NBA Draft Profiles: Tobias Harris, Tennessee

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Stats: 15.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.8 t/o's

Age: 18, freshman

Size:

• Listed: 6'8", 225 lb
• Official: 6'6.5" (no shoes), 6'7.5" (with shoes), 6'11" (wingspan), 8'7.5" (reach), 223 lb

Strengths: Tobias Harris is one of those players that seemingly does everything well. He can score on the perimeter or in the post. He an knock down threes and jump hooks. He can run the wing in transition, he can run the middle of the floor and catch and dunk, and he can lead the fast break himself. Part of the reason that Harris went to Tennessee in the first place is that Bruce Pearl told him that he would have the opportunity to show off his all around basketball abilities.

Weaknesses: While Harris has a jack-of-all-trades reputation, his problem as a prospect is that there isn't anything that he does at an NBA level. He can hit threes, but he can be inconsistent from beyond the arc and needs to work at his ability to hit a pull-up. Harris is also going to have his fair share of problems on the defensive end of the floor. He's not necessarily quick enough to defend threes on the perimeter, but at 6'8" with a fairly slender upper body, Harris doesn't have the strength to be able to defend on the low-block at the next level.

Comparisons:

• Best Case Scenario: Luol Deng meets Shane Battier. Deng is much more offensive minded and Battier is a defensive specialist who can shoot the ball, and I see Harris as a mixture of the two. He’s a slightly awkward mover and isn’t the greatest off the dribble like Deng, but he can shoot from anywhere on the floor and plays smart. Gives solid effort and energy on the defensive end like Battier, but won’t nearly be quite as lockdown of a player.


• Worst Case Scenario: Ryan Gomes. Solid forward who can play in the post, do a little bit of everything on the
  court, and is a solid shooter from the perimeter. Tobias clearly has more upside to his game, but if he fails to meet it, then he will be another Ryan Gomes who can play within a team’s rotation but won’t thrive.

Outlook: Harris is going to be an intriguing prospect simply because of how much he is able to do on a basketball court. He is a versatile player, capable of playing the wing or the post, and potentially even a point forward spot as his handle continues to develop. Harris has a terrific work ethic and comes from a hoops family, one that spends quite a bit of time in the gym. The key to what kind of career Harris eventually does have at this level will be determined by how much he improves defensively. Can Harris ever guard on the perimeter? Or in the post? Or is he going to be a constant mismatch for opponents?

Draft Range: Mid to Late 1st Round

And the experts say...

• Chad Ford: "Harris may have been the most underrated prospect we discussed during the season. Despite his excellent pedigree and a terrific freshman season, he flew under the radar. No more. As I reported Friday, scouts have been buzzing about him for weeks and it looks as if he has a legitimate shot of cracking the lottery. While he certainly could go higher with another season of college ball, it's probably a good year for him to make the jump. "


• Draft Express: "Overall, Harris is amongst the more intriguing forwards in this class. He'll impress in interviews and workouts with his uncommon maturity and skill level. He isn't a strong candidate to function as a top offensive option for a NBA franchise down the round, and won't be featured on many highlight reels, but he has a lot of raw tools team's look for in a complementary scorer and plenty of time to work on his weaknesses as he adapts to the pro game."


• Swish Scout: "Smart, instinctive player who can shoot the ball, handle the rock, and play almost any position on the floor. Limited by athleticism and lack of muscle, but can overcome those with his excellent size, length, and skill set for a forward in addition to a great feel for the game."

Highlights: