L Harris Interview Insightful

General NCS Basketball25

NC State Assistant Basketball Coach, Larry Harris (link to entries) gave an interview to Triangle Sports talk that is archived for your listening pleasure here.

There isn’t a lot in the interview, but there were two key comments on which I wanted to highlight:

(1) Harris commented that he spoke with Coach Lowe when Sidney got the job and they discussed some things that Larry “wanted to do at NC State” – namely “win a National Championship.”

I can’t tell you how much I love hearing that. Look, NC State may never add to its cache of two national championships…but, NC State will definitely never compete for a national championship if we are scared of talking about chasing the goal and choose to hide from our history while trying to create false realities about new definitions of “success”.

I LOVE hearing that the topic of pursuing the brass ring was THE topic that was discussed, and perhaps THE impetus to keep Coach Harris in Raleigh.

(2) The other very interesting piece of information that came from the interview was that NC State may not be done with recruiting for the 2006 season – Harris said that teh Pack was in the process of searching for a couple of guys and involved with a couple of guys now.

This information is contrary to the comments made by Pack Pride’s James Henderson last week that State was done recruiting for next year. I do not have a clue about any particular names that the Wolfpack is still recruiting for next season, but I have assume that the Pack is targetting a post player to help replace the scholarship lost with Cedric Simmons’ departure. In this entry, I threw out the name of Junior College player, Hernol Hall. IMHO, Hall represents the type of player to whom the Wolfpack is hopefully talking (and offering immediate playing time in the ACC).

If you have any insight or thoughts regarding potential prospects in the class of 2006 that might remain for the Wolpack, please don’t hesitate to share them in our comments section. The following are comments regarding Hall that I included in the previous entry:

* State is not currently listed as a potential choice of any uncommitted junior college centers or power forwards; but quite a few JUCO centers remain uncommitted, including 6-feet-10-inch Hernol Hall. Hall may be tempted by State’s ability to offer immediate playing time in the ACC now that Simmons is (reportedly) out of the fold. Hall seems to be interested in the general geographical area since he currently lists schools like Charlotte, Georgia, Maryland, Clemson, and Wake Forest on his list. Additionally, national programs like Kansas, Ohio State, Washington, and Oklahoma are also pursuing him.

* Hall, an NJCAA All-American was recently released from his commitment to Duquesne and may represent a little different profile of a typical JUCO player because he is of Costa Rican decent. This may play better with admissions and compliance officers at State than a US player that has more academic problems and was forced to go JUCO out of high school. From Scout.com:

The Limon, Costa Rico native finished his sophomore season at Lon Morris College in Texas as the the Co-MVP of the NJCAA Region XIV. Hall averaged 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals. He shot 61.8 percent overall (123-199), 37.5% beyond the arc (3/8) and 64.3 percent from the charity stripe (90/140) in 24 of LMC’s 28 games.

General NCS Basketball

25 Responses to L Harris Interview Insightful

  1. redfred2 06/02/2006 at 11:37 AM #

    6’8″ Costner, 6’10” Brackman, 6’9″ McCauley

    It may be a be a slow start and take a while to come around, but I feel pretty good about those guys. It’s not Phi Slama Jama but I feel Sidney Lowe and staff will develop different offense(S) that will make these guys talents come to light, and allow them to be more effective inside.

    I haven’t had time to keep up lately, Is Simmons gone FOR SURE? Brackman coming back? Saw something that said McCauley was still up in the air, last I heard?

  2. StateFans 06/02/2006 at 11:55 AM #

    Costner – Freshman who plays better with his face to the basket like a swing forward

    Brackman – only playing one more year and not a real “post” presence on the boards or defensively

    McCauley – Sophomore

  3. redfred2 06/02/2006 at 12:09 PM #

    Larry Harris is part of the lunatic fringe, wants to be, and believes that there is actually room for another contender out of the ACC.

    Damn good to know!

  4. redfred2 06/02/2006 at 12:23 PM #

    Statefans

    I may be speaking out of turn, but in the past, I was never really given a chance to evaluate how these guys reacted when asked to play in traditional post positions for any extended period of time.

