May 26, 2010
Alex Harris decides
It may not carry quite the same cachet as the arrival of a Kevin Garnett or a Ray Allen to Boston but former El Cerrito High star backcourter Alex Harris is now also Beantown-bound and his signing is making waves for the basketball fans of one of the Boston area’s many colleges.
Harris’ trek east pays off
Harris played a prep season at Bridgton Academy in Maine after his senior year at El Cerrito in 2009-2010. He finished averaging 20-plus points per game, improved his skills and drew recruiters from a number of colleges across the country. Now he is headed 150 or so miles south of Bridgton, having signed a letter-of-intent with Coach Bill Coen and Northeastern University.
Why did he select Northeastern?
"I wanted to be at the best educational program," Harris explained, adding, "I also liked the coaches and how the team played."
Alex’s father, Eric Harris, is on board with his son’s signing. "This is a good opportunity for Alex in basketball," he said, and then stressed "Northeastern is known as being a top academic school and that’s the most important thing. Ever since he was a baby, I wanted him to go to college and now that’s going to happen."
The elder Harris added, "Alex had six or seven offers from mid-major schools but the difference was the education he will get at Northeastern."
Here is Phil Handy, Harris’ Team 94 club team coach, speaking about the signing: "I am very proud of this kid -- he has come a long way over the past few years. Alex is very blessed to have an opportunity to play for a university such as Northeastern. He will get a great education and play in a good basketball program that fits his style of play. It’s a win-win for both sides as Northeastern is getting a very good player in Alex as well. Northeastern did a nice job in recruiting him this entire season as, from day one, Alex and his father seemed very comfortable with the program and coaching staff. I really thought he would want to come back west and play but, after his visit to Northeastern, he was convinced that was the place for him. Alex will be very successful there and I look forward to watching him continue to improve as a player and young man."
Harris said his season at prep school "provided the opportunity to really work on my outside shot." and, as the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. Adamantly exemplifying long-distance shooting prowess, Harris tallied nine treys in a game this season against St. Thomas More.
The May 20 edition of the New England Recruiting Report (NERR) contained this about the California native: "A versatile guard who is a true combo and able to play either backcourt position equally well, Harris is long and athletic, a disruptive playmaker on the defensive end of the floor, very dangerous in the open court, and capable of catching fire with his jumper from behind the three-point line."
Harris offered thanks to "Phil Handy, my Dad, my family and friends and Coach [Whit] Lesure (the Bridgton coach} for helping me get to this point."
Northeastern is member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and the Huskies are coming off a 20-13 season, 14-4 in league play. They put together an 11-game winning streak during the season. In the NIT, Coen’s squad lost 59-57 on the road to Connecticut.
Additionally, Coen just signed a long-term contract extension with Northeastern running through the 2016 -- so the stability of the coaching staff seems set.
It appears playing time is available for Harris’ earning. 6-foot-4 senior-to-be Chaisson Allen returns to lead the Northeastern backcourt. He scored 13.6 points per game in 2009-201 and was credited with116 assists. Jonathan Lee, a 6-foot-2 sophomore-to-be and Joel Smith, a 6-foot-4 sophomore-to-be also return -- but neither shot well in limited playing time.
California is already represented on the Husky roster as former Sacramento High player Chris Avenant redshirted as a freshman this season.