Texas Tech basketball: 4-star guard showing significant interest in Red Raiders

Chris Harris Jr. , a 4-star shooting guard from Garland, TX, has reopened his recruitment and is reportedly interested in Texas Tech.

Texas Tech is one of the hottest basketball programs in the nation these days, both on the court and on the recruiting trail.  Already with the No. 14 2019 recruiting class, the Red Raiders are reportedly in the hunt for another standout prospect.

According to Rivals.com analyst Corey Evans, 4-star guard Chris Harris Jr. from Garland, TX is interested in taking a visit to Texas Tech after decomitting from Texas A&M in the wake of Billy Kennedy’s firing earlier this month.   Rivals ranks Evans as the No. 97 player in the class of 2019 and the No. 20 shooting guard in the nation.

Harris, who committed to the Aggies over a year ago, held offers from schools such as Arkansas, Baylor, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Memphis, Oklahoma State and Tech.  And though he has already signed his letter of intent, he was granted his release after Kennedy’s dismissal kicking off an avalanche of departures from College Station. In all, three 2019 recruits have left the A&M program leaving the Aggies with just one current 2019 signee.

And now, a host of programs are looking to benefit from Texas A&M’s misfortune.  And a Big 12 rival is also squarely in the mix as Harris is reportedly taking an official visit to Oklahoma State this weekend.  Like the Red Raiders, Oklahoma State is putting together one of its best classes in recent memory as the Cowboys already have the No. 27 class in the country according to Rivals.

According to MaxPreps.com, the 6-foot-2 guard is averaging an impressive 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game over his last two seasons.  Having made 155 combined 3-point shots in the last two seasons, Harris is a strong outside shooter who is knocking down 36% of his shots from deep.  And Jerry Meyer of 247Sports.com says that the jump shot is a key component of Harris’ game.

"“Big-bodied shot maker.” Meyer says of Harris. “More efficient from three than inside the arc. Not an explosive athlete but gathers well for jump shot. Not a get-to-the rim guy. Solid all around skills. Good defender with knack for steals defensively. Holds his own as a rebounder.”"

And a player that is a skilled outside shooter would be a nice compliment to the players already in the Texas Tech recruiting class.  Though Tech has three guards already in the fold, none of them are considered quality outside shooters.

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The Red Raiders’ top 2019 signee is Jahmius Ramsey of Duncanville, Texas.  The No. 30 player in the nation is an explosive athlete who is one of the best finishers at the rim in the entire country.  But the biggest flaw in his game is his outside shot.

The same could be said of 4-star commit Terrence Shannon Jr. from Chicago, who committed to the Red Raiders earlier this month.  Meanwhile, Kevin McCullar from San Antonio, (who is already on campus but is redshirting this semester) is considered a play-maker more than a shooter.

And looking ahead to next year, Tech will have only one true outside shooter on the roster in Davide Moretti who finished this season as the most accurate 3-point shooter in the Big 12.  But with Matt Moore and Brandone Francis set to graduate, Chris Beard will be looking for new 3-point shooters to add to his roster.

National Signing Day for college basketball recruits is April 17th so Harris has little time to make his decision.  Here’s hoping that he picks Texas Tech because he could be a great addition to a Red Raider roster that will be very different next season.