Texas Tech Lands Forward

He had originally planned on going through the entire recruiting process. But Phil Harbaugh, the 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward from Corvallis, Oregon, couldn't resist the overtures of Texas Tech and Bobby Knight. The versatile forward committed to the Red Raiders on his official visit over the weekend.

"I went down there to Lubbock, met with the team and coaches, and this (Sunday) morning I decided to verbally commit to Texas Tech," said Harbaugh.

Texas Tech was Harbaugh's first official visit to any school, and he originally planned on feeling out the entire process. But the way things worked out, he was simply sold - and there was no reason to stretch things out any longer.

"I really wasn't planning on doing it, but the situation was great," said Harbaugh. "It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. But I got down there, I started talking to the other recruits (making their official visits) and the coaches, and I started thinking -- this situation works. That's all it took."

Harbaugh, who saw his stock rise more than any other Oregonian this summer on the AAU circuit, is a versatile scorer who can score inside and out. It's his ability to play multiple positions that had Coach Knight excited enough to offer. "He's looking for a big kid who can do a lot of things," said Harbaugh.

Harbaugh hopes to take another visit to Lubbock at the beginning of October to introduce his parents to his new home the next four years starting next fall. "I loved Lubbock," said Harbaugh. "I think it's a great place. It's not a huge place but it's growing. The people there are all friendly. It's a place where I can see you easily get accustomed to."

And in general, it was just the right fit for Harbaugh. "Everything just kind of clicked when I was down there," said Harbaugh. "The basketball works, the school works -- not a lot more you can ask for."

Jed Tai is a senior writer with Hoopville.com