harris, Tobias's father, the family will trim the recruiting list down around the first of August and then plan necessary official visits. Mr. Harris said Connecticut, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Notre Dame, Tennessee and West Virginia have offered and are deeply involved.
He also added that Memphis and Kentucky have both recently inquired and want to jump into the mix. Harris took trips to Tennessee, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech already this summer, too.
NOTES FROM THE NOTEPAD
• Doron Lamb said he has offers from Kentucky, Kansas, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Arizona, Rutgers, Marquette and St. John's. He recently tripped to Kentucky and would like to visit both Kansas and Oklahoma in the fall.
• Albany City Rocks point guard Taran Buie was outstanding last year at the Peach Jam in the 16 and under division. So good, in fact, that his recruitment took on a lot of newcomers then. A year later, the future Penn State floor leader just doesn't look like the same player. Those that have watched him for years say he just doesn't have the same focus. The focus was there, however, on Monday night as he pumped in 16 points and helped pilot his team to a big win over Boo Williams.
• Try finding a better shot blocker from the Empire State in the Peach Jam than Brice Kofane. The big man for the Albany City Rocks could be a dominant post defender at the mid-major level. Kofane said thatPenn State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Boston College, Wake Forest, Virginia and Harvard are the schools he mentioned that are recruiting him.
• There has never been any question about Shane Southwell's size, bounce and overall potential. All of those traits are there. However, when the big fella turns the knob up on his scoring, watch out. Recruiting wise, he said he has offers from St. John's, Marquette, Xavier, Rutgers, Providence and South Carolina. Kentucky, Georgetown and Miami are in the mix but have not offered.
• Gauchos big man Melsahn Basabe has generated this quote several time from college coaches: "Hey, he's got a chance." Translation: Keep an eye on the 6-foot-7, 215-pound post presence from St. Mark's. He'll show a flash or two that perk the coaches up. Siena, George Washington, Drexel, St. John's, Penn, Fairfield, Bucknell, Northeastern, Boston and College of Charleston.
• Future Virginia Cavalier forward Will Regan played very well in a blowout win over the Arkansas Wings. The big man scored 14 points and earned every point he scored inside the paint.
SCOREBOARD:
Sunday morning
Gauchos 50, Nike Team Florida 44
Albany City Rocks 66, I-5 Elite 62
Sunday evening
July 17, 2009 9:21 AMJuly 13, 2009
Versatile Harris part of Huggins list
The baby-faced Rivals 150 guard-forward was at Bob Huggins' Underclass Elite Camp in 2008, but he has grown up--rather than out--since that June event.
"I've gotten taller. Probably when you saw me I was thicker," the 2010 prospect said with a smile Wednesday during a break at the King City Classic, which concluded here Thursday.
Harris, ranked as Rivals' No. 7 power forward (6-8, 210), possesses a Who's Who list of offers. He and father Torrel, who played against Huggins as a former Duquesne guard, have unofficially visited Syracuse, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Memphis, Kentucky, Maryland and Georgia Tech this spring summer. All but the Wildcats have offered him, according to his data base listed in this recruiting service.
"We are definitely going to take an official visit at West Virginia," said Torrel in the stands of the Wolstein Center. (The Cleveland State arena is the one made famous by Mike Gansey in 2005 when West Virginia shut down Chris Paul Wake Forest in one of the most exciting NCAA games in Mountaineer history).
"We love Bob Huggins," Mr. Harris went on. And Bob Huggins most assuredly likes Tobias and perhaps evenTyler Harris, a 2011 guard prospect whom Torrel believes could rise to 6-11. Huggs and assistant coach Larry Harrison were among a wide array of NCAA name coaches at the Wolstein on Wednesday.
"Tyler is starting to grow into his body now. We started him in school a year early like we did all our kids," said the elder Harris, whose family lives on Long Island.
This explains why at 16, Tobias, ranked as the No. 27 prospect in the '10 class, was on the court was on the court with about of the 90 best high school prospects in the country, per Nike.
The four-star started his LeBron James part of his Nike tour with other big men at the A'mare Stoudemire Skills Academy in Arizona on June 28-30. From there, he and "bigs" like WVU mark Adreian Payne advanced to the James Skills Academy at Akron earlier last week. They moved into the Classic, a two-day event where the 90 prospects were divided into teams with coaches like Huggins, Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, North Carolina's Roy Williams and about 100 others evaluating them.
