How does a 6-foot-8 high school All-American attend at Tennessee men’s basketball game incognito?
“I just bought my own ticket, and sat in the upper deck,’’ said Tobias Harris, Rivals’ No. 5-rated player in the nation in the Class of 2010 and the Vols’ No. 1 recruiting target. “I was trying to keep it low key.’’
Harris, from Glen Head, N.Y., managed to do just that. He said he was impressed with UT’s record-breaking performance in their 124-49 victory over UNC Asheville on Tuesday.
“They played real good, and they smacked that team down,’’ Harris said. “But I still haven’t decided. I’m still looking at all seven schools.’’
The list includes Tennessee, Maryland, Syracuse, West Virginia, Louisville, Kentucky and Georgia Tech.
“I had just visited Georgia Tech, and our flight didn’t leave until the next morning,’’ Harris said. “So we figured we’d drive up.’’
Harris said he will sign in the early signing period, which ended Wednesday.
Harris will make it official when he announces his choice Thursday on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m.
Harris, who is looking for a school where he can play point forward — much like UT’s Tyler Smith — said only one fan recognized him at the UT basketball game.
While the No.10 Vols put on a great show for Harris’ surprise visit, the UT fanbase disappointed.
The Vols had one of their smallest crowds of the Bruce Pearl Era (announced at 17,085, but a couple of thousand short of that in actual attendance), and only about 5,000 stayed for the entire game.
The Vols have also been recruiting JayVaughn Pinkston, a 6-6 forward from Brooklyn, N.Y. The New York Daily News reported Tuesday Pinkston was ready to sign with UT, but his AAU coach said Wednesday that Pinkston will wait until the spring.
“JayVaughn and his family have decided that he will not make his college choice decision today,” New Heights athletic director Kimani Young told Adam Zagoria of zagblogs.com. “He’s not 100 percent sure where he wants to go to school so rather than make a rush decision he’ll just wait until the spring.”
Villanova, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Marquette are also possible destinations for Pinkston.
“He’s going to go to the best situation for him,” Young told zagblogs.com.
UT has two signees in the fold. Trae Golden, a 6-1 guard from McEachern High in Powder Springs, Ga., signed Tuesday, joining 6-6 shooting guard Jordan McRae of Liberty County, Ga.
The Vols have as many as five scholarships to offer in the Class of 2010, though it is believed UT will only sign four.
Mike Strange and Phil Kaplan contributed to this report.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 46
GahLee writes:
Pearl needs to rope this kid in.
He could be a star from the jump with the players we will be losing after this year.
C'mon Tobias, be a Vol!
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
doesn't look good for Pinston, though. Too many influential friends think UT is not an "NBA training ground".
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
anyone hear anything about Leslie?
Bigger_Al writes:
Think good thoughts!
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Old news but very good news. From what I've been reading he is all Vol. But we'll just have to wait and see tomorrow. Hopefully Pinkston comes around as well, both he and Harris would be able to make an immediate impact next year.
GahLee writes:
I think it will be tough to beat Syracuse, but I think UT is right there, I don't expect him to chose us. Just don't want to be disappointed if he doesn't.
KnoxTennVol writes:
Looks like A_VOICE_OF_REASON will need to get a new name and better access. Check his hilarious comments on, "Pinkston Holds Off Decision Until Spring" article. He couldn't be more wrong.
A_VOICE_OF_REASON writes:
in response to KnoxTennVol:
I was also there, but I did not check the ID of everyone there. Did you?
http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=7&am....
Nope...didn't need to...my access is good enough to post FACTS not repeat rumors read elsewhere on the internet.
volsunited writes:
That little grandstanding douche said if his facts were not correct he would go away as well. But u know anyone like that wont keep their freakin word!
cobbwebb writes:
harris has blocked all his tweets on twitter! @tobias31, the good news is he is following scotty hops, and bobby maze on twitter, the bad news is he is also following john wall! one of his boys, with whom he sends a lot of tweets to, about 5 hours ago tweeted "noooooooooooooo, tobias to tenn."!!!!!!
take it for what you will!
