UT signee Harris named one of six finalists for Naismith Player of the Year award

Tennessee basketball signee Tobias Harris, from Dix Hills, N.Y., is among six finalists for the 2010 Boy’s Naismith High School Player of the Year Award, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday.

The elite list of finalists was determined by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists and administrators from around the country, which based its criteria on player performances this season.

Harris—who scored 27 points Tuesday night while leading top-seeded Half Hollow Hills West High School to an 80-63 win over Copiague in the Suffolk Class AA quarterfinals—has powered the Colts to a sterling 20-0 record this season. The nation’s top-ranked power forward became the 11th Long Island prep player to score 2,000th career points in the third quarter of Tuesday night’s victory.

The Naismith winner will be determined in early March and will be recognized at the annual Naismith Awards banquet March 23, 2010 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta. The Naismith Trophy is among the most prestigious national award presented annually to the college and high school basketball players of the year.

For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.

Last week, Harris was selected to play in the annual Jordan Brand All-American game April 17 at Madison Square Garden. The game, which will be televised live on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET, includes the top 10 high school senior basketball players in the country, according to ESPNU rankings.

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Comments » 46

rocky_topper writes:

1st

rocky_topper writes:

Congrats to Tobias. I look forward watching him play.

sol_way writes:

cant wait to see this kid in orange

rkastens writes:

We sure could use him now. Can't we speed things up and get him in here in time for the tournaments? :-)

Gumby#1381110 writes:

Can UT's BB future really be as bleak as TaterVol says? Could the Coyote ever catch Buggs Bunney?

bugman (Inactive) writes:

i look forward to pearl under developing him as he's done in the past. the best players / year he's had was with Petersons recruits. so what he has 5 2o win seasons. he chokes in the sec tourney and ncaa tourney every year. it isnt what you do in the regular season it's what you do after the fact. hopson is not developed, kenny hall is not developed, woolridge is not developed, duke crews not developed, ramar smith not developed, tatum not developed...see a pattern here? Either their benched or kicked off the team. point is pearl may get by with a 20 win season and even a few top 5 wins but at the end of the day he's still not a good teacher.

dma38256#264746 writes:

in response to bugman:

i look forward to pearl under developing him as he's done in the past. the best players / year he's had was with Petersons recruits. so what he has 5 2o win seasons. he chokes in the sec tourney and ncaa tourney every year. it isnt what you do in the regular season it's what you do after the fact. hopson is not developed, kenny hall is not developed, woolridge is not developed, duke crews not developed, ramar smith not developed, tatum not developed...see a pattern here? Either their benched or kicked off the team. point is pearl may get by with a 20 win season and even a few top 5 wins but at the end of the day he's still not a good teacher.

Sorta hard to remember your mission was to drain the swamp when you're up to your rear in alligators (no pun intended).

bugman (Inactive) writes:

in response to dma38256#264746:

Sorta hard to remember your mission was to drain the swamp when you're up to your rear in alligators (no pun intended).

i just call'em as i see'em

UTfan4life2 writes:

Bugman is right, Pearl isnt a good coach when it comes to developing players.

If Hopson went to Duke, he'd be a top 5 pick in this years' draft.

Hate to say it, but its true.

bugman (Inactive) writes:

in response to alabubbabubba:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

i don't expect people to agree on a ut fan forum. if it makes you feel better he did develop Jajuan Smith. but my definition of developing talent in their cases is not NBA development. AS a matter of fact half the people I mentioned more than likely weren't NBA talent due to physical reasons.

kkempf#226833 writes:

in response to bugman:

i look forward to pearl under developing him as he's done in the past. the best players / year he's had was with Petersons recruits. so what he has 5 2o win seasons. he chokes in the sec tourney and ncaa tourney every year. it isnt what you do in the regular season it's what you do after the fact. hopson is not developed, kenny hall is not developed, woolridge is not developed, duke crews not developed, ramar smith not developed, tatum not developed...see a pattern here? Either their benched or kicked off the team. point is pearl may get by with a 20 win season and even a few top 5 wins but at the end of the day he's still not a good teacher.