Though Harris and Payne dueled at the Stoudemire big man's event in the Desert, they are different players. Harris could ultimately play two-guard or three-forward; Payne definitely will be a power forward.
"I'm always trying to get Tobias to shoot it because he can," said Torrel Harris. "In practice, he can stroke the three. But in the games he says, 'Why try to shoot it when I can penetrate and score?' I think he tries to do what fits in best with his team."
That he did in the game WVSports.com scouted between Harris' "North Carolina" team and an opposing squad called "Duke."
In this clash, Harris was part of a second five, which was subbed in by coach Carlton DeBose for a first unit consisting of slick point guard Kyrie Irving ('10); Irving's Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick's teammate Michael Gilchrist ('11) and others. It was a testament to young Harris that he could mix in with them on the national stage.
"I've been going to events since I was 15 or even younger," said the youngster who turns 17 on Wednesday. "It's good because you can learn from different coaches and from going against different players."
Along with traveling with his father to countless recruiting "underclass" events like Huggins' in June of '08, Harris also competed in the '07 and '08 Reebok U events in Philadelphia. These featured Reebok's version of top 100 prospects. In addition, Harris has been a mainstay at the NBAPA Top 100 camps in Charlottesville, Va.
Playing for Albany City Rocks, Harris was expected to move on from here to the Peach Jam in South Carolina this weekend; the AAU Super Showcase and the National Tournament to end his summer.
"We plan to narrow my list of schools down to five by the end of the summer," the Dix Hill (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West rising senior.
"We like Coach Huggins a lot; in fact, my Dad played against him when my Dad was at Duquesne and Coach Huggins was at West Virginia."
Torrel Harris was a Duke teammate of B.B. Flenory, who was involved in several controversial melees with the Mountaineers. He laughs about them, and says Flenory does too, today.
Flenory and Huggs banged into each other in a 1976 game in Morgantown. Two years later, Flenory was involved in a brawl against the Mountaineers at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, then refused to play at West Virginia after seeing a picture of himself hung in effigy in the West Virginia student newspaper, according to reports.
"For all that, B.B. says he would like to meet Coach Huggins now. He respects him. It happened a long time ago; and those things go on when you're young," said Torrel with a hearty laugh.
Certainly it is water under the proverbial bridge for Huggy, who likely would warmly embrace Flenory if it meant getting the talented two/three and/or four man.
July 17, 2009 10:11 AMHarris makes ND connection
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The whirlwind schedule includes working out at Parisi Speed School, where the No. 29 player in the Rivals150 trains with Notre Dame junior forward Ty Nash.
"He's a hard worker also," Harris said. "We both push each other. It's gone well."
Nash hasn't just done agility drills with Harris. He's also gone a long way toward opening up Notre Dame for Harris as his recruitment chugs along.
Harris, the No. 8-ranked power forward in the 2010 class by Rivals.com, is being courted by a slew of big-time programs. Those recruiting him the hardest include Connecticut, Louisville, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Rutgers.
Notre Dame has planted itself squarely in the mix, thanks in part to Nash's efforts.
"He tells me about Notre Dame all the time and how it's the best school," Harris said. "He tells me coach (Mike) Brey is a great guy; he lets his guys play, he lets them shoot and he's just a great coach. (Nash) said he likes the whole program and it's a great school and all that.
"It's still wide open. But he's opened them up kind of for me to look into them and that's what I'm doing right now."
The Harris family also has a Notre Dame connection.
The power forward's father, Torrel Harris, worked camps at Notre Dame when Digger Phelps was the head coach.
"He likes their program also," Harris said. "I remember when I first got a letter from Notre Dame, he said that's a real good school. I think he likes the program and the coaching staff they got out there."
The younger Harris thinks Notre Dame's style of play suits his game, which includes the ability to play with his back to the basket in the post and the skill to step outside and knock down a jump shot.
"I like coach Brey's offense and his style of play," Harris said. "One thing I like about his offense is with like (Luke) Harangody, he's able to step out and also able to post up. They get up and down and play basketball."
Harris said he'll cut from his Top 11 once the summer ends. He averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds during his junior season, helping guide Long Island Lutheran to a state championship. Harris will transfer back to Dix Hills West High School for his senior year.
