| Ricky Harris |
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FORD ON HARRIS: "Ricky is somebody, again, who has to go from not playing a huge role to someone that we are expecting to play a very significant role. He is somebody that we are going to expect to score points, we need him to be a more consistent shooter, we are going to look for him to be a defensive stopper, hopefully he can be able to guard the best players and score. Ricky is somebody who we think worked really hard this summer to be better. But again he is just a sophomore and he has the ability to have a great career here."
2007-08 UPDATE:
• 2008 A-10 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER. First UMass player to earn award since 2001 (Micah Brand & Kitwana Rhymer).
• Named to NIT All-Tournament Team after 20.4 average in five NIT games, scored 27 points in NIT Championship game.
• Started 33 of 36 games at two-guard in second collegiate season. Second on the team with 18.2 points per game.
• Ranks sixth in the Atlantic 10 in scoring and tied for 70th in NCAA. Sixth in A-10 3-point field goals made per game (2.89).
• With 104 3-pointers made, ranks tied for best season in UMass history with Carmelo Travieso (104 in 1995-96).
• His 656 total points this season, ranks as the fourth-best single-season in UMass history.
• His 278 attempted 3-pointers set a new UMass single-season record, breaking mark of 266 by Monty Mack.
• Set UMass sophomore class records for points (656), 3-pointers (104), minutes (1174).
• On single-season lists: third in free throws attempted (178), sixth in minutes played (1174), eighth in field goal attempts (488).
• Second on team with 56 steals, ranks seventh in A-10 in steals per game with 1.53. Season steals ranks tied for eighth at UMass.
• Finished sophomore year 10th in career made 3-pointers (121) and 10th in career 3-pointers attempted (345).
• First on team with 75.3 mark from the foul line (134-of-178). Made 38 of final 46 foul shots (82.6 percent) since Feb. 10.
• Was in double-figures in the first 18 games, until 19th game vs. Xavier. Overall, 10 or more points in 33 of 36 games in 2007-08. Scored more than 20 points in 18 games, including last three of final four NIT games.
• More than 15 points in first four games this year, which was more than his career-high for all of last year(14).
• NAMED ESPN WEEKLY WATCH NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK ON JAN. 21, 2008 AFTER 23.0 PPG WEEK.
• Atlantic 10 Player of the Week on Jan. 20, 2008 after 23.0 ppg in 2-0 week including win at No. 14 Dayton.
• Second A-10 Player of Week honor on March 2, 2008 after 19.0 ppg with 7-of-14 from 3FGs in 2-0 week.
• Named to the BTI Tip-Off Tournament All-Tournament Team.
• 25 points four times: at Syracuse (11/28), at Boston College (12/12), at Vanderbilt (1/5) and Saint Joseph's (1/9).
• Led all scorers in NIT Final with 27 points vs. Ohio State (4/3), making career-best seven 3-pointers, tied for seventh-most in a game at UMass.
• Scored 16 points in NIT Semifinal win over Florida (4/1).
• Led UMass for second NIT game in a row with 23 points at Syracuse (3/25). Scored 18 points in second half of miracle comeback.
• Team-high 20 points, including four 3-pointers vs. Akron (3/22) in NIT Second Round. Grabbed two key rebounds in final minute.
• Tallied 16 points, making four 3-pointers in NIT First Round vs. Stephen F. Austin (3/18).
• Scored 11 points against Charlotte (3/13) in A-10 Quarterfinals. Made just one 3-pointer after 15 in three games.
• Had 15 3-pointers in three games (Mar. 1-8) after making 5-of-9 at George Washington (3/8) to finish with 20 points.
• Hit five 3-pointers for second game in a row vs. La Salle (3/5), finishing with 21 points and career-high seven rebounds.
• Scored more than 20 points for the first time in a month with 24 at Richmond (3/1). Made 5-of-7 3-pointers in win.
• After two games off the bench, returned to starting line-up vs. St. Bonaventure (2/24) and had 14 points.
• Made all six free throws down the stretch in big win at Rhode Island (2/21). Finished with 14 points.
• Came off bench for first time in season against Saint Louis (2/17), scored 14 points in 27 minutes.
• Season-low three points on a late 3-pointer against Fordham (2/14). Played just 23 minutes.
• Hit for 14 points at Temple (2/10), making a pair of threes.
• Rebounded with 13 points including three 3-pointers vs. Rhode Island (2/7).
• Just six points, missing all nine 3-point attempts at Saint Louis (2/2).
• One of three UMass players with 20 points, scoring 21 at Duquesne (1/30), also had career-high seven assists.
• Held to just seven points against #23/22 Xavier (1/27) as Stanley Burrell played great defense on him.
• Over five games (Jan. 5-23) averaged 25.2 ppg, making 23-of-47 3-pointers, 49 percent of 3-pointers.
• Career-high 30 points at Saint Joseph's (1/23) including 26 in the second half and 16 in final 2:23 of game. Was first UMass player since Carmelo Travieso in 1996 to score more than 25 points in a half.
