Paul Harris has always been a man-child. When will the man take command of the child?
Hopefully, last week’s confusion about his NBA draft status made it clear to the Niagara Falls native that he won’t be welcomed back with open arms as Jonny Flynn would. A release from the school said Harris would forgo any remaining eligibility. But Harris called the Syracuse Post-Standard soon after, saying he had not declared for the draft.
Harris added that he’d be back on campus on Tuesday and although he’d missed some classes, he wasn’t intending to drop out. But then he was seen playing pickup games back in Niagara Falls this weekend. His Syracuse teammates, meanwhile, have been working out at Manley Field House.
His draft stock has plummeted — Harris was originally believed to be a lottery pick before he went to Syracuse and now many believe he won’t be picked in either of the two rounds — but his career doesn’t have to be over.
If this year, the one without Flynn or Eric Devendorf, becomes the most dedicated of his life, the NBA isn’t out of reach. Harris is too good a defender and has a skillset that scouts once became enamored with.
But that’s when he was a kid. This year Harris can’t be a child. Not if he hopes to follow Flynn into a real payday.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
Sports
April 20, 2009
SCHMITT: Time for Harris to step up
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