You may have some positive things to say, but you never say them here. If your thoughts are as negative as your posts, you must not have a happy existence.

Pearl has done a great job of creating basketball excitement in an arena where there wasn't a lot of that before. This year's team is solid defensively, too, which many of his previous teams really weren't. Though Hopson was considered a 5-star recruit, Harris will be his first true blue chip recruit, and it'll be interesting to see what this team can do with a legitimate star player.

ArkyVol73 writes:

in response to UTfan4life2:

Bugman is right, Pearl isnt a good coach when it comes to developing players.

If Hopson went to Duke, he'd be a top 5 pick in this years' draft.

Hate to say it, but its true.

Wonder what college coach developed Lebron James. Wonder what college coach developed Kobe Bryant, Moses Malone, Carmallo, and so many others. It seems to me that that may happen in high school.If what you're saying is true than the 6 all-american players sure aren't getting any better for playing for Roy Williams since they're last in the acc.

bugman (Inactive) writes:

in response to kkempf#226833:

You may have some positive things to say, but you never say them here. If your thoughts are as negative as your posts, you must not have a happy existence.

Pearl has done a great job of creating basketball excitement in an arena where there wasn't a lot of that before. This year's team is solid defensively, too, which many of his previous teams really weren't. Though Hopson was considered a 5-star recruit, Harris will be his first true blue chip recruit, and it'll be interesting to see what this team can do with a legitimate star player.

are you a stalker because it sounds like it...

All_Vol writes:

Stay healthy Tobias.

tennrich1 writes:

in response to bugman:

i look forward to pearl under developing him as he's done in the past. the best players / year he's had was with Petersons recruits. so what he has 5 2o win seasons. he chokes in the sec tourney and ncaa tourney every year. it isnt what you do in the regular season it's what you do after the fact. hopson is not developed, kenny hall is not developed, woolridge is not developed, duke crews not developed, ramar smith not developed, tatum not developed...see a pattern here? Either their benched or kicked off the team. point is pearl may get by with a 20 win season and even a few top 5 wins but at the end of the day he's still not a good teacher.

Sounds like somebody has an axe to grind....try again bugman (good name being you are "bugged" by the unprecedented success the Vols have had under CBP)....keep those post coming...they make me know we're "doing it right"...just having fun with ya....

midtown2399 writes:

King Harris won't lose to Kentucky next year!

murrayvol writes:

in response to UTfan4life2:

Bugman is right, Pearl isnt a good coach when it comes to developing players.

If Hopson went to Duke, he'd be a top 5 pick in this years' draft.

Hate to say it, but its true.

Hate to say it, but you're wrong. If he were at Duke, he'd be getting about 8 minutes.

allntl1#565211 writes:

Pearl does a great job. I would point to Lofton, a kid who UK and UofL did not want. Under Pearl the 5'10 Lofton is an All American.
And another thing, 20 wins a season is pretty good when you look at the schedule UT plays every year. UT basketball is exciting and Pearl would be a top candidate for any vacancy in college basketball. It could always be worse.

kkempf#226833 writes:

in response to bugman:

are you a stalker because it sounds like it...

I can browse your posts by clicking on your user name. It doesn't take long to see the pattern: negative comments on other user comments, negative comments on the performance of the writers, negative comments on the coaches, negative comments on the players. It's hard to see what you like about being a Tennessee fan.

bugman (Inactive) writes:

in response to kkempf#226833:

I can browse your posts by clicking on your user name. It doesn't take long to see the pattern: negative comments on other user comments, negative comments on the performance of the writers, negative comments on the coaches, negative comments on the players. It's hard to see what you like about being a Tennessee fan.

i'm not a "fan" just because I comment on them

whippersnapper writes:

in response to UTfan4life2:

Bugman is right, Pearl isnt a good coach when it comes to developing players.

