Kentucky freshman Zion Harmon backing up the hype, averaging over 33 points per game

Video: Zion Harmon highlights
Adair County guard has topped 30-point mark in 16 games this season.

After helping Bowling Green win Kentucky's single-class high school basketball state title last year as an eighth grader, few Class of 2021 prospects entered the 2017-18 season with a bigger reputation than Zion Harmon.

Now at Adair County (Columbia, Ky.), the 5-foot-11 point guard is backing up the hype as a freshman. Highlighted by a 54-point performance back on Jan. 8, Harmon is averaging 33.3 points per game to go along with 7.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals.

According to statistics submitted to MaxPreps, he leads all freshmen nationally in scoring.

For those that have followed Harmon's career, his exploits aren't a huge surprise. He earned a spot on USA Basketball's U16 team over the summer, winning a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina.

On a roster that included No. 1 Class of 2019 prospect James Wiseman and MaxPreps National Player of the Year candidate Vernon Carey Jr., Harmon led the team in assists (3.2 per game) and was third in scoring over five outings in South America.

Harmon opened his freshman campaign at Adair County with 43 points in a win over Cumberland County (Burkesville) and had 54 points and 12 assists in a wild overtime win against Caverna (Horse Cave) last month.

Fans can catch Harmon and Adair County (15-9) in action Friday night at Russell County (Russell Springs).