Aaron Harrison

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Kentucky 79, Providence 65

Sunday, December 1, 2013 | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)

Aaron Harrison — G, 6-5, 210
Freshman, 19 years old

Season (28.3 mpg): 13.6 PPG, 3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1 SPG

Game (38 min): 15 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds

7-9 FG

I’ve observed Aaron and Andrew Harrison throughout their high school careers, but this was my first watching them on the college level.

Notes: Aaron continues to showcase that he’s not “just a shooter.” I’ve always believed Aaron can both initiate and facilitate offense. He played selfless, team-first basketball vs. Providence.

Aaron scored 15 points on an efficient 7-9 shooting, and also recorded 4 assists. On one particular play, James Young received an outlet pass, lofted the ball 40 feet to Aaron who—instead of going up for a contested layup—made a smart touch-pass to Cauley-Stein for an easy dunk. This showed good awareness and was a selfless play. The more Aaron can find his shot while still playing within the offense, the greater his overall impact. Due to his 6-5 frame, Aaron is very difficult to stop once he has momentum, and should become a better finisher as his body continues to develop.

On defense, Aaron used his length and instincts to disrupt passing lanes and deflect entry passes. Overall, Aaron Harrison did not dominate, but he nonetheless made a significant impact. He’s still not fully comfortable in Kentucky’s offense, but he’s a reliable scorer with an increasingly patient approach.

*My one criticism of Aaron tonight (along with his twin brother Andrew) was his lack of movement without the ball. It seems like the Harrison brothers often ball-watch when they don’t have the ball, which contributes to the offense becoming more stagnant. I’m sure it’s easy to zone out and watch Julius Randle go to work, but still, you can’t just stand on the 3-point line waiting for the ball.

North Carolina 82, Kentucky 77

Saturday, December 14, 2013 | Dean Smith Center (Chapel Hill, NC)

Aaron Harrison — Freshman, 19 years old
G, 6-5, 210

Season (30.3 mpg): 14.4 PPG, 3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 47% FG

Game (24 min): 20 points, 3 rebounds
8-12 FG

Outlook: Another impressive performance for Aaron Harrison, as he continues to score efficiently and with palpable confidence. In 24 minutes, he scored 20 points on 8-12 shooting, and showcased several “NBA moves” (in-and-out dribble, stutter step, pull up jumper, euro-step). He converted contested shots—essentially scoring at will—and displayed impressive scoring ability for a freshman.

His offense starts with his terrific jump shot, but he can also penetrate the lane. Quick first step, and excellent touch around the basket. Although he’s not the best athlete, Harrison has good extension on his layups, and he astutely angles his body through contact. I’m not sure how much of an impediment his athleticism is, but it hasn’t hindered him in college thus far.

It seems like Aaron has been “locked in” recently. He’s been effective and efficient over the past 5 games:

11/27 vs. Eastern Michigan: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5-12 FG
12/1 vs. Providence: 15 points, 4 assists, 7-9 FG
12/6 vs. Baylor: 15 points, 6 assists, 4-9 FG
12/10 vs. Boise State: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 6-12 FG
12/14 vs. North Carolina: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 8-12 FG

Video: Scoring vs. UNC

Aaron played point guard for long stretches on Saturday, which I believe is a great sign. Although he’s a terrific scorer, he can also initiate offense for his teammates. He recorded zero assists, but directed the offense well and initiated ball movement. He’s more attractive in the NBA if he can play point guard, because he may lack the athleticism/versatility to defend. Playing Aaron at the point lent credence to tremendous upside.

Defense

Aaron has been a solid defender in both games I’ve seen. However, he needs to get stronger. As the video below shows, guys like James McAdoo bullied him in the paint without any resistance.

That said, I think this will come in time. He’s holding opponents to a solid .63 points per play (ranking in the 86th percentile nationally), and his physical profile/competitive nature suggests he will only improve as a defender. Long arms to disrupt passing lanes (like the second play in the clip below), and can contest shots on the perimeter. It’s still early, but I think Aaron has a chance to be an adequate defender.

Video: Man-to-Man Defense