Josh Harrellson
Encyclopedia
Josh Harrellson is a former American
college basketball
player. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 275 pounds, he played center
for the Kentucky Wildcats
from 2008 to 2011. He was selected by the New Orleans Hornets as the 45th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft
, but was traded to the New York Knicks
.
Harrellson first played organized basketball as a freshman at St. Charles High School
. Coach Gary Wacker helped develop Harrellson's skills, and he was named a first-team All-State player his junior and senior years. He signed a National Letter of Intent
to play for Western Illinois University
, but never enrolled there, choosing instead to attend junior college
at Southwestern Illinois College
. After one year at Southwest Illinois, he was recruited to Kentucky by then-coach Billy Gillispie
. Gillispie was fired after Harrellson's first season, and Harrellson played sparingly the next year under new coach John Calipari
. Due to the ineligibility of star recruit Enes Kanter
, Harrellson received significantly more playing time his senior year, during which he averaged 6.4 points per game and led the Southeastern Conference
in rebounding with 8.8 per game. In the 2011 NCAA Tournament
, he was named to the All-East Region Team.
. St. Charles boys' basketball coach Gary Wacker noticed Harrellson, who stood six feet, four inches tall as a high school freshman, when he came to the football
coach's office to ask about tryouts. When Harrellson showed up too late for football tryouts, Wacker encouraged him to try playing basketball. Wacker later recalled that, when he first started practice, he could not dribble or make a left-handed layup
, and Harrellson himself conceded that he was "pretty much the worst player on the team." Before the end of his first season, however, he was playing on the junior varsity team, and by his sophomore year, he was playing with the varsity team
.
Harrellson had a difficult home life, and eventually moved in with his AAU
basketball coach. By his junior year, he had grown to 6 feet, 8 inches tall; he averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds for the season and was named a first team All-State player. After taking only one recruiting visit, he signed a National Letter of Intent
to play for the Western Illinois Leathernecks
prior to his senior year. He averaged 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.6 blocked shots, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals during his final season of high school basketball, while leading St. Charles to the Class 4 state semifinals. He was named second team All-Metro by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
and was again named first team All-State. He finished his high school career with 1,325 points and 794 rebounds. After the season, he participated in summer workouts with University of Florida
-bound Alex Tyus from nearby Hazelwood Central High School
; during these workouts, he became convinced he could play basketball for a higher profile university.
. His parents divorced following his high school graduation, and he chose Southwestern Illinois College
because it was close to home. Harrellson joined future Alabama
guard Chris Hines
and future Minnesota
guard Devron Bostick on the SWIC basketball team, and during the 2007-2008 season, he averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds. His team compiled a 28-5 record, won the Great Rivers Athletic Conference
, and advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association
regional championship game. Harrelson was named first-team all-conference and all-region.
In March 2008, Western Illinois fired coach Derek Thomas, and Harrellson was released from his Letter of Intent in April of that year. Harrellson first expressed interest in transferring to the University of Missouri
, but the school had no basketball scholarships available. He considered scholarship offers from Iowa
, Iowa State
, St. Louis, Indiana
, Illinois
and Kentucky. His final decision was between St. Louis and Kentucky. Despite his desire to stay close to home, in part because of his parents' recent divorce, Harrellson chose Kentucky because of the chance for better exposure, which he believed could lead to an opportunity to play professional basketball.
In his first year at Kentucky, Harrellson played in 34 games, starting in 2. He was named to the Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team; he posted his first career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in the tournament's championship game against the West Virginia Mountaineers
. The game was one of only six all season in which Harrellson tallied at least 10 points. At halftime of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores
in Nashville
on February 17, 2009, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie
ordered Harrellson to listen to the game plan from a bathroom stall. After the game, Gillispie made Harrellson ride back to Lexington
in the equipment van instead of on the bus with his teammates.