    Is there doubt that Brackman will be playing BB again? Someone said they were glad to see McCauley working a local BB event, as if to say it was a sign that he was sticking around? I didn’t know he contemplating otherwise. Simmons, gone? I read an earlier post, but it lead me believe
    that it wasn’t official yet?

  5. Clarksa 06/02/2006 at 1:05 PM #

    “I can’t tell you how much I love hearing that. Look, NC State may never add to its cache of two national championships…but, NC State will definitely never compete for a national championship if we are scared of talking about chasing the goal…”

    I love hearing that from ALL our coaches…football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, etc. What amazes me is the flack one coach in particular has gotten from the media and fans for not winning one in year six of building the program from basically the ground up.

  6. Kingfish76 06/02/2006 at 1:33 PM #

    We should pursue Hall with an all out blitz. We need immediate help in the post, and a JC player fills the need.

  7. redfred2 06/02/2006 at 1:42 PM #

    Clarksa

    Agreed! There is still plenty of room for improvement and consistency is lacking, but taking into account the instability contributed by his staff’s attrition rate, the man has done fairly well. I got on Chuck’s case for a while there about the silly penalties and his impatience on offense for not using the running game to wear people down.

    This season’s coaching job for C Amato is not really comparable to what I thought I would find about Roy Williams in basketball last year, but Amato does have some different challenges ahead. Let’s hope we are similarly happy about Amato job at season’s end, as I was pissed at, but impressed by, Roy W’s work last year.

  8. redfred2 06/02/2006 at 1:48 PM #

    SFN

    SORRY. Clarksa started it.

  9. wingatewolf 06/02/2006 at 2:04 PM #

    Remember Brackman and his freshman year? He ran the floor, banging bodies, going for rebounds and loving the inside game.

    Then Herb got a hold of him, made him think he was a 6’10” guard and said you don’t need to rebound and bang underneath.

    He has said he’s dropping weight. My opinion is that he’s an inside guy that with the right coaching he can only expand his game. Herb couldn’t coach a low post player even if he had Shaquille O’Neal himself playing for him.

    But yes, we need depth at the post for sure. Any Hargrave type players left?

  10. DiscoStu65 06/02/2006 at 3:14 PM #

    hey wingatewolf, did you go to wingate u? 2002 alumn here

  11. wingatewolf 06/02/2006 at 3:38 PM #

    93 alum but my heart has always been Wolfpack red since I was old enough to remember.

  12. redfred2 06/02/2006 at 3:46 PM #

    Wingate

    Don’t be so tough on Herb he…..uh…..well….was a class act. Whatever that means. I guess everyone expected Brackman to just take it from there.

    I was disapointed to hear some people criticizing the players at the later stages of the season last year. Bad ball handling on the break, entry passes being dropped, and it was like I was supposed believe that there was any real emphasis put on those skills during practices.

    These players will have an opportunity to, and I think they will, show us a different side now. If they don’t, at least the younger ones, then I over estimated the progress in recruiting also.

  13. tractor57 06/02/2006 at 4:52 PM #

    I liked what I heard from that interview. It may be a tough road but there is no longer a limitation on the BB program’s success imposed by the coaching staff. The fire is back!

  14. redfred2 06/02/2006 at 7:44 PM #

    I am going to keep trying until someone replys.

    Is there any official word yet, as to whether Simmons has signed with an agent?

  15. bTHEredterror 06/02/2006 at 7:54 PM #

    There is a 6’4″ SG named Jajuan Jones listing us GT and Cincy as possibilities, he has been talking to us since Herb’s tenure and has still not selected a school. PackPride (scout.com) rates him as a 4 star recruit, 32nd ranked SG in the class.

    More intriguing, and more necessary considering Simmons seems gone, is a 6’10” 245 lb center at Laurinburg Prep still uncommitted named Phil Jones. He too is 4 star according to Scout.com and didn’t list us as a possibility. That was before Sid. Also a 6″5″ 190 SF from Georgia named Cameron Tatum who does list us(also Tennesse, Georgia, South Carolina, and Charlotte) as possible locations.