If Hopson went to Duke, he'd be a top 5 pick in this years' draft.

Hate to say it, but its true.

I guess Dane Bradshaw must have been an anomaly? Pearl developing players...na no way ! :)

BTW: Pearl is the MAN !!!
There is not another coach in BB that I would trade him for and that includes the NBA.jmho

kkempf#226833 writes:

in response to bugman:

i'm not a "fan" just because I comment on them

If you are not a fan, why do you refer to the teams as "we"? Are you under cover?

Porterhouse writes:

in response to UTfan4life2:

Bugman is right, Pearl isnt a good coach when it comes to developing players.

If Hopson went to Duke, he'd be a top 5 pick in this years' draft.

Hate to say it, but its true.

Not defending Pearl's development (or not) of players....but how many "developed" players come out of Duke these days? I'm sure there are some, I just can't think of any right now....

Porterhouse writes:

in response to kkempf#226833:

You may have some positive things to say, but you never say them here. If your thoughts are as negative as your posts, you must not have a happy existence.

Pearl has done a great job of creating basketball excitement in an arena where there wasn't a lot of that before. This year's team is solid defensively, too, which many of his previous teams really weren't. Though Hopson was considered a 5-star recruit, Harris will be his first true blue chip recruit, and it'll be interesting to see what this team can do with a legitimate star player.

Sorry, boss. Appreciate your spirit, but Hopson was as blue chip as they come a couple of years ago.

My query is...."Who "develops" players at the college level these days? These kids are what they are and will get drafted where they belong no matter where they play. Or how they play.

If Hopson is a 1st rounder, then he will be drafted as such when his time comes. If he is not, Pearl will not (cannot) make him one. This isn't our father's NBA anymore. Heart doesn't cut it without amazing talent to go with it.

Porterhouse writes:

Another thing about "developing" college players (assuming for the NBA), and speaking of Duke because they were the example used prior:
Duke has had 13 players drafted into the NBA this decade. I see one who has had a modicum of success and that is Boozer. Battier is a spot starter for bad teams, Deng is okay. The rest??? Not so much success. Guess they weren't developed?? Or did K get as much out of them as they could produce at Duke, thus winning a lot of games?

Pearl wins games at what was a graveyard before he came. "Developing" players is so much BS. These players produce what they can for Pearl, and that is what makes him a winner.

JMO

kkempf#226833 writes:

in response to Porterhouse:

Sorry, boss. Appreciate your spirit, but Hopson was as blue chip as they come a couple of years ago.

My query is...."Who "develops" players at the college level these days? These kids are what they are and will get drafted where they belong no matter where they play. Or how they play.

If Hopson is a 1st rounder, then he will be drafted as such when his time comes. If he is not, Pearl will not (cannot) make him one. This isn't our father's NBA anymore. Heart doesn't cut it without amazing talent to go with it.

Hopson came in as a McDonald's All-American, but wasn't thought of in the same sentence as other players in the same class, like Naismith award winner Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, or Jrue Holliday. I don't think anyone considered him NBA-ready coming out of school

Porterhouse writes:

We'll agree to disagree on this one.

True, Scotty wasn't as highly rated as the three you mentioned, but he could have gone anywhere he wanted to play. He was as coveted as anyone could be coming out.

But, he is what he is. Not the player as Evans or near the player as Jennings.

Interesting to see where he goes in the NBA. Similarities to Vincent Yarborough run through my head.

VOLinCO writes:

in response to rkastens:

We sure could use him now. Can't we speed things up and get him in here in time for the tournaments? :-)

I like the way you think

Gumby#1381110 writes:

in response to bugman:

i'm not a "fan" just because I comment on them

Is it time we called in Orkin to terminate the bugman? Was the blueberry girl on Willy Wonka really blue? umpa umpa oopedy ay!

Biggie writes:

I can't WAIT to see Tobias Harris play at the Summitt!

On the other trash talking here, there isn't a coach in this country that could've done better with what he has had this year.

