Tobias Harris
File photo by Lonnie Webb
6-8 / 230 / Forward
Half Hollow Hills West (Dix Hills, N.Y.)
Headed to: Tennessee
2009-10: Harris was one of the more impressive stat machines in the country this season, piling up 24.7 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.3 blocks per game. He posted a triple-double Jan. 25 against Bellport with 20 points, 13 boards and 10 assists. Despite an impressive build, Harris isn’t the classic “power” forward. He stepped out to hit over 40 3-pointers this year and shot 76.7 percent from the charity stripe.
The future Vol’s most impressive performance came Jan. 23 against Chester of Pennsylvania, hanging 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists on the perennial Keystone State powerhouse.
His numbers don’t come at the expense of team success, however. Half Hollow Hills West was unbeaten on the court and nationally-ranked until a blowout loss in New York’s Class AA championship game Sunday night. The Colts also had to forfeit a January victory, officially finishing 24-2. Harris played at Long Island Lutheran as a junior and led that program to the Class A Federation title while averaging 21.0 points per game.
Next-level analysis: With starters Wayne Chism, Bobby Maze and J.P. Prince moving on, there are minutes to be had next year in Knoxville and Harris has the talent to take advantage and be an immediate force.
The New Yorker is a versatile player with the ability to fit in and contribute as needed. He has already shown an ability to excel beyond the high school level, averaging 13.3 points per game at the Nike Global Challenge last August.
His game should continue to mature in the near future as he represents the USA in the Nike Hoop Summit next month and auditions alongside 20 of the nation’s top under-18 talents for the Men’s Junior National Team in June.
Georgia backcourt talents Trae Golden and Jordan McRae will join Harris in Tennessee’s incoming freshmen class.
10 to watch for 2011 countdown:
No. 10 Cory Joseph
No. 9 Perry Jones
No. 8 Tristan Thompson
No. 7 Will Barton