• Led UMass in scoring for fourth game in a row with 24 vs. Charlotte (1/19). Made four 3-pointers and 6-of-9 for FGs.
• Tallied game-high 22 points in win at #14/18 Dayton, tying career-best with five 3-pointers. Also had five rebounds.
• Hit for 25 points for second game in a row against Saint Joseph's (1/9), along with three steals and three assists.
• Tied career-high for third time, with 25 points at #15/15 Vanderbilt (1/5). One of three UMass players with 20 points for first time since 1999. Also grabbed five rebounds for second time in career.
•Tallied 16 points including 11 in second half as UMass rallied for win over Houston (1/2).
• 12th game in row in double-figures with 16 points in win over Boston University (12/29).
• Made 4-of-6 from 3-point range in leading all scorers with 15 points in win over Central Connecticut (12/22).
• Netted 17 points in win over Toledo (12/15).
• Equalled career-high with 25 points in win over Boston College (12/12). Made 10 field goals (16 attempts) with four 3-pointers made.
• Scored 18 points vs. Marist (12/8). Hit season-best 58.3 from the floor (7-of-12).
• Netted team-best 23 points including career-best four 3-pointers at IUPUI (12/1).
• Scored 25 points in win at Syracuse (11/28). Tied career-high with eight field goals and three 3-pointers.
• Equaled career-high with 23 points vs. Yale (11/14). Made career-best eight field goals and had career-high five steals.
• Fighting a back injury scored 15 points, including 13 in the second half at Northern Iowa (11/11).
• Netted 20 points including 6-of-6 from the foul line along with career-high six rebounds vs. Northern Illinois (11/10).
• Opened season with career-high 23 points in win over Cal Poly (11/9). Had career-bests 11 free throws and 16 attempts.
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2006-07: Averaged 4.5 points in true freshman season as top scoring player off the bench in 10.8 minutes per game, playing in 32 of 33 games ... Made 16 of last 18 free throws (89 percent) to raise free throw percentage from 56 percent to 67 percent ... Fourth on the team in 3-pointers made with 17 ... Tallied seven points in seven minutes including 5-of-6 from the line in NIT First Round win over Alabama (3/13) ... Scored seven points, all in the first half in A-10 regular-season clincher at Saint Joseph's (3/3) ... Fifth game of the year in double-figures with 10 points against La Salle (2/28) ... Scored seven points in 14 minutes vs. Saint Louis (2/24) ... After two scoreless games poured in a career-high 14 points vs. St. Bonaventure (2/21), made 7-of-7 from the foul line ... Tallied six points in eight minutes at Temple (2/11) ... Scored 28 points in three games (9.3 ppg) from Jan. 21-28, after being scoreless for five games in a row ... Played sensational defense in helped to hold Leemire Goldwire of Charlotte (1/28) to just one made field goal while he guarded him in career-best 26 minutes. Also scored five points as he made a pair of free throws with 3:02 left to give UMass the lead for good in 66-61 win ... Netted 10 points for second straight game in double-figures at Rhode Island (1/24) ... After not scoring in five games in a row, tied his career-high with 13 points vs. Duquesne (1/21). Set new career-best in the game with five field goals made (on six attempts), four rebounds, three assists and 18 minutes ...Tallied four points vs. Yale (12/28) in just nine minutes of action ... Combined for 21 points in two games in Kentucky including career-high 13 points at Kentucky (12/22). Scored 13 points in just 16 minutes at UK ... Led UMass in scoring at halftime at Louisville (12/13) with all of his eight points in the game. Made three 3-pointers in career-best 17 minutes of action ... Career-high nine points at Savannah state (11/28) as he made a pair of threes and was 3-for3 from the line ... Scored eight points in eight minutes on 3-of-4 at Jacksonville State (11/25), including first two three pointers ... Had a layup against Northeastern (11/19) ... Made college debut vs. Dartmouth (11/11) and scored eight points.
BEFORE UMASS: Signed a National Letter of Intent with UMass on April 12, 2006 ... Came to UMass after playing a prep season at The Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass ... He graduated from powerhouse Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore, Maryland in 2005 ... Harris has had a standout season at Winchendon in 2005-06, averaging 17.0 points while shooting 43 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the foul line ... He helped the Green Wave to the NEPSAC Championship game on the way to a 19-14 record under head coach Mike Byrnes, who played basketball for the Minutemen in the late 1980s ... Harris scored a season-high 33 points against Philadelphia Lutheran at the Prep Showcase in November 2005 ... Harris starred in the National Prep School Invitational in February of 2006 earning the top ranking of all players at that event held in Rhode Island ... HoopScoop.com ranked him as the 27th-best fifth-year player in the nation ... He was ranked as the fourth-best shooting guard available in the late signing period by HoopScoop.com ... Harris was a high school star at Calvert Hall where he earned Baltimore Catholic League Co-Player of the Year honors in 2005 playing for head coach Mark Amatucci ... He was honored as All-Baltimore Metro and All-Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) as a junior and senior ... He was named to the Baltimore's Sun's All-Metro Second Team as senior. Harris averaged 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals as a senior and 19.0 points per game, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in his junior year with the Cardinals ... He finished as Calvert Hall's third all-time leading scorer behind 2002 Maryland All-American and current Portland Trailblazer Juan Dixon and Reggie Bryant who starred at Villanova and Saint Louis ... Harris played for the Baltimore Select AAU team. He was named the Eastern Invitational's Most Outstanding Player after his senior season ... He also played in the Charm City Challenge in Baltimore, the adidas Memorial Day Classic in Maryland, the Kingwood Classic in Houston, the BET Pro-Am and Top 20 All-Star Game in 2005.