    A link to above: http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&cfg=bb&c=4&yr=2006

    I think Werner will fit in well as he may be not be an overwhelming athelete, but is a team player with a solid skillset and should excell in any program. I know his father stated he may not fit in well in every offense, but look at the list of teams vying for him, it’s a mix of offensive styles.

  16. TomA 06/02/2006 at 8:33 PM #

    RedFred,
    I think it was either earlier this week or late last week that ESPN News ran a list of players who were confirmed to have signed with an agent and Simmons was listed so it looks like he is gone.
    By the way, count me as one who thinks we may be better of without Davis coming to State. The incident with the ref may not have been entirely his fault but there have been other rumblings surrounding him that it’s best he does go somewhere else. Why so much fuss over a barely top 100 player with baggage when it seems that several players of much higher ranking still wish to play here if State makes sure to contact them to say we still want you. The keywords for next year are calm and patience to give the new staff time to do things their way. I think in the long run things will be just fine!

  17. Texpack 06/02/2006 at 8:41 PM #

    There was a statement released by Annabelle Vaughn confirming his departure.

  18. Wulfpack 06/02/2006 at 9:55 PM #

    “The keywords for next year are calm and patience to give the new staff time to do things their way. I think in the long run things will be just fine!”

    Right on! And I say that should also be the case for the first few years even. Lots of adjustments to make, a lot to learn. But we can do it…

    I heard on sports 650 that Simmons is a done deal and has signed across the dotted line — he’s done, and now I suspect we are searching for ways to fill his void. Brackman is NOT the answer…can anybody say soft?? Hansbrough will eat him alive…

  19. dvwolf 06/02/2006 at 10:16 PM #

    “There is a 6′4″ SG named Jajuan Jones listing us GT and Cincy as possibilities, he has been talking to us since Herb’s tenure and has still not selected a school. PackPride (scout.com) rates him as a 4 star recruit, 32nd ranked SG in the class.”

    We DO NOT want this guy I live inDouglasville, GA ( so I seen him play a lot)he plays no D. And he did not graduate from Douglas County high school he has got in trouble with drugs and fights. He has tons of talent but not a guy we want.

  20. Packsabre 06/03/2006 at 12:17 AM #

    OK, Sidney’s work is done, when can he get to his new job? Does he need his degree first?

  21. bTHEredterror 06/03/2006 at 2:38 AM #

    Appreciate the info, dvwolf. I shoulda guessed there was a reason he hadn’t signed.

  22. BladenWolf 06/03/2006 at 8:51 AM #

    I sure hope Coach Harris is making his way down to my neck of the woods to talk to Phil Jones. This kid is pretty good from what I’ve seen. Rated #15 as a Center in scouts.com and the 6′-10 1/2″ 245 lbs. frame is much needed to bang against Hasbro next year (Brackman will foul out or get slammed).
    I think with Clemson being the only ACC team that he’s listed, Coach Harris should have a pretty good sales pitch ready. The North Carolina kid can play in his home state, get good minutes right off the bat, and play for THE best University in North Carolina – NCSU!
    Coach, please go and talk to this kid.

  23. StateFans 06/03/2006 at 10:22 AM #

    Thanks to all for sharing these names. It helps educate us all.

  24. redfred2 06/03/2006 at 10:37 PM #

    Thanks TomA

    I see from the most recent thread that Sidney Lowe has already put positive spin on the loss of Simmons. First time I’ve seen a positive spin, or anyone speak directly, about anything, involving NCSU in a while. I’m feeling great about his leadership abilities and the new face he will put the program.

    Tough losses are coming, but they will be exciting and the players will improve as the year goes on.

  25. blpack 06/04/2006 at 5:10 PM #

    We’ll miss Simmons, but maybe we can get by w/o him. Lots of ground to make up on the recruiting trail, including keeping those already in the fold.
    I could not be happier about the talk of NCSU competing for titles, not just be competitive. Long time coming.

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