'06 NY SG/PG Paul Harris (Syracuse Verbal)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com$

5/30/05

Harris scored 17 points to lead the Ballers to a 77-67 victory over South Carolina Celtics in a Sweet 16 playoff game at the Bob Gibbons' Tournament of Champions.

His decision will come down to Syracuse or Pittsburgh and he plans on visiting both schools in the next week and could decide within two weeks after the visits.

 

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ohiopreps.com$

6/6/05

Harris is looking at Syracuse, Illinois and Pitt with Syracuse the leader. Harris will be attending prep school next year.

 

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LINK

6/12/05


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The USA White team captured gold at the 2005 International Sports Invitational, defeating USA Blue by a 107-85 final, despite a game-high 31 points by Blue's O.J. Mayo (North College Hill H.S. / North College Hill, Ohio).

USA White was able to pull away in the second half, outscoring Blue 31-19 in the fourth quarter as foul trouble kept Blue big men, Robin Lopez (San Joaquin Memorial H.S./Fresno, Calif.), Mike Washington (Heritage Christian Academy (Texas)/McGehee, Ark.) and Dwayne Collins (Miami Senior H.S./Miami, Fla.) on the bench for much of the second half.

The two teams battled back and forth in the first quarter and the game was tied at 23 with 23 seconds left, after Mayo scored 15 out of 16 straight points for the USA Blue team. Two free throws by Bryce Webster (St. Thomas Academy/St. Paul, Minn.) gave the White squad a slim 25-23 lead after one.

White pulled ahead by six points, 40-34 with 5:33 left in the half ,before Blue began a 7-2 run capped by a Mayo jumper at the 4:03 mark to cut the lead to one, 42-41. But, a cut above his right eye with just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter forced Mayo to head into the locker room early. USA White capitalized, outscoring Blue 15-5 over the remainder of the quarter to take a 58-46 lead at halftime.

Coming out of the locker room, the Blue squad inched closer, 76-66, after the third quarter. However, the fourth quarter belonged to USA White. With an 11-point cushion, 82-71 with 7:44 left in the game, White began a 15-3 run, that included five dunks by four different players and gave them a 97-74 lead, sealing the victory with 4:09 left in the game. From that point the teams exchanged buckets, and USA White walked away with a 107-85 victory.

"It was really exciting," said White head coach Pat Fitterer (Eisenhower H.S./Seattle, Wash.). I'm most excited because we had 29 assists tonight, that was awesome. This is the most unselfish crew I've ever had. Greg Oden thanked everybody for letting him be a part of the team and everybody else was just awesome, they had a great team concept. I told them now I want them to go out and win a couple more gold medals for USA."

Three players scored in double figures for USA White, including 28 points (11-22 FGs) from Paul Harris (Niagara Falls H.S./Niagara Falls, N.Y.). Center Greg Oden (Lawrence North H.S. . Indianapolis, Ind.) and forward Bill Walker (North College Hill H.S. / Cincinnati, Ohio), aided by the foul trouble of the Blue squad, chipped in 21 and 18, respectively, and Oden pulled down 11 rebounds. Five players also dished out at least five assists. Oden also broke the USA Youth Development Festival record for field-goal percentage, shooting 74.4 percent (32-43 FGs) in the tournament.
"This feels good," said Harris. "I told my dad, ‘If I win, I'm giving you the gold medal,' so I'm going to give it to my dad."

Mayo and Wayne Ellington (The Episcopal Academy/Wynnewood, Penn.) shouldered the load for USA Blue. In addition to 31 points (11-24 FGs), Mayo also tallied six rebounds and seven steals. Ellington finished the game with 27 points (11-23 FGs) and a game-high 12 rebounds.

"I know O.J. (Mayo) is a good player so I tried to play full court on him and set a lot of picks." added Harris. " I tried to contain him but he's very good."

Mayo finished as the high-scorer for the tournament, averaging 27.5 points per game.

