Manning gets first commitment at TU
BY Eric Bailey World Sports Writer
Monday, April 16, 2012
4/16/12 at 10:32 PM
The realization didn’t hit Shaquille Harrison for a few minutes. When it did, he sounded amazed.
Harrison became the first commitment to new Tulsa coach Danny Manning’s program on Monday night.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard from Lee’s Summit West (Mo.) High School informed Manning and assistant coach Steve Woodberry, who also recruited Harrison at Missouri State, his previous employer.
“(Woodberry) recruited me hard (at Missouri State),” said Harrison, who visited Tulsa’s campus on Monday afternoon. “We had a real good relationship and, when he went to Tulsa, it was an even better fit for me and with Coach Manning. I’m real excited to get started.”
Harrison said he had offers from Miami (Ohio), Tennessee State and Northeastern and was being recruited by Oral Roberts and Drake.
Lee’s Summit West coach Michael Schrieber said the left-handed shooter averaged around 17 points a game for the 27-4 program. Harrison set a single-season school record for steals, averaging more than four a game, in his senior campaign.
“Everything he’s gotten has been through hard work,” Schrieber said. “The University of Tulsa is getting a heck of a basketball player and young man.”
Harrison also sounded excited when Manning told him about the Golden Hurricane’s playing style.
“He said we’re going to be an up-tempo team and get out on transition,” Harrison said. “We’re going to play defense a lot and get in the passing lanes. We’re going to be a fast-paced offense, a transition offense.”
