Every year the alleged “best” college seniors get a chance to make an impression on NBA and international decision makers at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, but Ricky Harris didn’t get that chance. We don’t typically challenge selections for events like Portsmouth, but Ricky Harris was snubbed.
The 6’ 2” guard was far and away the best player for the University of Massachusetts Minutemen this year, and was really one of their all-time greats. As a sophomore, he burst onto the scene scoring over 18 points per game, up from just four points as a freshman, on his way to winning the Atlantic 10’s Most Improved Player award. As a junior, he had a repeat performance of his sophomore year, again averaging 18 points despite seeing more attention from opposing defenses. As a senior, Harris led the team in minutes played, points, assists, and steals despite seeing constant double teams as the opposition dared other players to beat them.
He posted arguably his best game against Duquesne, and A-10 Defensive Player of the Year Damian Saunders, going off for 29 points, five rebounds, and six assists in a 84-80 victory. That game is one of the many illustrations that Harris is a born scorer, who excels against elite level defenders. Ricky’s body of work speaks for itself. He finished his career at UMass as the team’s third all-time leading scorer; ahead of Marcus Camby and Dr. J, among countless others. Any objective basketball fan can see that Ricky Harris should have been at Portsmouth, and odds are he would have shined there.
Harris isn’t the type to complain though, and he’s focused on getting better and getting ready for individual workouts this summer. Like many of the best in Baltimore, Ricky is working out with trainer Joe Connelly. Harris knows that to make it at the next level he will have to work on his point guard skills.
“Most teams already know that I can shoot and score so I want to show them that I can make others better around me by distributing the ball and putting people in positions to get easy baskets. This year I played a lot of PG so I think it won’t be too hard making the transition, especially if I put the work in,” Harris told us.
Connelly agrees, “[Ricky] played more of a scoring guard role in college so most scouts see him as more of a 2 in a 1′s body. His greatest challenge will be showing that he can run a NBA point.”
The odds of getting drafted might be against Harris due to his size, but he isn’t worried.
“To be honest I’m not concerned because I know if I do my part and continue to improve my game, when I get the opportunity to display my talent amongst teams I will go hard and compete.” Ricky certainly has the right attitude and the right credentials; all he needs now is for one team to give him a chance.
The Rookie Wall: You’re f
rom Baltimore and went to Calvert High School, which has a ton of talent year in and year out. Who was the toughest player you played against in high school? How close is the basketball community in Baltimore?
Ricky Harris: Rudy Gay was the best player I played against during my high school career. The Baltimore community is tight, we all know each other and support each other during the season. Baltimore is very small and we all compete against each other in the summers and off seasons.
TRW: You played 4 years at UMass, but really showed up on the scene as a Sophomore, when you were named the A-10′s Most Improved Player. What led to such a big improvement?
RH: In the summer time I knew coach brought in a few guys in my position, and I wanted to play and show coach that I wanted to be on the floor and help my team, so I decided to stay at school that whole summer and work on my game as well as my body.
TRW: Your three point shooting percentage was down a little this year, was that because of how defenses were game planning for you?
RH: A lot of teams keyed in on me and limited me from getting open looks. Teams knew that I could score so they made it very hard for me to do so, but I did my best to play within myself and score when the opportunity presented itself.
TRW: What are your plans for working out this summer to get in shape for NBA team individual workouts? What aspects of your game are you working on?
RH: Basically work hard, this summer I will be working out with Joe Connelly working on my point guard skills, most teams already know that I can shoot/score so I want to show them that I can make others better around me by distributing the ball and putting people in positions to get easy baskets. This year I played a lot of PG so I think it won’t be too hard in making the transition, especially if I put the work in.
TRW: What have you heard about your draft position?
RH: Not much, and to be honest I’m not concerned because I know if I do my part and continue to improve my game, when I get the opportunity to display my talent amongst teams I will go hard and compete, in hopes to get the attention from varies teams.
TRW: What would you tell an NBA GM if they asked what you could bring to the team?
RH: Toughness, hard work, competitiveness, and character, I play with a lot of emotion and I think I can bring that out of other people.
TRW: What NBA player do you compare your game to?
RH: Mo Williams, he’s a shooter, and a pg that can score. I feel we both aren’t true point guards but we can get it done on both ends of the floor. I think I’m bigger and more psychical than Mo, but overall our games are similar.
TRW: You have already signed an agent, who did you sign with and what went into your selection process in choosing that agent?
RH: I chose Eric Fleischer because, I felt that he had my best interest at heart, my family was comfortable with him and so was I, he never once made promises to me, just that he will present opportunities and I need to be prepared and ready to take advantage of them, and at the end of the day that’s all I ever wanted was an opportunity.
TRW: What is one thing you’d like to tell your fans that no one really knows about you?
RH: I’m a humble person.
TRW: Is there any last thing you’d like to say?
RH: I just want to thank all my family and friends for all the support over the years and I love you guys and continue to pray for me as I continue my journey.
TRW: How would you describe Ricky Harris’ game to someone who hasn’t seen him play?
Joe Connelly: Ricky is a proto-typical Baltimore guard in that he is tough, plays physical, and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Probably one of the more under-appreciated seniors in the country. His UMASS numbers were phenomenal and he finished as the third leading scorer in school history. Not bad considering he surpassed Dr. J, Marcus Camby and Loe Roe along the way. Played more of a scoring guard role in college so think most scouts see him as more of a 2 in a 1′s body. His greatest challenge will be showing that he can run a NBA point.
TRW: What are Ricky’s biggest strengths on the court?
JC: Ricky is very physical with the ball and uses his body well to go where he wants to on the floor. This also helps in on the defensive end where he plays good position defense using his body to apply pressure on and off the ball.
TRW: How do you think Ricky will do in individual workouts?
JC: I think Ricky will be able to show teams in workouts that he can really stroke it coming of high screens, has good athleticism as he finishes with dunks easily off dribble drives, picks up things quickly and most important will compete with all he has. In our workout sessions he is usually the smallest guy, but he is relentless as a competitor and his intensity always turns things up a notch. Teams will like what they see in Ricky Harris and think he will open some eyes.
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