Kentucky fired Gillispie at the end of the season, replacing him with John Calipari
. Calipari quickly assembled a highly touted recruiting class that required more scholarships than Kentucky had to offer and held workouts to determine which of the players then on scholarship would best fit into his system. Sophomore A. J. Stewart and freshman Donald Williams decided to transfer, while senior Jared Carter decided not to apply for a medical redshirt. Harrellson impressed Calipari and remained on the team. However, playing behind Patrick Patterson
, Demarcus Cousins
, Daniel Orton
, and Perry Stevenson
, Harrellson played a total of 88 minutes over 22 games during the season. He averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game, and his season high in points was five.
Following the 2009-2010 season, Harrellson and teammate Jon Hood played nine games in China
as part of an exhibition team assembled by Campbellsville, Kentucky
-based Sports Reach. Playing against teams from China and Russia
, Harrellson averaged 13.1 points and 9.2 rebounds. He said that the experience boosted his confidence after receiving limited playing time during the previous season.
Harrellson grabbed 26 rebounds in the Blue-White scrimmage prior to the 2010-2011 basketball season. When asked about the performance, Calipari remarked, "Either we are the worst offensive rebounding team in America or he's gotten better." Harrellson took exception to Calipari's lack of praise and tweeted
, "Just amazing to me I can't get a good job or way to go. Yes he has been working hard this off season ... It is just amazing to me but I look past it and keep trucking!" Calipari then ordered Harrellson to shut down his Twitter account and to do extra conditioning drills as punishment. Harrellson made these drills part of his regular workout and credited them for improving his physical condition.
Harrellson was pressed into playing heavy minutes by the NCAA's decision to rule teammate Enes Kanter
ineligible for accepting excessive benefits from a professional team in Turkey
. Harrellson started every game for the Wildcats during the 2010-2011 season. He achieved career highs in points (24) and rebounds (14) against in-state rival Louisville
on December 31, 2010, but regressed once conference play began. He nevertheless led the conference in rebounding with 8.8 per game, and scored 6.4 points per game during the regular season. During the 2011 Southeastern Conference Tournament, he averaged 10.3 points per game and was named to the All-Tournament team.
In the 2011 NCAA Tournament
, Harrellson averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds, including a 17 point-10 rebound-3 block performance against Ohio State
All-American Jared Sullinger
in the third round. He followed up with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and a career-high 4 assists in the regional finals against Tyler Zeller
of the North Carolina Tar Heels
, helping the Wildcats reach the Final Four
. After the game, Harrellson was named to the All-East Region Tournament team along with teammates Deandre Liggins
and Brandon Knight
, who was named the region's most outstanding player. In his final game as a Wildcat, a one-point loss to the Connecticut Huskies
in the national semi-finals, Harrellson managed only 6 points and 4 rebounds.
Harrellson was invited to the 2011 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
, widely regarded as a chance for college seniors to showcase their skills for NBA scouts, but withdrew from the tournament on the advice of University of Kentucky medical staff after the emergence of flu
-like symptoms. Basketball analyst David Aldridge
ranks Harrellson as the third best center available in the 2011 NBA Draft
. He is projected as a possible early-to-mid second round pick in the draft.
While at the University of Kentucky he earned the nickname "Jorts" (slang for jean shorts) because he was often seen wearing them.
by the New Orleans Hornets, but was traded to the New York Knicks for cash considerations reportedly between $700,000 and $750,000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 275 pounds, he played center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
from 2008 to 2011. He was selected by the New Orleans Hornets as the 45th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
, but was traded to the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Harrellson first played organized basketball as a freshman at St. Charles High School
St. Charles High School
St. Charles High School is a public high school serving grades 9 through 12 in the city of St. Charles, Missouri, USA. The other high school in St. Charles, MO is St. Charles West High School.-History:...
. Coach Gary Wacker helped develop Harrellson's skills, and he was named a first-team All-State player his junior and senior years. He signed a National Letter of Intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
to play for Western Illinois University
Western Illinois Leathernecks basketball
The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team represents Western Illinois University of Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I men's college basketball competition....
