Harris could be restricted from going to N.C. State, reports say
Sophomore forward Damontre Harris has been granted permission to contact other schools regarding a potential transfer from South Carolina, though Harris may not be able to transfer to his preferred school.
USC is “continuing to work with Damontre regarding his possible options,” a press release about Harris said. Multiple media outlets reported that Harris will not be granted a transfer to North Carolina State because of possible contact with Harris prior to him being released to speak with other schools.
Harris’ mother, Sharhonda Harris, said that N.C. State has never contacted Damontre Harris.
“I don’t understand the problem with him not being able to go to (N.C.) State,” Sharhonda Harris said. “He hasn’t even said he wanted to go to State. I don’t understand where they’re coming up with this tampering stuff from.”
Sharhonda Harris said that Damontre Harris would need to be closer to his Fayetteville, N.C., home because she only has one car, so it’s difficult getting him back and forth from school. Of the major Division I schools near Fayetteville, N.C. State is the closest.
“That’s why I told him that if you ever do leave, then you need to come closer to home,” Sharhonda Harris said. “At this point, I don’t know where he’s looking at or who all offers him, but if no one offers him close to home, then I don’t know where he’ll end up.”
In his sophomore season, Harris was an All-SEC defensive team selection, leading the team in blocks and rebounds per game with 2.3 and 5.5, respectively, while averaging 6.8 points per game. Meeting with reporters a week after he was hired, Frank Martin said that he would not deny a player a request to transfer because “it happens every time there’s a coaching change anywhere in the country.”
“When the time comes, if guys still aren’t interested in who we are, then why hold them down?” Martin said. “I was a high school coach, so nothing aggravated me more than when a young man was having a bad experience or didn’t want to be somewhere and the school didn’t release him. It’s not right. As long as things are handled right by everyone involved, including the other schools in the re-recruitment, then if the kids don’t want to be here, how productive is it going to be for our program to keep someone here who doesn’t want to be here?”
Martin also said almost a month ago that he would be meeting with each player’s parents, just like if he were recruiting the player out of high school, but Sharhonda Harris said Martin has made no effort to contact her, either in person or over the phone.
“It didn’t really upset me,” Sharhonda Harris said. “It just made me think that he’s not really interested in [Damontre Harris]. [Martin is] more out recruiting than he is doing anything else. He’s not even acknowledging the kids that are already there.”
Martin was not available for comment on Harris, as a USC spokeswoman said he was out on a recruiting trip.
Harris is the second player that has been granted permission to pursue a transfer, as freshman forward Anthony Gill has been in contact with other schools. Gill’s former Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) coach Rick Lewis tweeted Monday that Gill has narrowed his decision to Ohio State and Virginia.
With sophomore point guard Bruce Ellington electing to play both football and basketball, Martin will have five scholarships available for the upcoming season.