Wildly Unnecessarily Lengthy 2015 NBA Draft Board, Part 1: NCAA Small Forwards
Alandise Harris
Either Alandise Harris doesn't care about the inefficiency that is a fallaway 20 foot two point jump shot, or he doesn't know about it. Whichever it is, he must know about his own form on those shots. It's not pretty - the falling away seems to be a part of his form, because he does it when no one's around just as much as when he's shooting over someone. He also shoots from so far behind his head as to scratch his right ear, holds the follow-through for about half an hour, and takes his off hand off the ball so early that it might as well never be on there to begin with. It's a unique thing - he's almost good at bad shots.
There's little pretty about Harris's scoring game, and not much outside of the jumper, but it's effective in its own way. That jump shot is regular enough to be a useful (and often surprise) weapon, and Harris's confidence in it (and indeed everything about his game) is something of a virtue. Also able and very willing to take on bigger opponents in the post, Harris has hooks with both hands and the strength to create some separation for them, as well as the ability to take slower opponents off of a straight line dribble or two (though not much more than that). Although he doesn't have the craft in his handle to create separation or contact outside of just barrelling into opponents, he barrels in quite effectively, a big strong physical specimen who uses what he has. He is confident and aggressive, even if he sometimes shouldn't be.
That aggression also defines his defensive game, where, despite being undersized and not hugely long, Harris's great strength and relentless determination make him a presence on interior defense. He commits tons of fouls in the process, but a defender who is fouling you in the post is at least a defender who is annoying you, which is something. Harris contests every block opportunity and gets many of them, very keen to help and fast enough to recover. However, he is occasionally prone to rotating entirely the wrong way, overhelping, and with a tendency to free roam, and his tendency to pursue the ball wherever it may be leaves him often out of rebounding position, without the length to get away with it.
Aesthetically, Harris reminds of Ron Artest, a very strong, very intense player with some skill to go with it who nevertheless seems permanently awkward on the offensive end. Harris has played much more in the post than Artest ever had, particularly on the defensive end, and it remains to be seen whether he can become more of a full time wing player on that end, or if he remains a very undersized four with stretch tendencies. There are signs, though - Harris traps well on perimeter switches, has good hands to reach in and strip, and moves well despite his size. Maybe he could do it.
Or he could be a great tight end. Who knows?
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Either Alandise Harris doesn't care about the inefficiency that is a fallaway 20 foot two point jump shot, or he doesn't know about it. Whichever it is, he must know about his own form on those shots. It's not pretty - the falling away seems to be a part of his form, because he does it when no one's around just as much as when he's shooting over someone. He also shoots from so far behind his head as to scratch his right ear, holds the follow-through for about half an hour, and takes his off hand off the ball so early that it might as well never be on there to begin with. It's a unique thing - he's almost good at bad shots.
There's little pretty about Harris's scoring game, and not much outside of the jumper, but it's effective in its own way. That jump shot is regular enough to be a useful (and often surprise) weapon, and Harris's confidence in it (and indeed everything about his game) is something of a virtue. Also able and very willing to take on bigger opponents in the post, Harris has hooks with both hands and the strength to create some separation for them, as well as the ability to take slower opponents off of a straight line dribble or two (though not much more than that). Although he doesn't have the craft in his handle to create separation or contact outside of just barrelling into opponents, he barrels in quite effectively, a big strong physical specimen who uses what he has. He is confident and aggressive, even if he sometimes shouldn't be.
That aggression also defines his defensive game, where, despite being undersized and not hugely long, Harris's great strength and relentless determination make him a presence on interior defense. He commits tons of fouls in the process, but a defender who is fouling you in the post is at least a defender who is annoying you, which is something. Harris contests every block opportunity and gets many of them, very keen to help and fast enough to recover. However, he is occasionally prone to rotating entirely the wrong way, overhelping, and with a tendency to free roam, and his tendency to pursue the ball wherever it may be leaves him often out of rebounding position, without the length to get away with it.
Aesthetically, Harris reminds of Ron Artest, a very strong, very intense player with some skill to go with it who nevertheless seems permanently awkward on the offensive end. Harris has played much more in the post than Artest ever had, particularly on the defensive end, and it remains to be seen whether he can become more of a full time wing player on that end, or if he remains a very undersized four with stretch tendencies. There are signs, though - Harris traps well on perimeter switches, has good hands to reach in and strip, and moves well despite his size. Maybe he could do it.
Or he could be a great tight end. Who knows?
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