Spoke with Hamilton Southeastern boys basketball coach Brian Satterfield on Gary Harris the player, person and the recruiting process in general.
Follow the jump for the questions and answers.
On the development of Harris over the past four years:
"He's always been a great team player. Even as a freshman, he came in and didn't start right away but I think by the fifth game of the year he was in the starting lineup and then our best player on our team that particular year got injured for a little stretch. We were competitive but went on a little losing streak. I had a little meeting with our players just talking about the fundamentals of basketball and I proposed a question to the team, 'Who's the most fundamental player we have on the team?' Everybody in the room said Gary, as a freshman. I think that says a lot about him and since then he's been a big part of what we've been able to do and accomplish. What makes him so special is his versatility and his willingness to do whatever needs to be done, being able to handle the ball, play inside and outside on the offensive end. He's one of the best defenders that I've ever coached, being able to guard the point guard and battle inside if needed. With all those things he does on the court, but on top of that what he does off the court, he takes care of what he needs to do in the classroom. He's a great leader. He's just one of those special players."
On Harris excelling both at basketball and on the football field as well:
"One thing that is special is about our school is we talk about being a 'Royal family.' I think that's one thing that's a big part of our success in a lot of programs. We try to promote that multi-sport athlete. Especially in the football program, we lift together (basketball and football) in the off-season. In the summer, we do a lot of stuff together because we know we will be sharing some players and we just try and make it easier on them. We figure a lot of your top athletes should not only excel in one sport. I think the biggest thing for (Harris) is the physicality of it. It gives him a little break from basketball which as a kid is probably a good thing and sometimes it makes him have a little slower start to the season because he doesn't have his basketball legs, but he makes up for that soon enough. Physicality is the biggest thing. We had (former Purdue football recruit Randy Gregory) in the middle last year but I would say Gary was the best player we had to use a body and be able to post-up."
On when Satterfield realized he had a unique talent in Harris:
"I would say probably about half-way through his freshman year. Just even when your own players recognize it that says something special. But at the same time from an age standpoint, he should have only been in eighth grade and he's doing what he's doing, starting on a varsity team, taking us to our first sectional title in school history. Leading us in the regional game with a possible upset of powerhouse Lawrence North at the time. We were in the game and had the lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter."
On the recruiting process and how the family did not allow any outside influences impact the decision:
"Part of it I think with Joy (Gary's mother) being a college athlete, played professionally. From a basketball standpoint, she is very knowledgeable. Also, Gary Sr. has a lot of connections and just coming from a great family I think that's probably the big key. They've got resources, have a great understanding of what's going on to be able to handle this. Anytime you've already been through it, it makes the process a lot easier. You don't necessarily have to lean on people. They are always trying to find out things and they are always trying to toss out ideas to Gary Jr. for him to get figured out for himself. I think anytime you've got that, that just helps the process. Some people like to have the news out there, but if anybody inquired they would give them the information that was needed. But at the same time they wanted to make sure that they were making the right decision. There were a lot of rumors out there but who came up with them and where they got them, that's a mystery."
On the interaction with the IU staff:
"I think coach Crean did a great job through the process. You could tell he really wanted Gary to be part of the process. He's been great to me anytime I've been in contact with him. The communication aspect has always been great. It's just been fun from my standpoint going through the process, getting to know him. I just wish them the best with the resurrection of IU basketball and I think it's on the upswing. I just hope they can use this year to help propel them as they move forward. I think the biggest thing for (Crean) was he was always around. I know that the decision Gary made wasn't easy and I know that when it boiled down to, they ended up being his second pick. I know he was torn and anytime you've got that it's because of what you have and it's special. I think coach Crean had that and is definitely going to get IU basketball going again."
On what ultimately sold Harris on MSU:
"He had a list of things that he felt were most important and when he went down to try and rank things based on those five things, Michigan State basically came on top more than the other schools for those particular categories. I think probably the main thing that he sort of mentioned that he felt was the family atmosphere from everybody. He spoke highly of IU's staff, coach Crean and the rest of the staff and he admires them. The one comment that I think he made was sort of the family atmosphere from top to bottom from Michigan State."
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