CladnBigOrange writes:
reminds me of my kids in the toy department at walmart...before i can put a toy in the buggy...they are already lookin at another one on the shelf..LOL
1vavolfan writes:
Come on Griff don't knock the fans on this one.Only 17,000 fans?There were probably 15-16 thousand there, still pretty good for a college hoops game against UNC Asheville on a Tuesday. Harris just came back from Ga Tech, they play in an arena that seats 9100. TBA looks like the Taj Mahal beside that place.
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
We will find out soon enough but the fact that he drove up from Atlanta and paid to watch the game is a good sign for the Vols. Just wish we could have had a full house.
veinsoforange writes:
Here's a positve perspective.
In reading all the blog and articles I can place in front of my face, it seems no one is attempting to put his visit within the time-line of everything else.
1) We know he was at the game.
2) We know today was the last day to sign.
3) The game was not over until around 9pm.
4) The Bruce Pearl show & all 100-win festivities didn't conclude until at least ~9:45.
5) This is a little non-factual but I imagine he stayed until the end.
What we don't know is:
1) Did Tobias and his father stay the night in Knoxville. It would appear they did, especially if they have family in the area as Torrell mentioned and since there probably weren't any flights out of Mcghee Tyson that late.
2) Did they stay the night to be present at the University of Tennessee today to sign a letter of intent.
As scared as I am to say this (because I dread if he doesn't sign), logically it appears he was here to sign on the dotted line today!
Go Vols, Go Team, Go Tobias Harris, Go Bruce Pearl!
Nice job last night guys. Weak opponent but OUTSTANDING JOB!
bobbytodd writes:
A_VOICE_OF_REASON writes:
Funny thing about all this is I have offered to go away FOREVER from this board if ANYTHING I've posted about Harris or Pinkston doesn't happen - yet NOBODY that's been bashing, posting other nonsense and saying how wrong I am is willing to take me up on it. Too damned funny!
I think he may have went away forever....or so we can only hope!
Chris4Vols22 writes:
A_VOICE_OF_REASON, you have been completely discredited concerning your arguments on the recruitment of Tobias Harris.
I think I speak for all of us when I say that we'll take you up on your offer of leaving GoVolsXtra.com forever.
GOOD F'ING BYE!!
we3vols#281863 writes:
This is my concern. Young Mr Harris is a class act. It is very possible that he wanted to tell CBP in person that he had decided to sign with Syracuse. I am worried that he is announcing later this afternoon and Syracuse has a game this evening. Sad but could be true. I pray I am incorrect with my thoughts. Go Vols! Mr Harris, come on down. You'll love this shade of BIG ORANGE".
lomas98 writes:
Since he lives and goes to school in NY, I wouldn't be concerned over that. Now if he wanted to make his announcement live from the carrier dome would be reason for concern.
AccurateOne writes:
Per Rivals, Harris has signed with someone but I am not a premium member so I do not know with whom he has signed.
kazoo writes:
I love that this kid bought a ticket and sat in the upper deck--very cool. Love that approach. I like this kid no matter which school he chooses...Hope it's the Vols, of course.
polymer writes:
Rivals article says Harris has indeed signed an LOI (late Wed. night), but not even the schools on his final list know who his final choice is. He will reveal his choice at 5:30 today.
Digger writes:
Here's proof Tobias was on Campus! He had his picture taken next to the rock!
http://www.testudotimes.com/2009/10/1...
VolunteerLifer writes:
NO ONE who can make a post like this one can claim to be the biggest UT fan.
VolunteerLifer writes:
We don't need this kid or any other kid to make or break our program. No one recruit is bigger than our program. If this kid doesn't sign, there are plenty of good players out there who will. We might or might not be a better program with him, but we will do fine without him, too.
volunteers4life writes:
This would be a wonderful and exciting get for CBP. He is a class act and one of a kind. I hope he beats KY like a possessed baby-sitter.
CUSA_NEWS writes:
Nice get for you guys with Harris. I can only smile everytime a potential UK recruit decides to go elsewhere.
kkempf#226833 writes:
I've made that drive before the other direction to give a rose to my sweetheart. I wouldn't put it beyond a kid to go to that length to watch an actual game at a school he intends to attend.
