Harris Off to Fast Start for Tennessee

Each week, Dix Hills Patch will update readers on Half Hollow Hills alumnus Tobias Harris, now at the University of Tennessee.  

It was a light schedule for the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team last week, with only one game. But that was enough for Dix Hills native Tobias Harris to do some more heavy lifting, and garner more accolades.

Following up on being named Southeastern Conference’s SEC Freshman of the Week in his first week of college basketball on November 22, the 6-foot-8 freshman was once again named Freshman of the Week by SEC league officials on Monday.

This followed Harris’ selection last week to the National Invitational Tournament’s Season Tip-Off All-Tournament Team. In the NIT tourney, Harris averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins over Virginia Commonwealth (77 – 72) and Villanova (78 – 68). In the title game against the Villanova, Harris was just one rebound shy of recording his first career double-double (15 points, nine rebounds).  

In the team’s only game last week, Harris led all players in scoring as Tennessee defeated Middle Tennessee 86 – 56 on November 30. Harris scored 21 points in just 24 minutes of play, and gathered six rebounds as the Volunteers upped their record to 6-0.

It was the third time in this very young season that Harris led his team in scoring. For the season, Harris leads Tennessee in scoring (16.7 ppg) and minutes played (26.8 mpg), while ranking second in rebounding (5.8 rpg). He is the SEC’s sixth-leading scorer.

Tennessee is 6-0 for the first time since the 2005-06 season.   They have moved up to 13th in the AP Top 25 poll, and to number 17 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll.

Harris fans—and a national audience—will get a closer look at the HS West alumnus when they face number 3 Pittsburgh on December 11, in a nationally televised game on ESPN, at 3 p.m.