VolunteerLifer writes:

in response to Porterhouse:

Another thing about "developing" college players (assuming for the NBA), and speaking of Duke because they were the example used prior:
Duke has had 13 players drafted into the NBA this decade. I see one who has had a modicum of success and that is Boozer. Battier is a spot starter for bad teams, Deng is okay. The rest??? Not so much success. Guess they weren't developed?? Or did K get as much out of them as they could produce at Duke, thus winning a lot of games?

Pearl wins games at what was a graveyard before he came. "Developing" players is so much BS. These players produce what they can for Pearl, and that is what makes him a winner.

JMO

Precisely correct. The term 'developing players' is not in Coach Pearl's job description, but term 'win basketball games' is.

Ironcity writes:

in response to Biggie:

I can't WAIT to see Tobias Harris play at the Summitt!

On the other trash talking here, there isn't a coach in this country that could've done better with what he has had this year.

We haven't had a star player since Lofton and it shows late in the shot clock every game. Its what separates this team and last years team from Pearls first three years. When the offense breaks down late in the clock, there isn't a player that can or is willing to create there own shot. We get to witness Goins jacking up a 25 footer or worse yet Prince. UT just doesn't have a go to guy. We have a lot of decent offensive players, but not one of them has the ability late in the clock to make a play. I hope and pray Tobias has that ability. I have seen Golden and he does have that desire I am not sure yet if he will have that abilityas a true freshman. I think when Hopson commits to the weight room he could have that ability, but right now he is not mentally wanting to take it hard to the hole and either get fouled or score.

knoxtenn writes:

The story says that "The nation’s top-ranked power forward became the 11th Long Island prep player to score 2,000 career points in the third quarter of Tuesday night’s victory."

WHAT A GAME! They had 11 players score 2000 points each in ONE QUARTER of basketball?

Some of that has to be because of bad defense.

AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:

Remember also how highly regarded Duke Crews was also when he got to The Hill. THESE PLAYERS NEED TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE and we need to see more guys like Chris Lofton and Eric Berry. Class acts AND top athletes!

bugman (Inactive) writes:

we because i went to ut. doesnt mean im a fan of the basketball coach or sports in general.

hdhurst writes:

in response to bugman:

we because i went to ut. doesnt mean im a fan of the basketball coach or sports in general.

Ok, let me get this straight...not a fan of pearl, not a fan of sports in general...remind me again what the h*ll it is that you are on here for then!! Is it to correct our self righteous beliefs all mighty one?

licknpromise777#651578 writes:

in response to UTfan4life2:

Bugman is right, Pearl isnt a good coach when it comes to developing players.

If Hopson went to Duke, he'd be a top 5 pick in this years' draft.

Hate to say it, but its true.

I don't think playing at Duke would automatically increase his shooting percentage; which is half his problem; He misses a lot of shots here and he would do the same at Duke. If Hopson was shooting 40% or better from the perimeter; we would win more games and fans wouldn't be calling him a bust

Porterhouse writes:

in response to bugman:

we because i went to ut. doesnt mean im a fan of the basketball coach or sports in general.

I agree with your logic. I know how to ice skate, can't stand figure skating or ice dancing.....so I'm off to an Olympic forum on those sports to spout off. Because they want to know what I think. I see that now!

Be back soon!!

jhayes0926#638474 writes:

I wonder if he will be part of a 10 man rotation getting only 22-25 minutes. I love UT but I think the rotation system has cost us a game or two.

bugman (Inactive) writes:

in response to Porterhouse:

I agree with your logic. I know how to ice skate, can't stand figure skating or ice dancing.....so I'm off to an Olympic forum on those sports to spout off. Because they want to know what I think. I see that now!

Be back soon!!

i said it "doesnt" mean im a not a fan ut basketball or sports in general... not that I wasn't chew on that one for a little while. lol. furthermore i enjoy confusing "u" ppl because im superior to you all.

kkempf#226833 writes:

in response to bugman:

i said it "doesnt" mean im a not a fan ut basketball or sports in general... not that I wasn't chew on that one for a little while. lol. furthermore i enjoy confusing "u" ppl because im superior to you all.