, but never enrolled there, choosing instead to attend junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
at Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College is the sixth largest community college in Illinois with campuses in Belleville, Granite City, and Red Bud, plus 20 off-campus sites throughout the district, including Scott Air Force Base and East St. Louis Community College Center...
. After one year at Southwest Illinois, he was recruited to Kentucky by then-coach Billy Gillispie
Billy Gillispie
Billy Clyde Gillispie , also known by his initials BCG, is an American college basketball coach. Since 2011, he has been the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Texas Tech University...
. Gillispie was fired after Harrellson's first season, and Harrellson played sparingly the next year under new coach John Calipari
John Calipari
John Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky....
. Due to the ineligibility of star recruit Enes Kanter
Enes Kanter
Enes Kanter is a Turkish basketball player drafted by the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association in 2011 NBA Draft.-Early life:...
, Harrellson received significantly more playing time his senior year, during which he averaged 6.4 points per game and led the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
in rebounding with 8.8 per game. In the 2011 NCAA Tournament
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
, he was named to the All-East Region Team.
Personal
Josh Harrelson was born February 12, 1989 in St. Charles, Missouri. He is the son of Doug Harrellson, a construction worker, and Karen Harrellson. He has a brother named Matt and a sister named Ashley.High school
Harrelson had never played organized basketball prior to 2003, his freshman year at St. Charles High SchoolSt. Charles High School
St. Charles High School is a public high school serving grades 9 through 12 in the city of St. Charles, Missouri, USA. The other high school in St. Charles, MO is St. Charles West High School.-History:...
. St. Charles boys' basketball coach Gary Wacker noticed Harrellson, who stood six feet, four inches tall as a high school freshman, when he came to the football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach's office to ask about tryouts. When Harrellson showed up too late for football tryouts, Wacker encouraged him to try playing basketball. Wacker later recalled that, when he first started practice, he could not dribble or make a left-handed layup
Layup
A layup in basketball is a two-point shot attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to bounce it off the backboard and into the basket. The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in...
, and Harrellson himself conceded that he was "pretty much the worst player on the team." Before the end of his first season, however, he was playing on the junior varsity team, and by his sophomore year, he was playing with the varsity team
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
.
Harrellson had a difficult home life, and eventually moved in with his AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
basketball coach. By his junior year, he had grown to 6 feet, 8 inches tall; he averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds for the season and was named a first team All-State player. After taking only one recruiting visit, he signed a National Letter of Intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
to play for the Western Illinois Leathernecks
Western Illinois Leathernecks basketball
The Western Illinois Leathernecks men's basketball team represents Western Illinois University of Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I men's college basketball competition....
prior to his senior year. He averaged 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.6 blocked shots, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals during his final season of high school basketball, while leading St. Charles to the Class 4 state semifinals. He was named second team All-Metro by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the major city-wide newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri. Although written to serve Greater St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch is one of the largest newspapers in the Midwestern United States, and is available and read as far west as Kansas City, Missouri, as far south as...
and was again named first team All-State. He finished his high school career with 1,325 points and 794 rebounds. After the season, he participated in summer workouts with University of Florida
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
-bound Alex Tyus from nearby Hazelwood Central High School
Hazelwood Central High School
Hazelwood Central High School is located at 15875 New Halls Ferry Road in unincorporated St. Louis County, adjacent to the current northeast boundary of Florissant, MO. The school is one of three high schools in the district, the others being Hazelwood West High School and Hazelwood East High School...
; during these workouts, he became convinced he could play basketball for a higher profile university.
