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15 in 40: Tyler Harris Putting in Work

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In our latest 15 in 40 article Kevin Farrahar takes a look at junior Tyler Harris, and how he hopes a grueling offseason workout regimen will elevate his game this season.

Our season preview of Tyler Harris last year featured an image of two different Harrises, ironic considering how his first season in Providence played out.

There were times when Harris was outstanding — 22 points and 9 rebounds in a comeback win against LaSalle in the Virgin Islands, 22 and 9 more in his Big East debut versus Seton Hall, and then when he turned it up when it mattered most — in the postseason.

Lost in the nightly playoff heroics of Bryce Cotton, Josh Fortune’s outburst in the Big East quarters, and the clutch shooting of LaDontae Henton was the sneaky good postseason play of Harris.

He grabbed 10 rebounds in 27 minutes in the quarterfinal win over St. John’s, blew the Big East semis open with 14 second-half points on Seton Hall, and finished the year with a solid 13 point night in the NCAA Tournament against North Carolina. His late three point play in that one looked as though it had turned the tide for good in favor of the Friars (with Cotton’s reaction capturing the feeling of Friartown in that moment).

 Harris Carolina on Make A Gif

Statistically, Harris’ first season in Providence was just what the Friars needed to complement the Cotton/Henton/Kadeem Batts core that carried them to 19 wins in 2013.

He scored in double figures 25 times and averaged over 11 points and five rebounds a game, while making 84% of his free throw attempts. Seems all good on paper, so why was there a divide among some Friar fans when it came to Harris?

The preseason buzz probably didn’t help. On a team loaded with potential X-factors in September and October, Harris seemed to be the player most frequently pointed to in the weeks leading up to the season as the one most likely to put this team over — and for good reason, he’s a 6’9 left hander who can score on all three levels.

While Harris had a number of early breakout games, there were times when he forced the issue offensively. It’s probably not coincidental that Harris’ game started to come together late, as he began to find his niche in Ed Cooley’s offense. Harris explained, “It was a new system, so I had to see where I could fit in and be most effective. It took a little time, but I got it and I felt like by the end of the season I improved a lot, and I’ve been improving since.”

Over the final eight games of last season, Harris shot 45% from the field and turned the ball over just eight times in 275 minutes of action. PC went 6-2 over that span.

In 2014-15 he’s being looked to as more than an X-factor, but an impact scorer on a team that returns only three players who saw minutes against Carolina. With All Big East seniors in Cotton and Batts, Harris’ offense was often necessary, but at times a luxury last season. This team will need him to score consistently, especially as a different group of newcomers works through their own process of finding their roles in Cooley’s offense.

If Harris doesn’t take the next step this season it won’t be for a lack of effort. Cooley has said that Harris has worked as hard as any Friar this offseason, and the lefty lived in the gym all summer.

“I’m in the best shape of my life right now. I’m moving a lot quicker and I feel like I’m growing into my body more,” Harris said.

He spent the summer working out with his brother, rising NBA star Tobias Harris, and the duo often worked out three or four times a day, with sessions lasting two hours at a time. He traveled to Houston to work out with a trainer, with training that included running, adding strength in the weight room, 1:1 and skill sessions with his brother, and then capping the night by putting up more shots at the gym.

“I’m just more confident about everything coming into this season. Last year was a great year and I’m expecting the same end results (this season).”

For PC to achieve those results again they’ll need Harris to emerge into a more consistent scorer — and shots should be available with Cotton and Batts having graduated.

“It’s been everything I expected when I came here. We won the Big East championship — one of the biggest dreams I had when I was a kid. I am very blessed to be here and I am very excited about the season with this group we’ve got here.”

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

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