2006 Harris still feeling the Big East

The No. 15 ranked player in the class of 2006 Paul Harris, of Niagara Falls (N.Y.) High School led Team Empire to a 101-95 win over Team Apple with a team high 23 points in the Apple vs. Empire Classic. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wing player presently has two Big East schools and his hometown school at the top of his list.

“I like Syracuse, Niagara, and Pittsburgh,” said Harris. “Syracuse is the main school on me, and that’s who I am favoring. I live the way they spread the floor and run. Ohio State has also offered me a scholarship.”

Harris, who turned 18 years old on October 15, is making progress in the classroom but will have to attend prep school next year because of his age.

“I am making B’s right now,” he said. “I will take one of the tests next year, and I won’t make a decision on what prep school to go to until this spring.”

A rugged defender and rebounder, Harris can effectively play any perimeter position and guard any perimeter position. His ball handling has progressed to the point where he can run the point, but his jump shot is the one area of his game that most needs improving.

“I’m working hard right now on my game,” he said. “I’m trying to improve my jumper, and I’m shooting a lot of pull up jumpers.”

Harris, who foresees himself as a combo guard on the college level, has had some recent legal issues that very likely are having an effect on his recruitment. Harris declined to comment on the matter, but Niagara Falls’ assistant coach Sal Constantino did have this comment.

“Whatever issues Paul has had are behind him, and he has faced up to any mistakes he has made,” said Constantino. “Anyone who questions Paul’s character has never sat down and talked to Paul or spent time with him.”