University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Signee Harris Named to Naismith High School Player of the Year Watch list
December 22, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2009
Tennessee basketball signee Tobias Harris was among 10 elite high school student-athletes named to the Naismith Trophy Boy's High School Player of the Year Award watch list, as announced recently by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Harris attends Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, N.Y., and is rated by Rivals.com as the nation's best forward in the class of 2010 and the country's No. 5 overall prospect.
Harris' inclusion gives Tennessee a representative on both the Naismith high school and collegiate awards watch lists, as current UT senior Tyler Smith was named a candidate for the men's college Naismith Trophy prior to the start of the Vols' season.
"Perhaps the most prestigious of high school awards, the Naismith Player of the Year has an impressive list of candidates in 2010," Rivals.com basketball recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer said. "Only the best of the best make this 10-man list."
The high school watch list was selected by leading basketball journalists from around the country who form the national voting academy. In February, the voting academy will narrow the list down to five candidates, with the winner being selected and recognized by the Atlanta Tipoff Club at the end of the high school basketball season.
"This is a phenomenally talented group of student-athletes, all of whom should go on to achieve tremendous successes both on and off the court," Atlanta Tipoff Club President Gary Stokan said. "One of them will have the privilege of joining the esteemed Naismith Trophy family, and we look forward to seeing who emerges as the winner."
The Naismith High School Player of the Year award was first presented in 1987 to Dennis Scott. Other notable winners include Jason Kidd (1992), Kobe Bryant (1996) and LeBron James (2003).
For the full list of candidates, or for more information about the Naismith Trophy, visit www.naismithawards.com
