Published: May 27, 2009 08:47 pm      

BASKETBALL: Falls' Harris signs agent, 'on a mission'

Paul Harris feels like he has his Wolverine claws back.

Taking a break from workouts in Chicago with fellow Cataract City product Jonny Flynn in preparation for next month’s NBA draft, Harris said he’s regaining the mentality he had when he led the Niagara Falls Wolverines to a New York state Federation basketball championship in 2005.

Harris said Wednesday that he has signed with agent Leon Rose, eliminating any possibility he could return for his senior season at Syracuse. He and Flynn, who also signed with Rose, have been working out over the past couple weeks at the A.T.T.A.C.K. Athletics facility in Chicago, which is run by Michael Jordan’s former trainer, Tim Grover.

“About a week ago, I was telling Jonny I think I’m getting a little better down here,” Harris said. “He said, ‘It’s not that you’re getting better. You’re just getting your confidence back. You’re playing like you did in high school and AAU.’”

Harris was regarded as a slam-dunk NBA prospect when he left Niagara Falls to attend prep school in Massachusetts four years ago. But after three turbulent seasons at Syracuse, during which he had several outstanding performances but never attained all-conference honors and seemed to clash with coach Jim Boeheim, Harris embarks on his professional career as a player many analysts don’t expect will be drafted.

“I’ve got a chip on my shoulder,” Harris said. “I think it’s good being an underdog. My motto is: I’m going to shock the world. I’m going to be a sleeper in this draft. I’m telling you.”

Harris was excited about his performance in a recent workout for the Chicago Bulls that also included first-round wing prospects Terrence Williams of Maryland, Marcus Thornton of LSU, and Chase Budinger of Arizona. Harris said after the first workout, the Bulls asked him to participate in another one.

Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com visited the A.T.T.A.C.K. facility recently and came away impressed with Harris. In an article posted Monday, Givony noted Harris “was clearly a man on a mission.”

“Out of all the players here, Paul Harris may have left the best impression on us relative to the expectations going in,” wrote Givony, who also recorded video interviews with both Harris and Flynn. “Harris is incredibly impressive from a physical standpoint first and foremost, boasting a chiseled frame, strong athleticism and extremely long arms, but he also looked good from a skills standpoint as well.”

Harris, who is listed at 6-foot-4, played mostly forward at Syracuse, leading the Orange in rebounding this past season. Now he’s getting to show off his perimeter skills, which include an outside shot that’s been remodeled by shooting coach Tim Sullivan, a former Canisius player. Even Harris noted he was “shocked” by how many jump shots he made during the 3-on-3 portion of his workouts.

Harris has not been invited to participate in the draft combine beginning today in Chicago, an omission he said one national writer who came to Chicago last week called “crazy.”

But Harris said he has private workouts lined up with at least two Eastern Conference teams next week.

The rekindling of Harris’ NBA prospects in Chicago was sparked back home, when two of his best friends, Travis Davis and Paul Fields, accompanied him to Niagara University’s Kiernan Center for workouts.

“That’s a big thing that helped me,” Harris said. “They would pick me up at 8 in the morning every day and we’d go to NU and just shoot, and shoot, and shoot. They’d rebound for me, and then we’d play a little pickup.

“I’ll never forget those guys.”

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.



NBA DRAFT COMBINE

• WHEN: 2 p.m. Thu.; 10 a.m. Fri.

• WHERE: Chicago

• TV: ESPNU

• TV: Niagara Falls product Jonny Flynn was extended an invitation, but Paul Harris was not.