July 17, 2009 10:30 AMLouisville in the mix with Tobias Harris?  | ||||
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Few prospects have been hotter - or better - than 6-foot-8, 210-pound 2010 power forward Tobias Harris in July. Louisville has recruited Harris in the past and had him on campus for a visit last year. Are the Cardinals still in the mix? | |||
Is Louisville still in the running with Tobias Harris, Scout.com fourth-rated power forward in the 2010 class? “I don’t know,” Harris told InsideTheVille.com last week at the King City Classic, Nike’s talent-laden, invitation-only skills camp. “I was really considering Louisville but I haven’t really heard from them since June. My father said he hasn’t heard from them either.” Louisville, like all the other schools on his Harris’ list, had to be impressed with his play at the King City Classic and Nike Peach Jam. According to sources, the Cardinals have been keeping an eye on Harris this month and intend to actively pursue him. That would be a smart move. The 6-8, 210-pound Harris was one of the top players in Cleveland and finished in the top five in both scoring (20.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.2) at the Peach Jam. Though Harris has made several campus visits, including a trip to Louisville, he’s not ready to name favorites. Harris said he’s planning to take all five official visits this fall and will sign during the early signing period. “I’m still pretty open right now,” Harris said. “All the schools that I’ve visited I’ve liked. It’s going to be a hard decision. I’ve really liked my visits to Tennessee, Georgia Techand Notre Dame. All the schools on my list are in line for official visits. It just depends who is recruiting me the hardest after July.” Harris said the staffs at Tennessee, UConn, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Notre Dame and Syracuse have told him he’s their top prospect at the forward position. At the Peach Jam, Harris also put Louisville back on his list. Harris says he’ll consider many factors while making a decision. “Style of play, coaching staff, academics, the players – how they are as people,” Harris said. “I want to find a system where the forwards are able to play out on the wing and post up also - a style that gets up and down the floor.” While some coaches think Harris can play three in college, he likely projects as a ‘skilled’ power forward that can shoot with range, handle it on the wing and rebound in the paint. Harris said it doesn’t “matter which position I (play) as long as the system fits my game.” “A lot of coaches say I’m a three-man in a four-man’s body,” said Harris. “I can shoot from the outside, I can drive and I can also post-up. I think I could play the three at the next level. The only thing that could hold me back is whether I can defend that position. That’s what I’m working on.”
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July 17, 2009 2:07 PM July 17, 2009 6:47 PM July 17, 2009 6:47 PM July 17, 2009 9:26 PMJuly 17, 2009
Tobias Harris: New & Improved
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"I'm waking up every morning at five o'clock, running and working out with my speed trainer. I'm just playing basketball all day basically," he said.
Once the curtain was raised for the July recruiting evaluation period, Harris has shined on the biggest stages. He was one of the top performers at the top All-American camp. This week at the Peach Jam, Harris was the best scoring big man in the building.
Harris and the Albany City Rocks bowed out in the Final Four of the Peach Jam to All-Ohio Red. The big man was the third leading scorer in pool play, averaging 20.6 points a game in five contests. He was also one of the top rebounders in the event.
Because of his body of work (both literally and physically), it wouldn't come as a big surprise if the big man checks in as a five-star at the end of the summer and maybe even a top 10 player by some recruiting services. Even with those kinds of accolades, Harris remains humble but driven.
"I've put in the work. That's all I've been doing. I think it's showing right now. I've been playing well the whole tournament (and this whole month)," Harris said.
Other than the physical changes, Harris is having success simply because he knows what he is doing on the court. The 6-foot-8 big man is one of the top shooting four men in the country but he can also create with the basketball and score in the low blocks.
Teams that try to defend him usually have one unanswered question: "How in the world do we defend him?"
"Um, well, um," Harris said after thinking about the same question for 10 seconds or so. "I guess just back off me if my shots not falling. But I'm a pretty good shooter so I'm not sure what I'd do. Some teams just try to put a strong, stocky kid on me but I go low in the post. I've got good leverage in the post."
He also has good leverage in his recruitment. The big boys are starting to line up but a host of early favorites are also sitting pretty.
Harris has unofficially visited Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Tennessee this summer. Connecticut, Syracuse, Maryland, and West Virginia have also offered. Teams like Florida, Kentucky and Memphis are also trying to get into the picture.
He also added that Memphis and Kentucky have both recently inquired and want to jump into the mix. Harris took trips to Tennessee, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech already this summer, too.