College career
Before enrolling at Western Illinois, Harrellson asked to be released from his letter of intent, citing rumors that head coach Derek Thomas was about to be fired and his desire to play for a higher profile school. Western Illinois refused to grant the request. Instead of playing for Western Illinois, Harrellson decided to matriculate to a junior collegeJunior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
. His parents divorced following his high school graduation, and he chose Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College
Southwestern Illinois College is the sixth largest community college in Illinois with campuses in Belleville, Granite City, and Red Bud, plus 20 off-campus sites throughout the district, including Scott Air Force Base and East St. Louis Community College Center...
because it was close to home. Harrellson joined future Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball
The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball program has a history of being among the best of the Southeastern Conference . It trails only Kentucky in basketball wins, SEC tournament titles, and SEC regular season titles in the 12-member conference. The team is coached by head coach Anthony Grant,...
guard Chris Hines
Chris Hines
Chris Hines is an American college basketball player currently with The University of Alabama.-High school career:As a junior, Hines averaged 26 points and 8.5 rebounds per game at Evergreen, Alabama's Hillcrest High School. In his senior year, he averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 blocks...
and future Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball
The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represents the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have played in the Big Ten since the conference began sponsoring basketball in 1905...
guard Devron Bostick on the SWIC basketball team, and during the 2007-2008 season, he averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds. His team compiled a 28-5 record, won the Great Rivers Athletic Conference
Great Rivers Athletic Conference
The Great Rivers Athletic Conference is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association located primarily in the Southern part of Illinois and has been around since 1982. The GRAC is located in Region 24 which is about 4/5 the Southern portion of Illinois. Region 24 right now consists...
, and advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
regional championship game. Harrelson was named first-team all-conference and all-region.
In March 2008, Western Illinois fired coach Derek Thomas, and Harrellson was released from his Letter of Intent in April of that year. Harrellson first expressed interest in transferring to the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, but the school had no basketball scholarships available. He considered scholarship offers from Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and...
, Iowa State
Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball
The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team represents Iowa State University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.-Johnny Orr era :...
, St. Louis, Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
, Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Ten Conference. Home games are played at Assembly Hall, located on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's campus in Champaign....
and Kentucky. His final decision was between St. Louis and Kentucky. Despite his desire to stay close to home, in part because of his parents' recent divorce, Harrellson chose Kentucky because of the chance for better exposure, which he believed could lead to an opportunity to play professional basketball.
In his first year at Kentucky, Harrellson played in 34 games, starting in 2. He was named to the Las Vegas Invitational All-Tournament Team; he posted his first career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) in the tournament's championship game against the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. It is a member of the Big East Conference. West Virginia most recently reached the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, led by...
. The game was one of only six all season in which Harrellson tallied at least 10 points. At halftime of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball
The Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles . They have competed in ten NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once and the Sweet 16 six times...
in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
on February 17, 2009, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie
Billy Gillispie
Billy Clyde Gillispie , also known by his initials BCG, is an American college basketball coach. Since 2011, he has been the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Texas Tech University...
ordered Harrellson to listen to the game plan from a bathroom stall. After the game, Gillispie made Harrellson ride back to Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in the equipment van instead of on the bus with his teammates.
Kentucky fired Gillispie at the end of the season, replacing him with John Calipari
John Calipari
John Calipari is an American basketball coach. Since April 2009, he has been the men's head coach at the University of Kentucky....
. Calipari quickly assembled a highly touted recruiting class that required more scholarships than Kentucky had to offer and held workouts to determine which of the players then on scholarship would best fit into his system. Sophomore A. J. Stewart and freshman Donald Williams decided to transfer, while senior Jared Carter decided not to apply for a medical redshirt. Harrellson impressed Calipari and remained on the team. However, playing behind Patrick Patterson
Patrick Patterson (basketball)
Patrick Davell Patterson is an American basketball player with the Houston Rockets. He played collegiately for the University of Kentucky. He is a 6'9", 235-pound power forward who grew up in Huntington, West Virginia...
, Demarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins is an American professional basketball player with the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball at the University of Kentucky.-High school career:...
