Meet the Wildcats: #5 Ramon Harris
By Staff
RAMON HARRIS
SENIOR
GUARD/FORWARD
6’7 218
ANCHORAGE, AK
WEST ANCHORAGE HS
BEFORE UK:
Ramon Harris came to UK with a serious championship pedigree as he played on four HS state championship teams. In his senior season, he was Class 4A Alaska player of the year and the Gatorade Player of the Year and averaged 16 ppg, 13.1 rebounds and 3 blocks a game. There is no truth that Sarah Palin could see him play from her from porch however. Not a lot of recruiting information could be found on Harris, but he was listed as a 3 star recruit by rivals.
AS A WILDCAT:
Ramon was a huge mystery to Wildcat fans as he just kind of “showed up” on UK’s roster over the Thanksgiving break in 2006. Ramon appeared in just 12 games and played in just 32 minutes and averaged just .8 points and .5 rebounds a game and was 4-7 from the field for the season. Ramon wore #22 as a freshman.
In his sophomore year, Ramon switched to uniform number #34 for his second coach. It was kind of a mysterious year for Harris as he did not see action until November 27, and then from that point of the season on, started the last 24 games of the season. In what would become known as something of a trademark for the Gillispie era, Harris saw erratic playing time, even as a starter and would play 4 minutes one game, 40 in another, and then back to a 10-12 minute rotation. Harris averaged 22.6 minutes a game and 4.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. Harris his double digits in scoring once with 12 points vs Tennessee and in rebounds with 10 boards vs Tennessee Tech. Harris proved to be pretty good from the field with a 50.7 FG percentage.
With Ramon’s junior year came a third uniform number (#5) and yet another somewhat bizarre season. Harris was a big surprise early in the season, pouring in 16 and 15 points in UK’s first two games and he had a 11.2 scoring average after 5 games. Harris got into another odd playing pattern where he was taken in and out of the starting lineup and scored just 9 points in the next 5 games while playing 15, 6, 9, 6, and 23 minutes in those games. At this point, Harris found it hard to get back into rhythm despite being a starter and he was inconsistent the rest of the season. Ramon gave the BBN a huge scare during the game at Alabama when he mysteriously collapsed in the locker room. Ramon’s inconsistency continued at the end of the season when he scored in double digits 3 of the last 7 games.
CAREER HIGHS:
Points: 16 – 11/14/2008 – vs VMI
Rebounds: 10 (2x) – last – 3/17/2009 – vs UNLV
Assists: 8 – 3/23/2009 – vs Creighton
Blocks: 3 – 3/15/2008 – vs Georgia
Steals: 5 – 3/14/2009 – vs Georgia
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS SEASON:
One thing for certain will be a reduced role for Harris with the influx of new talent. After two seasons of starting and averaging about 24 minutes a game, expect Harris’s minute’s to be cut perhaps to the 6 minute a night range and he will probably chip in about 4 a game. This is not to say that Harris can not be a contributor off the bench. It’s just that talent wise, Ramon is about 10th or so on this list. If any Wildcat can handle the task of being a starter to fighting for minutes, it would be Ramon. He seems to have an almost positive demeanor all of the time.
I have a feeling that Ramon has taken his reduced role and is trying to earn himself a niches on the team and make it hard for Calipari not to play him more. He played very well in the Blue/White game with 12 points (4 3-pointers) and 7 rebounds. Ramon played pretty well in the Campbellsville exhibition with 15 minutes and 5 points. He had 3 assists and one turnover. Ramon seems to be a player that can be very productive in the 6 minutes or night or so and that will earn him consistent time as the season goes on.
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans