GU’s Harris coming back next season
Forward Elias Harris, who has been listed on several NBA mock drafts as a possible first-round selection, announced Thursday that he will return to Gonzaga for his sophomore season.
When I talked to Harris during the NCAA Tournament, he said he wasn't sure of his plans and he might seek additional evaluations regarding his draft status. However, after the tournament, several sources close to Harris indicated the freshman forward was intent on returning to GU.
With Harris coming back, Gonzaga figures to have a quality cast of players returning next season. The Bulldogs lose WCC player of the year Matt Bouldin, back-up center Will Foster and reserve guard Chris Pontarolo-Maag.
More below in a GU press release.
Gonzaga Unversity forward Elias Harris announced Thursday he will return for his sophomore season next year.
The 6-8, 215-pound Harris, a native of Speyer, Germany, averaged 14.9 ppg, a team-high 7.1 rpg and shot 54.7 percent from the field on 180-for-329. He was an All-WCC selection and was also named the WCC Newcomer of the Year.
He scored a season-high 31 points at Saint Mary’s College, one of nine 20-plus point games. He grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds in a win over the University of Illinois in the United Center in Chicago, one of seven double-digit rebounding games.
“I am looking forward to returning next season and continuing to build on what this team accomplished this season,” Harris said. “We are going to have another strong team and I want to be a part of it.”
There was much speculation throughout the season Harris would opt for the NBA Draft since he meets the 19-year-old minimum age requirement.
The Bulldogs went 27-7 this season, won a 10th straight WCC regular-season title, a ninth WCC Tournament title in the last 12 years and made a 12th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament where the Bulldogs advanced to the second round.
The Bulldogs lose just one starter off this year’s team in senior WCC Player of the Year Matt Bouldin.
