Gary Harris
School: Michigan State
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 205 pounds
Position: Shooting Guard
NBA Comparison: O.J. Mayo
Another member of the Michigan State squad that made it to the Elite 8 of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, combo guard Gary Harris, while slightly undersized, has the skill set to help a team at the next level, and is projected to be a late-lottery or mid-first round selection in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Strengths:
At 6’4″, 205 lbs., Gary Harris has average size for a shooting guard to go along with his remarkable skill set. He is a very unselfish and team-orientated player willing to distribute the ball, while still producing offensively himself. Has a great jump shot, and is very confident in his shooting ability.
Harris can effectively and consistently get to the rim easily using ball fakes and misdirection moves. He is also great at using his dribble to create space to shoot. Good from mid-range, Harris has proven that he can hit key baskets when his team needs them most.
He shows very good awareness on the offensive and defensive ends of the court, and will not be caught sleeping on a play. Harris is a solid defensive player who averaged nearly two steals per game as a sophomore at Michigan State, and he is quick enough to defend both guard positions. He is a very competitive player with a work ethic that will only help him improve as a player in the NBA.
Weaknesses:
Harris is a very unselfish player, but his shot selection could be much better, as he takes way too many contested shots. He often settles for contested jumpers because of his inability break the defense down and create an easier shot.
While he definitely has the size to make it in the NBA, he is not an overly impressive physical specimen standing at just 6’4″ with a wingspan of 6’6″, and his average athleticism doesn’t make up for it. His a lack of explosiveness and athleticism limits his offensive potential. Despite his size being more that of a point guard, Harris is very inexperienced playing from the lead guard position.
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