North Carolina Top 80 Player Introductions

Being able to put a positive spin on a negative situation isn't usually thought of as an important trait in the game of basketball. However, Toby Harris took the devastating injury to MJ Rice as an opportunity to step up and showcase his next-level abilities. It would've benefitted no one for Durham Academy to throw their hands up and quit on the memorable season. Harris, Cole Sinclair, and Nik Graves each notable amped their game to another level and continued thrashing opponents with this newfound approach. It wouldn't take long for college coaches to begin truly noticing the inside-out forward. 

Sample size is arguably more significant now than ever before, and that's something that tends to hurt prospects like Harris and their overall recruitment. Although his actual game sample size is booming, Harris' original role didn't necessarily give him the chance to dominate or take over. It wasn't until the John Wall Holiday Invitational that he flipped the switch. He was exceptional against Greenfield and Durham Academy's lone bright spot against national powerhouse Montverde, scoring 20 and 19 points, respectively. His efficiency is a massive part of what should make him so attractive to these scholarship-holding programs, especially after accounting for his combination of size, skill, and perimeter shooting. 

It was a perfect storm for Harris to enter the travel ball season as one of the most underrated, potential blow-up candidates across North Carolina. He was set to join the Carolina Flyers, which would've meshed extremely well with his skillset and overall style of play, but could ultimately lose the most critical part of his recruitment process through no fault of his own. That being said, it feels like Harris is going to inevitably collect a slew of offers during the upcoming season'even if there is no summer basketball. Few players can match his identity and what he brings to the table. Coaches would be intelligent to start getting involved immediately, as he's only going to become a increasingly hot commodity over the next calendar year. 

Although the foundation of his skillset has largely remained the same, Harris is a player that has really burst onto the scene over the last six to eight months. He's a long, wiry wing/forward prospect with tremendous offensive skill and overall savvy to his game. His craftiness has noticeably improved over the last year, going from being an overqualified spot-up threat to a legitimate three-level scorer and potential matchup problem. Harris shows a willingness to exploit mismatches however possible, posting-up smaller opponents and dragging out bigger ones towards the perimeter. He moves very well for his size and also looks comfortable when defending closer to the basket. Harris sees the floor pretty well and is capable of making useful passes out of the post. He's unselfish, very skilled, and naturally draws offensive attention through his spot-up prowess. Harris needs to continue adding strength but still has the tools to be an impact player at multiple different levels.'