Darrell Harris

05/13/05: "College basketball star Darrell Harris has accepted a scholarship to play ball at Rhode Island." - Cleveland Plain Dealer

05/13/05: "The University of Rhode Island's basketball program is holding out hope of landing a talented big man in this recruiting season. Darrell Harris, a 6-foot-10, 205-pound center from Cuyahoga (Ohio) Community College, is considering the Rams along with Cincinnati and Southern Mississippi." - Providence (RI) Journal

05/10/05: "It now appears as if Harris will not be signing with UC. Huggins would not say, however, that UC is finished recruiting for next season." - Enquirer.com

05/09/05: "Darrell Harris, a 6-foot-11, 215-pound sophomore big forward from Cuyahoga Junior College in Cleveland, Ohio, was released from the national letter of intent he signed with Siena in the fall of 2004. New head coach Fran McCaffery announced this news on April 20th." - www.ScoutHoops.com (FYI - I'm keeping my listing of Harris at 6'9 - Mike Ryan)

05/08/05: "Darrell Harris - another star player on Tri-C's title team - has narrowed his college choices to Cincinnati, Rhode Island and Southern Mississippi." - Cleveland Plain Dealer

05/04/05: "UC was still waiting to hear Tuesday from Darrell Harris, a 6-10, 205-pound post player from Cuyahoga (Ohio) Community College. He was deciding among UC, Southern Miss and Rhode Island.

If the Bearcats land Harris, Ball said, they would have an impressive high-low combination on offense. "He's a skinny kid, but he's not afraid to get in there and mix it up," Ball said of Harris. "He can really run, he can block shots and he's a really good passer."

Harris, who grew up in Cleveland, averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds last season. He signed a letter of intent with Siena last fall but was granted a release after Siena coach Rob Lanier was fired. He's expected to make his decision today." - Enquirer.com

05/03/05: The Bearcat coaching staff might land another post player today or Wednesday when 6-10 junior college center Darrell Harris chooses from among UC, Southern Miss and Rhode Island. (snip) Harris, who grew up in Cleveland, averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds last season for Cuyahoga (Ohio) Community College and was named the junior college Division II national player of the year. He averaged 12 points and nine rebounds the previous season, helping Cuyahoga win the Division II junior college national championship. Harris made an unofficial visit to UC over the weekend. "I liked the facilities, the coaches and the campus," he said. Harris signed a letter-of-intent with Siena last fall, but was granted a release after Siena coach Rob Lanier was fired." - Enquirer.com (changed his height from 6-11 to 6-9, per tipster)

04/27/05: "Darrell Harris, I hear, will likely end up down the road on I-71 in Cincinnati. I don't know if Ohio State ever really tried their hand with him after being released from Siena. The Bearcats probably will get Harris." - www.BuckNuts.com

04/22/05: Will visit Clifton sometime over the next week. - Mike Ryan (4 to 5)

04/21/05: There is >no< Cincinnati-area confirmation of a verbal commitment from Harris. - Mike Ryan, 11pm

04/21/05: WTEN-TV in Albany NY reports that Harris has given a verbal commitment to Cincinnati. (A message board post-er says "Albany, NY TV station reporting that Darrell Harris has gave a verbal commitment to Huggins for 2005-2006.") - BearcatsDen.com

http://www.tri-c.cc.oh.us/Basketball/images/Darrell%20Harris%2034.JPG

04/20/05: "Head men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery announced today that Tarrance Garrison and Darryl Harris have asked for and been granted releases from their binding National Letter's of Intent to play basketball at Siena next season. Their departures leave the basketball program with five scholarships available for next season. Harris, a 6-11, 205 pound forward from Cleveland, Ohio attended Cuyahoga Community College, and Garrison, a 6-8, 230 forward from Dallas, Texas, attended Lancaster High School." - Siena Website

04/16/05: "Harris averaged 27.3 points and 14.2 rebounds for Cuyahoga and was named a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II first-team All-American. McCaffery had said after meeting with Harris that Siena would grant him a release if he asked for one. "I'm sorry it did not work out at Siena and so is Darryl," Gardenhire said. "He really had his heart set on going there. Believe me, it had nothing at all to do with the school. Darryl thought it was a terrific place."

Because Harris is still bound by the letter of intent at Siena, he has not been able to be contacted by any other school. Gardenhire said there has been interest shown by schools from the Big East, Atlantic Coast Conference and Conference USA. "Darryl brought me in a list of 14 schools he might be interested in," Gardenhire said. "I don't know where he is going from here, but his stock is rising as a player. It's all just a shame that it didn't work out with Siena." - Albany Times Union

04/09/05: "The OCCAC is extremely proud to announce that Darrell Harris of Cuyahoga Community College has been named an NJCAA Div II 1st team All-American. Harris was the OCCAC player of the year and a member of the NJCAA Region XII All-Region team. Harris lead Cuyahoga to a 4th place finish in the NJCAA Div II Men's National Basketball Championships. Harris was also elected to the All-Tournament team at Nationals and received the Fred Pohlman Sportsmanship Award at the National Tournament. Harris lead the OCCAC in scoring this season with a 26.8 a points per game average and rebounding, hauling down an average of 14.5 rebounds per game. The OCCAC congratulates Darrell Harris on a truly outstanding season." - OCCAC.org

03/12/05: "Darrell Harris got angry on Tuesday when he first heard about the firing of Rob Lanier. The 6-foot-11 Harris, who was Lanier's top recruit for next season, wasn't any happier on Friday. "I don't know where I am going to play next year," Harris said. "All I know is that I won't be going to Siena College."

Harris was speaking by phone from Piqua, Ohio, where he was playing in the National Junior College Athletic Association District 7 Tournament for Cuyahoga Community College that night. Harris was named the Player of the Year in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference after averaging 27 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots per game. Cuyahoga, the same school that Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace attended, played Edison Community College Friday night.

Harris visited Siena last year and said the main reason he wanted to come to Loudonville was the relationship he forged with Lanier and the rest of the staff. With Lanier gone, things can't be the same. "I don't want to go there," Harris said. "There is no question in my mind. The main reason I wanted to go was coach Lanier. I really wanted to go there because it looked like a nice school. Right now, I'm really disappointed." - Albany Times Union

file created 04/21/05 - 4