USA Blue Team member Thaddeus Young (Mitchell H.S. / Memphis, Tenn.) suffered a second degree (moderate) ankle sprain in his squad's 118-57 victory over New Zealand on June 8. Listed as day-to-day, Young was evaluated and treated by the U.S. Olympic Committee medical staff..

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Harris had 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scouthoops.com (free)

6/14/05


Quote:
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</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Frank Burlison National Basketball Analyst
Date: Jun 13, 2005

O.J. Mayo led a 3-point barrage for Team USA Blue Saturday night. Ultimately, though, Greg Oden, Paul Harris and Bill Walker were just too powerful inside the lane and Team USA White came away with gold medals during the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival/International Sports Invitational at San Diego State.
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SAN DIEGO – When can a basketball team cruise to a 22-point victory despite missing 16 of 20 shots from behind the 3-point arc and committing 19 turnovers?[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When it’s got an overwhelming offensive attack inside the lane (or, as Hubie Brown is found of calling it, “the painted area”).[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]That’s what Team USA White had throughout the week at San Diego State during the seven-team, USA Basketball Youth Development Festival/International Sports Invitational.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Five opponents were victimized by it, the last of those being Team USA Blue Saturday night in the gold medal game. Despite having, arguably, the two best offensive backcourt players anywhere on the school level for next season, the Blue squad was overwhelmed, 107-85, by the White, just like China (112-59), Canada (105-69), Team USA Red (103-83) and Russia (105-86) were the previous four evenings.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Team USA White center Greg Oden came into the event hyped as the most overpowering post player on the high school level. He left San Diego with his gold medal and his No. 1 big man credentials ever the more etched in stone.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Indianapolis resident, who was perfect from the field in the championship game while leading the Spiece Indy Heat to the Reebok/Big Time Tournament title in Las Vegas last July, was just as near-flawless in his Saturday night performance in Cox Arena.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]He converted all nine of his field-goal attempts and all three of his free throws for 21 points to go with 11 rebounds. He was credited with just one assist and two blocked shots but those totals should have been more like three or four assists and four or five blocks.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Paul Harris and Bill Walker, who have the frames and physiques of NFL outside linebackers, scored 28 and 18 points, respectively, with Harris also doing a more then commendable 1-on-1 defensive job on Team USA Blue standout O.J. Mayo.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How offensively skilled is the 6-4 Mayo? Harris’ defense on Mayo couldn’t have been any better yet the junior-to-be from Cincinnati scored 31 points despite missing the final five minutes of the second quarter while receiving five stitches over his right eye, courtesy an inadvertent elbow from Harris (who was dribbling against Mayo’s defense at the time).[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Wayne Ellington (27 points and 12 rebounds) also had a marvelous game for Team USA Blue. Maybe something – more accurately, someone – will change my opinion in July but the four games he played in San Diego convinced me that he’s clearly the best two-guard in the national Class of 2006.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]But while Mayo, Ellington and Tory Jackson (a very good point guard prospect from Saginaw, MI, Buena Vista) were combining to cast off 31 3-pointers (hitting 10), Team USA White was pounding the ball into the post to Oden.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]And Harris and Walker were driving at will or overwhelming defenders inside the lane.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Game . . . set . . . match.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ALL-TOURNAMENT<O:p></O:p>[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](As selected by Frank Burlison)<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER:<O:p></O:p>[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Greg Oden (Team USA White/Indianapolis Lawrence North; 17.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: There are a lot of very, very good players in the national Class of 2006. But, literally and figuratively, Oden towers everyone. His offensive skills still need a lot of polishing but he’s made huge strides in that area over the past year.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]FIRST-TEAM ALL-TOURNEY<O:p></O:p>[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif](Oden included)<O:p></O:p>[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]O.J. Mayo (Team USA Blue/Cincinnati North College Hill; 27.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 6.0 steals per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: He’s the most offensively skilled guard on the school scene today. And his defense isn’t bad, either. He scored 31 points Saturday night, despite the cut over his right eye. But he could have done a better job of getting his teammates (other than Ellington) involved in the offensive flow, too, in the title game.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Paul Harris (Team USA White/Niagara Falls; 17.8 points, 9.0 points and 3.6 assists per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: His jump shot (to a great degree) and his decision making with the ball are going to need a lot of refinement if he’s going to be a full-time guard on the college level. But he’s 6-3 and about 225 pounds, and he gets maximum results out of all of that bulk and strength.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Wayne Ellington (Team USA Blue/Merion, PA, The Episcopal Academy; 20.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: Offensively, he’s nearly as complete as Mayo. And there wasn’t a player with more fluidity, be it his velvety jump shot or slick/keep the defender on his heels/drives. He is North Carolina’s next All-America caliber guard.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Daequan Cook (Team USA Red/Dayton, OH, Dunbar; 20.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: He doesn’t have nearly the offensively versatility or fluidity of Ellington but he’s a more explosive (at least, vertically) athlete. With some ball-handling polish, he’ll be an All-Big Ten performer at Ohio State before too deeply into his college career.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SECOND TEAM<O:p></O:p>[/font]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bill Walker (Team USA White/Cincinnati North College Hill; 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: No matter how well I’m able to describe the way this guy jumps, you’ll still be stunned the first time you see him elevate with both elbows above the iron to darn near shatter a backboard. He has off-the charts strength and improving ball-handling, passing and jump-shooting skills.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kyle Singler (Team USA White/Medford, OR, South; 14.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: This 6-8 wing has more long-term potential than any player in the event besides Oden and Mayo. Along with fellow junior-to-be and Portland Elite Legends teammate Kevin Love (Lake Oswego), he’ll go down as one of the all-time best ever out of Oregon.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Gerald Henderson (Team USA Red/Merion, PA, The Episcopal Academy; 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: The only thing he lacks right now to be among Mike Krzyzewski’s better players very early into his Duke career is the kind of legitimate jump shot that can keep defenders honest. “Unorthodox” describes his jumper right now.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Maxim Sheleketo (Russia/Petrovsk; 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: He’s listed at 6-10 on his team’s roster but looks a lot closer to 6-8. Never mind, though: He could be in the NBA one day.<O:p></O:p>[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chen Jianghua (China)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frank Says: Listed at 6-2 (probably very generously), his point guard skills surpassed any of his event counterparts other than Mayo. If he wasn’t the quickest player with the ball in his hands in the event, he was certainly the fastest. According to the team roster, he turned 16 on March 12. Relocate him to the United States and he’d be a McDonald’s All-America in a couple of years.[/font]

