More to come from Harris

MANILA, Philippines - Talk ‘N’ Text import Paul Harris wasn’t particularly impressive in his PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut against Smart-Gilas at the Ynares Center in Antipolo last Friday. The 6-3 3/8 forward-guard from Syracuse University shot a lowly .367 from the floor, 0-4 from three-point distance, hit .333 from the line and finished with 25 points in 40 minutes. Worse, the Texters lost a 103-98 decision to the national team.

But while the jury is still out on Harris, the expectation is he’ll improve. After all, he comes from a rich winning tradition at Syracuse where his coach was Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim. In three years with the Orangemen, Harris never played on a team that posted less than 21 wins in a season. Syracuse, by the way, has produced the likes of Dave Bing, Pearl Washington, Sherman Douglas, Jonny Flynn and Carmelo Anthony. Boeheim was an assistant coach with the US gold medal squad at the 2008 Olympics and will be back on Mike Krzyzewski’s staff in London next year. In high school, Harris led Niagara Falls to a 28-1 record as a junior and Notre Dame prep to a 27-3 mark as a senior.Throughout his collegiate career, Harris was never known for his shooting but managed to pile up points with scrappy play. In fact, he was more touted as a rebounder than a scorer.

Texters coach Chot Reyes said yesterday he’s stacking his chips on Harris. “His strengths are his ability to get to the hoop, his quickness and his defense,” said Reyes. “His weakness is that it’s his first time to be put in this situation. He can’t bring us to the finals – no import can. Only we, as a team, can bring us to the finals.”

Reyes’ vote of confidence should inspire Harris to go all out this conference. And he’s got the tools to do it.

Writer Mike Waters said Harris’ energy was an inspiration in his Syracuse freshman season in 2006-07. “Harris impacted games with his energy, no one plays harder, his size – football coach Greg Robinson could use him, and his defense,” wrote Waters in Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. His shooting, however, was not up to par. Harris knocked down only one three-pointer the entire season and shot just 5 percent from beyond the arc. Waters said the poor marksmanship had something to do with Harris playing two-guard instead of his natural small forward position. Still, Harris managed to average 8.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 21.7 minutes. Syracuse posted a 24-11 record that year.

“Paul knows how to play,” said Boeheim. “He understands the game.”As a sophomore, Harris hit at a 14.5 clip and grabbed 8.2 rebounds an outing. He was described by Waters as “one of the most ferocious rebounders in the Big East,” leading Syracuse in that department. Harris registered 13 double-doubles and scored in twin digits in the last 15 games of the year. Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins said, “At some point, you have to forget the how with a guy like Paul and just look at his production.” The varsity compiled a 21-14 mark that season.

In his final year in 2008-09, Harris averaged 12 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 30.5 minutes as Syracuse went to the NCAA Sweet 16, ending with a 28-10 slate. He wound up his three-year stint with the Orangemen as one of only 12 players in campus history to record over 1,200 points and 800 rebounds. Harris also ranked ninth all-time with 28 career double-doubles as according to Waters, “more than one Big East coach referred to him as a beast.” A highlight of his career was when he collected 22 points and 22 rebounds in the six-overtime Syracuse win over Connecticut.

Talk ‘N’ Text team manager Aboy Castro said it was NBA D-League assistant coach Hernando Planells, a Fil-Am, who recommended Harris. “We met Hernando at the Global Hoops Summit in Las Vegas some years ago and we’ve kept in touch,” said Castro. “Hernando was a former head coach in the Japanese league and Harris played on his Maine team in the NBDL. What we like about Harris is his positive attitude. He works hard. When I picked him up at the airport, I noticed that as soon as he got settled, the first persons he called overseas to say he landed safely were his mother and uncle.”

His mother Emma McCall is a single working parent with four kids to support and has been a rock in his life.

Harris, the last player cut from the Utah Jazz training camp before the 2009-10 season, has come a long way from a tainted past. When he was 16, Harris spent 13 days in a New York jail awaiting a hearing for charges of intent to sell crack cocaine. He got off with five years probation after a close circle of friends pleaded to a judge for a second chance, wrote Matt Gelb. Then, a year later, he was charged with third-degree assault following a dispute with his girlfriend. Harris attended an anger-management program for 15 weeks and the charges were eventually dropped. Sal Constantino, one of Harris’ high school coaches, said Harris is the single reason why he has overcome his early problems. “The long difficult road has helped his maturity,” said Constantino. “You don’t want to wish it upon anyone but it’s made him a better person.”Harris’ agent Leon Rose brought up the possibility of playing in the PBA. Harris said what he liked about the offer was “they want me to play 44 to 48 minutes a game.” He jumped out of the NBDL to move to the PBA. “This is a good situation for me to make some money and provide for my family (two children),” said Harris, quoted by Jonah Bronstein of the Niagara Gazette. “I think it’s a great opportunity.”