Tobias Harris Enters NBA Draft, Leaves Tennessee

Dix Hills native and University of Tennessee freshman Tobias Harris officially announced he’s leaving his name in the NBA draft and will not return for his sophomore season of college basketball.

Harris initially said he would enter the draft after Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl was fired, but he did not hire an agent, meaning he had until this weekend to return to college if changed his mind.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward, however, is set on becoming the latest Long Island native to make it in the pros.

“Ever since I was little, it has been my dream to play in the NBA,” he told the Knoxville News. “I’ll always remember how great the fans, coaches and teachers were to me at Tennessee, and I hope they’ll remember me as a player who gave his all each and every day.”

Harris, who played at Long Island Lutheran and was a McDonald’s All-American at Half Hollow Hills West, told the News that he didn’t make his final decision until Thursday.

“I feel the Lord guided me to Tennessee, and now he’s led me in this direction,” he said.

Multiple reports say Harris has worked out for several NBA teams in the last two weeks. Draft prognosticators are saying he’ll be taken somewhere between the No. 16 (Philadelphia) and No. 19 (Charlotte) picks in the draft which will take place June 23 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Harris averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game at Tennessee.

“(Harris) had a great freshman season, but more importantly he also conducts himself in all the right ways off the court,’’ Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin said in a statement. “I absolutely loved working with him, over the past several weeks. He’ll always be a Tennessee Volunteer, and just like every other former player, we’re always here for him. He’s part of the family.”

Harris would join a list of other Hills alums to play professional sports, including Melvin Fowler (Buffalo Bills, NFL) and Stephen Bowen (Dallas Cowboys, NFL).