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[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Recently elected to the USBWA Hall of Fame, Frank Burlison is Scout.com’s National Basketball Expert and also covers college basketball for the Long Beach (CA) Press-Telegram. He can be reached at [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][email protected][/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]. Read more of Burlison’s pieces at [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]www.frankhoops.com[/font]

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scouthoops.com (free link)

6/21/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>2005 NBA Camp Rosters

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Paul Harris (J.Hawkins)

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Dave Telep National Recruiting Director
Date: Jun 20, 2005

The 2005 NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp tips off this Wednesday on the campus of VCU in Richmond. Here’s a look at who’s attending the event.
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Scout.com will provide daily coverage of the NBA Camp beginning Wednesday evening. The following is a listing of teams and players who are participating at the event.

TEAM 1 -- Cole Aldrich, Stephen Curry, Paul Harris, Lazar Haywood, Gerald Henderson, Blake Hoffarber, Willie Kemp, Andrew Ott, Michael Sanchez, Brian Zoubek

TEAM 2 – Chase Budinger, Jeremy Franklin, Taj Gibson, Brandon Jennings, Johnnie Lett, Dwight Lewis, O.J. Mayo, Stanley Robinson, Andre Stephens, Seth Tarver

TEAM 3 – Demond Carter, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron Holmes, Kurtis Huelsman, Jonathan Kreft, Brook Lopez, K’Len Morris, Antron Pippen, Quincy Pondexter, Anjuan Wilderness

