Bennett lands top basketball recruit

As the son of a coach, Tony Bennett’s latest addition to the program makes perfect sense.
On Monday, the Virginia coach received a verbal commitment from Joe Harris, the 1A high school player of the year in the state of Washington. Harris plays for his father, also named Joe Harris, at Chelan High.
Harris chose Virginia over Washington State, Washington and the University of San Diego.
Harris, who was first recruited by Bennett when Bennett was the coach at WSU, is a 6-foot-5 wing player who averaged 26.0 points and 4.3 assists last season. He shot 53 percent from the field, including 41 percent from 3-point-range.
“I think it came down to coach Bennett and the staff,” said Harris, when asked why he picked Virginia. “Coach Bennett had recruited me since day one when he was at Washington State, so I always had a good relationship with him.
“Then coming to Virginia and seeing the facilities and the school, and meeting all the other coaches — it was an opportunity I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t pass it up.”
Harris said his participation in Virginia’s Elite Camp in June really helped seal the deal.
“Seeing everything they had, it was incredible,” he said.
Harris, rated as a 3- star recruit by Rivals.com, joins forward Will Regan as the second member of Bennett’s 2010 class. Both Harris and Regan would appear to be perfect pieces to the offense — one predicated on ball movement and good perimeter shooting — that Bennett plans on running.
Harris said shooting is his biggest strength.
“Hopefully I can contribute a lot offensively and with rebounds,” he said. “Overall, I have versatility, so I think I can bring a lot of things, like defense. Coach Bennett is a pretty defensive-minded coach, so I think I can fit pretty well in his system.”
Harris’ father believes his son projects as a shooting guard at the college level.
“He’s got a great presence and feel for game,” said the elder Harris. “He’s a very unselfish player and has a good perimeter game — he can knock shots down. He loves hoops and loves playing. He’s definitely a gym rat. I don’t think fans will be disappointed with the effort and type of game he has.”
Harris, who loved to watch video of Pete Maravich when he was younger, said being the son of a coach has helped him immensely during his basketball career.
“I’ve grown up in a gym just playing the game of basketball and just learning from all the players he had,” Harris said. “I think that’s helped me out a lot. It’s given me that drive to always be in the gym and working on my game.”