You'll find in life that you'll get much farther with the esteem of others than your own. From the looks of it, you've got a long way to go before you earn that.

Brillovol writes:

in response to kkempf#226833:

You'll find in life that you'll get much farther with the esteem of others than your own. From the looks of it, you've got a long way to go before you earn that.

Ouch.

hdhurst writes:

in response to kkempf#226833:

You'll find in life that you'll get much farther with the esteem of others than your own. From the looks of it, you've got a long way to go before you earn that.

yeah, we can ignore his posts now... buggy just squashed himself with his pathetic responses.

johnlg00#206211 writes:

in response to bugman:

i said it "doesnt" mean im a not a fan ut basketball or sports in general... not that I wasn't chew on that one for a little while. lol. furthermore i enjoy confusing "u" ppl because im superior to you all.

People who tell everybody how smart they are usually don't have anybody ELSE willing to do so!

Volinator27 writes:

in response to bugman:

i look forward to pearl under developing him as he's done in the past. the best players / year he's had was with Petersons recruits. so what he has 5 2o win seasons. he chokes in the sec tourney and ncaa tourney every year. it isnt what you do in the regular season it's what you do after the fact. hopson is not developed, kenny hall is not developed, woolridge is not developed, duke crews not developed, ramar smith not developed, tatum not developed...see a pattern here? Either their benched or kicked off the team. point is pearl may get by with a 20 win season and even a few top 5 wins but at the end of the day he's still not a good teacher.

WOW you have to be the Biggest Idiot iv ever heard you must have never played Ball or you rode the bench because you have no clue about Basketball. BP is the best thing that has ever happened to this progam Get a life Quit bein a Negative nancy. Your a waste of AIR.

utkCREW writes:

Just recently registered to the site. Avid UT fan. Undergrad Alum and currently in Grad school at UT. It hurt, watching that tough loss today to Michigan St but I know under Bruce Pearl we'll be back. He has done wonders with the program, recruits, and fans. When I was an undergrad during the Buzz Peterson flop it was often tough to sit in the fans as a student with minimal home support for our players and a lack of excitment for Tennessee Basketball.

So, with that intro. I must say I DO have concerns about BPs ability to cultivate talent. To a degree I agree with that Bugman person.

To watch Evan Turner against us was like the good ole days when I was elementary school cheering on Chamique Holdsclaw, and sitting in awe of pure basketball genius. Or in recent years, watching Candance Parker do anything on the court she wanted against even the top teams.

I get that C.H. and Candance Parker were both Number 1 prospects, and prehaps you don't see players like those every day.

I don't know, I just hope to see Scotty H. develop more through his Junior season, and see both him and Kenny Hall fill vital roles for us in the future that we EXPECTED both of those young men TO fill.

Like I said, I was a kid back in those days, but the thought still comes to mind when I think of uncultivated talent. Does anyone remember Shallon Pillow who played for Pat Summitt? I can remember her warming her bench seat during that era of Chamquie Holdsclaw. I can remember being a kid, and reading her on the roster, the highschool experience, and how she had been a bluechip, 4 or 5 star top prospect or whatever. But for some reason or another, she never fully panned out for Pat.

I just hope to see a player invested dedication to ORANGE and our program that drive our players to be their best. I think if JP Prince could have had his 'Senior-NCAA-Tourney-itis' moreso be a 'Orange-Pride-itis' for his entire career then we might have seen an even more talented team than the already solid team we had today against Michigan St.

Pat Summitt gets those girls to believe in Tennessee pride and tradition. I DO BELIEVE that Bruce is attempting to establish that also.

It is 1am so you'll have to excuse me if some, none, or all of this makes any sense. Time to go and hit the books some more!

Pick it apart, light me on fire, or whatever. I still think its an amazing time to be a TN Vol.

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