TEAM 4 – Dwayne Collins, Daniel Deane, Austin Freeman, Jonathan Hall, Gary Johnson, Dexter Pittman, Matthew Pressey, Edwin Rios, Deonta Vaughn, Bill Walker

TEAM 5 – Earl Clark, Keenan Ellis, Kenyan Harmon, Jahaziel Howard, Tory Jackson, Derrick Jaspers, Pierre Niles, Jerry Smith, Nolan Smith, Perry Stevenson

TEAM 6 – Jerryd Bayless, Wayne Ellington, Jordan Hill, Tywon Lawson, Hamady N’Diaye, Ralph Sampson, Ramar Smith, Chace Stanback, Julian Vaughn, Eric Wallace, Thaddeus Young

TEAM 7 – JeJuan Brown, Keith Clark, Bryan Davis, Edward Davis, Eric Hayes, Obi Muonelo, Jeremiah Rivers, Lawrence Westbrook, Heath White, Lewis Witcher

TEAM 8 – Duke Crews, James Dews, Tom Herzog, Marques Johnson, Kevin Love, Vernon Macklin, Adrian Oliver, Derrick Rose, Kyle Singler, Jerel Stephenson

TEAM 9 – Alan Bantom, Keegan Bell, Eric Gordon, Taylor Harrison, Josh Lomers, Antonio Pena, John Pietkiewicz, Scott Reynolds, John Rinaldi, Jamie Skeen, P’Allen Stinnett, Corey Stokes, Nic Wise

TEAM 10 – Jermaine Beal, Robert Byrd, Patrick Christopher, Isaiah Dahlman, Ray Hall, Taylor King, Andre McFarland, Matthew Shaw, Alex Stepheson, Will Walker TEAM 11 – Darrell Arthur, Michael Beasley, DaSean Butler, Tyreke Evans, Eugene Harvey, Dennis Horner, Taishi Ito, Robin Lopez, Donald Sloan, Lance Thomas TEAM 12 – Kevin Durant, James Keefe, Marsharee Neely, Reggie Redding, Richard Semrau, DaJuan Summers, Greivis Vasquez, Bryce Webster, Doug Wiggins, Trevon Willis.


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com$

6/23/05

ScoutHoops.com has posted video of Harris in action.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ScoutHoops.com (free)

8/27/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>It's Official: Harris To Syracuse

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Paul Harris (J.Hawkins)

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Dave Telep National Recruiting Director
Date: Aug 26, 2005

Paul Harris made it official. As of the fall of 2006 he’ll be the property of one of the true powers in college basketball. Scout.com’s No. 10 prospect is headed to Syracuse.
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Paul Harris rocked the Reebok ABCD Camp in early July. Two weeks later, his world was rocked when he lost G.C. Ballers teammate Miquel Respress who collapsed and died at an AAU tournament in California.

At that point, a scheduled press conference was tabled as Harris put off announcing his collegiate destination. At a Friday press conference, the former Niagara Falls star committed to Syracuse over Pittsburgh on the campus of his old high school.

The 6-foot-4 Harris, now enrolled at Fitchburg (Mass.) Notre Dame Prep, is Scout.com’s 10th ranked prospect.

“It’s been out that it’s what he was going to do,� Ballers coach Jeff Bishop said. “Today was just a formality of doing it in front of the school. He wanted to thank Niagara Falls, where he’s played the last two years.�

Bishop knows Harris and his game as well as anyone. He knows that expectations will be high for the best 6-foot-4 rebounder we’ve seen in quite some time.

“He’s a winner,� Bishop said. “We’re not the most talented or the biggest team out on the circuit but the kid makes people around him better. You have a kid like Robert Garrison going to UConn basically because of the exposure that Paul was getting. “He taught these guys how to win and have fun. He’s going to do well at Syracuse; he’s going to make an impact.� You’ll get no argument here. The Orangemen landed one of the elite talents in high school basketball.


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