Harris will travel to Orlando with his Albany City Rocks team for the AAU Super Showcase and the AAU Nationals next week. A number of McDonald's All-American voters will also be there. Harris has done plenty so far this summer to lock himself into the game. But, his focus isn't on the game just yet.
"I want to win championships at all of the tournaments we are playing. That's the bottom line," Harris said.
July 17, 2009 9:37 PM
07/16/2009 2:25 PM ETHarris impresses with summer playLong Island product drawing consideration from Big EastBy Adam Zagoria / SNY.tvBuzz up!
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Half Hollow Hills' Tobias Harris has transformed his body with a new workout regimen this summer. (Kelly Kline/Nike)If you're a college basketball coach looking to land Tobias Harris, here's a piece of advice.
Attend all of his games for the rest of the July evaluation period and make yourself visible.
UConn head coach Jim Calhoun, who recently sustained an injury in a bicycle accident at a charity event, made a particular impression on Torrel Harris during this week's Nike Peach Jam in South Carolina where Tobias helped lead his team to the semifinals.
"Even Calhoun had three broken ribs and he stayed to the end," Torrel, Tobias' father, said in a phone interview. "That's impressive."
What's more impressive is that Calhoun actually broke eight ribs, not three, but he's still on the recruiting trail.
Virtually every coach in the country would love to add the 6-foot-8, 210-pound Harris, a rising senior forward at Dix Hills' (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West High School.
With his performances so far at the NBA Top 100 Camp, the LeBron James Skills Academy and the Peach Jam, Harris has been one of the stars of the summer recruiting circuit.
"He's the best offensive forward in the country," one Big East assistant coach said. "He can face up, he can post up, he can drive. He can do everything. If they took a picture of his body from last year and compared it to this year, he can make millions of dollars doing body sculpting or weight loss ads. He looks thin, quick and bouncy.
"He's really good. He's the story of the summer."
Indeed, Harris' body has undergone a radical transformation.
Gone is the baby fat that characterized his face and upper body last summer.
It has been replaced by an agile, chiseled frame that is the result of a daily workout routine Harris began last fall with trainer Britton Kelley.
Harris awoke at 5 o'clock each morning and ran two miles near his home on Long Island. After he school, he went to the gym with his younger brother, Tyler -- also a Division 1 recruit -- and two teammates where they did "a whole bunch of drills."
Three days a week, Harris also participated in speed training drills, including pulling sleds, with Kelley at the Parisi Speed School in Islip, N.Y.
"The goal was to get him leaner and stronger which we did," Kelley said. "The nice thing about it was we got him faster, too."
The results have shown on the court.
Harris was the sixth-leading scorer at the NBA Top 100 Camp.
He wowed recruiting experts with his dominant play at the LeBron Camp.
And he had coaches frothing at the mouth with the way he routinely put up more than 20 points and 10 rebounds in games while leading the Albany City Rocks to the semifinals at the Peach Jam.
"I feel like I've been playing to the max game right now," Harris said.
"I'm just improving. I'm just looking to improve on my game and go against the best players. I think I've been doing well. I'm playing well, scoring a lot, rebounding, and getting everybody involved."
Coaches at every major program want to get involved with Harris.
According to Torrel, who is guiding his son's recruitment, the current list of potential colleges includes: Tennessee, UConn, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Maryland, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, St.John's, Virginia, Kentucky, Louisville and West Virginia.
Memphis, Kentucky, Florida and UCLA are also trying to get involved, Torrel said.
"From what Tobias did at Peach Jam and LeBron, probably every college in America wants him now," Torrel said.
Referring to then-Memphis coach John Calipari, Torrel added, "From what Calipari did with Tyreke Evans, you gotta look at Kentucky.
"Memphis that's a relationship we have there since Josh [Pastner] got the job. Josh used to coach [Tobias' cousin] Channing Frye at Arizona. The reason Channing was a lottery pick was because of Josh Pastner."
Yet while those schools have recently entered the mix, Tobias said loyalty will be a critical factor in determining his ultimate college choice.
He and his father plan to cut the list down to about five sometime in August, and take five official visits from there.
"We are wide open but the way we're going to decide is the schools that have bee
July 21, 2009 8:52 AM
WHO TOPS COACHES LIST OF MOST WANTED? YOU MAY BE SURPRISED