So far your "TRUTH" has been lies and you've become notorious for not having any evidence. Troll.
kkempf#226833 writes:
(C) You will not submit any User Content that:
(ii) impersonates another or is unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, vulgar, obscene, profane, pornographic, or otherwise objectionable;
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
If he were going to sign with Syracuse, then why would he have even been at the game to start with??? He wouldn't have wanted to see Tennessee play...He could have just stayed in a hotel room and not came to the game...JUST A THOUGHT....I'm going crazy just sitting here waiting until 5:30..SHEESH!!!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Good point!!!! I feel a little better!!
utdanman writes:
I don't buy into this arguement that UT is not a 'NBA Training Ground' stuff. Sure we haven't produced many NBA players but we also haven't historically had many great players, potentially great players or even great teams for that matter. Every program has to start somewhere, right? The ball has already started rolling with Tyler Smith http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/T..., Chism http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/W..., Hopson. This is only the beginning and Harris, hopefully, will be apart of the building process. Pretty soon people will be saying, "wow, Tennessee sure has produced some nice NBA athletes." :)
veinsoforange writes:
anyone know what happened to the scheduled 5:30 announcement? ESPNU is currently airing a game. will it now be during the SportsCenterU segment at 6:00?
kkempf#226833 writes:
I agree. When Bruce Pearl came in Lofton and Smith weren't projected as NBA athletes, so it was no surprise that they weren't selected. Of Bruce's most promising recruits, the three biggest ones -- Hopson, Tyler Smith, and Chism -- are all still on the roster. I wouldn't be surprised to see all three get drafted.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I'm anxiously awaiting myself..The suspense is killin' me!!!!
sandiegovolunteer writes:
my thoughts exactly- Where is the announcement
chrisw2967 writes:
if anybody has rivals it says he has signed but im not a member so i dont know who got him.talking about tobias harris
veinsoforange writes:
according to ESPNU commentators he will announce at 6:00pm SportsCenterU segment
TopTenn writes:
He's wearing orange shirt at announcement.
veinsoforange writes:
ah oh, live shot didn't look good. Cuse jerseys in background. i hope i'm so wrong but would he really want to disappoint so many locals surrounding him?
veinsoforange writes:
Yeaaaaaaah Baby! ......It's UTobias!!!!
cycles12 writes:
HES COMIN TO THE VOLS!!!!
roloyo writes:
GBO AND GO TOBIAS...there is a basketball GOD
chad_t31 writes:
Oh hell yeah! Thanks for the birthday gift big man!!
caverunner writes:
Grow up and TRY to show some class! GO VOLS!!!
MphsGruntworks writes:
“They played real good, and they smacked that team down,’’ Harris said. “But I still haven’t decided. I’m still looking at all seven schools.’’
The list includes Tennessee, Maryland, Syracuse, West Virginia, Louisville, Kentucky and Georgia Tech.
Fortunately for you, that list didn't include Memphis. Pastner, it seems, gets anyone on whom he sets his sights. And without the sleazy assist from Worldwide Wes!
Also fortunate for you, it won't be long before Cal gets in trouble at UK, so he won't be kicking your tails very long. In fact, it looks like he'll have to begin greasing the skids after this season since he'll lose so many to the NBA.
But ... it's too bad you don't have a coach to go along with the addition of some really nice talent. You guys have to admit, BP is no where near a top tier bench coach. Actually, I take that back. He's a pretty good strategist and tactician on the bench (certainly better then Cal, which I admitted years ago), but he's apparently lacking in the locker room and on the practice floor. I would imagine his bombast grows old pretty quickly for the players. Like Cal, he's a self-promoter ... the only difference is Cal is very transparent about it, while BP cloaks his in school spirit.
VolAlum2003 (Inactive) writes:
What the hell is wrong with GoVolsXtra?? Why is this the latest story regarding Harris? Harris signed his LOI w/ UT on Wednesday...and it's FRIDAY! C'MON GOVOLS STAFF...GET YOUR SH** TOGETHER!!!
golfin_blondie writes:
True I was just on rivals getting caught up. Shame you have to visit multi sites to find out what should be here. Here is a link to a good link on rivals
http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.co...
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