PERSONAL: Ricky Dontae Harris ... Born on August 12, 1987 in Baltimore, Maryland ... Son of Donna Evette Harris and Ricky Lee Harris ... Brother of Derrick and Riquelle Harris ... Communication major.
HARRIS' CAREER STATISTICS
Year GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO Ast TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
2006-07 32 0 347 10.8 45 124 .363 17 67 .254 38 57 .667 5 26 31 1.0 32 0 16 17 1 12 145 4.5
2007-08 36 33 1174 32.6 209 488 .428 104 278 .374 134 178 .753 19 71 90 2.5 74 1 63 73 5 56 656 18.2
TOTAL 68 33 1521 22.4 254 612 .415 121 345 .351 172 235 .732 24 97 121 1.8 106 1 79 90 6 68 801 11.8
Harris' Career Highs
Category # Opponent, Date
Points 30 at Saint Joseph's, 1/23/08
Field Goals 12 at Saint Joseph's, 1/23/08
Field Goals Att. 22 at Vanderbilt, 1/5/08
3-Point FGs 7 vs. Ohio State, 4/3/08
3-Point FG Att. 12 La Salle, 3/5/08
12 at Syracuse, 3/25/08
12 vs. Ohio State, 4/3/08
Free Throws 11 vs. Cal Poly, 11/9/07
Free Throw Att. 16 vs. Cal Poly, 11/9/07
Rebounds 7 La Salle, 3/5/08
Assists 7 at Duquesne, 1/30/08
Blocks 1 Six times, last at Temple, 2/10/08
Steals 5 Yale, 11/14/07
Minutes 40 at Vanderbilt, 1/5/08
40 vs. Ohio State, 4/3/08
Harris' Miscellaneous Stats
Catergory 07-08 Car. Last Time...
Double-Figure Scoring 33 38 vs. Ohio State, 4/3/08
20-plus points 18 18 vs. Ohio State, 4/3/08
25-plus points 6 6 vs. Ohio State, 4/3/08
30-plus points 1 1 Saint Joe's, 1/23/08
5-plus rebounds 4 4 La Salle, 3/5/08
5-plus assists 1 1 at Duquesne, 1/30/08
CAREER HONORS
ATLANTIC 10 MOST IMPROVED PLAYER 2008
NIT ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM 2008
ESPN Weekly Watch National Player Of Week (Jan. 21, 2008)
Atlantic 10 Player of the Week (Jan. 20, 2008)
BTI Tip-Off Tournament All-Tournament Team 2007
A FEW MINUTES WITH RICKY
Major (Why?): Communication, I want to be a sports broadcaster
Favorite Musical Artist: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne
Best Sporting Event I Ever Attended: 2002 Final Four, Maryland won
Favorite Pro Sports Team: Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Pistons
Favorite Sports Broadcaster: Dick Vitale, Hubert Davis
Pro Sports Team I Would Like To Play For: Any team, I will be grateful
Favorite Athletes: Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Rudy Gay, Juan Dixon
Childhood Idol: My mother, father grandfather, and grandmothers
Best Player I Ever Faced: Rudy Gay, Juan Dixon, and all my boys from back home
Best Player I Ever Played With: Jermaine Dixon, Kevin Palmer, Brandon Driver
My Most Prized Possession: BCL player of the year, UMass most improved player
Best Moment at UMass: Beating Alabama on ESPN
My First Memory of Basketball: When my dad first signed me up to play
My Most Memorable Moment in College Athletics: Beating Louisville at Freedom Hall
If I Didn't Play College Basketball I Would Play: College Football
Magazine Cover I'd Like to Be On: Slam, Dime, GQ
Who Had the Greatest Impact on My Life: My family, Bino Ranson, Phil Dixon
Best Advice From a Coach: Listen to what is being said, not how its being said
Most People Don't Know This But: I hate cats, I like to sing
Pre-game Rituals: Listening to my ipod, Taking a cold bath
My Best Non-Athletic Talent: Singing, trying to cook, I am very funny
If I Had $1 Billion Dollars I Would: Take my family out of Baltimore