, Daniel Orton
Daniel Orton
Daniel Joseph Orton is an American professional basketball player with the New Mexico Thunderbirds, the NBA Development League affiliate of the NBA's Orlando Magic...
, and Perry Stevenson
Perry Stevenson
Perry George Stevenson is an American professional basketball player. A power forward, he formerly played for the University of Kentucky men's basketball team...
, Harrellson played a total of 88 minutes over 22 games during the season. He averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game, and his season high in points was five.
Following the 2009-2010 season, Harrellson and teammate Jon Hood played nine games in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as part of an exhibition team assembled by Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville is a city in Taylor County, Kentucky, United States. The population within city limits was 10,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County, and the home of Campbellsville University...
-based Sports Reach. Playing against teams from China and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Harrellson averaged 13.1 points and 9.2 rebounds. He said that the experience boosted his confidence after receiving limited playing time during the previous season.
Harrellson grabbed 26 rebounds in the Blue-White scrimmage prior to the 2010-2011 basketball season. When asked about the performance, Calipari remarked, "Either we are the worst offensive rebounding team in America or he's gotten better." Harrellson took exception to Calipari's lack of praise and tweeted
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, "Just amazing to me I can't get a good job or way to go. Yes he has been working hard this off season ... It is just amazing to me but I look past it and keep trucking!" Calipari then ordered Harrellson to shut down his Twitter account and to do extra conditioning drills as punishment. Harrellson made these drills part of his regular workout and credited them for improving his physical condition.
Harrellson was pressed into playing heavy minutes by the NCAA's decision to rule teammate Enes Kanter
Enes Kanter
Enes Kanter is a Turkish basketball player drafted by the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association in 2011 NBA Draft.-Early life:...
ineligible for accepting excessive benefits from a professional team in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Harrellson started every game for the Wildcats during the 2010-2011 season. He achieved career highs in points (24) and rebounds (14) against in-state rival Louisville
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA...
on December 31, 2010, but regressed once conference play began. He nevertheless led the conference in rebounding with 8.8 per game, and scored 6.4 points per game during the regular season. During the 2011 Southeastern Conference Tournament, he averaged 10.3 points per game and was named to the All-Tournament team.
In the 2011 NCAA Tournament
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
, Harrellson averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds, including a 17 point-10 rebound-3 block performance against Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
All-American Jared Sullinger
Jared Sullinger
Jared Sullinger is an American college basketball player. He is a sophomore at Ohio State and was one of the top rated basketball players in the class of 2010.-High school career:...
in the third round. He followed up with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and a career-high 4 assists in the regional finals against Tyler Zeller
Tyler Zeller
Tyler Paul Zeller is an American college basketball player who is currently a Senior at the University of North Carolina...
of the North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
, helping the Wildcats reach the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. After the game, Harrellson was named to the All-East Region Tournament team along with teammates Deandre Liggins
DeAndre Liggins
DeAndre Liggins is an American professional basketball player drafted by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft with the 53rd pick. He is a 6-6 210 lb. shooting guard out of Kentucky.- External links :* * *...
and Brandon Knight
Brandon Knight (basketball)
Brandon Knight is an American professional basketball point guard with the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association. Knight won the 2009 and 2010 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year Awards...
, who was named the region's most outstanding player. In his final game as a Wildcat, a one-point loss to the Connecticut Huskies
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
in the national semi-finals, Harrellson managed only 6 points and 4 rebounds.
Harrellson was invited to the 2011 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
Portsmouth Invitational Tournament
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, or "PIT", is the United States' oldest amateur basketball tournament and the only postseason camp conducted for the top NCAA seniors only....
, widely regarded as a chance for college seniors to showcase their skills for NBA scouts, but withdrew from the tournament on the advice of University of Kentucky medical staff after the emergence of flu
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
-like symptoms. Basketball analyst David Aldridge
David Aldridge
David Aldridge is a reporter for the Turner television networks TNT, TBS and TBD.-Education and early career:...
ranks Harrellson as the third best center available in the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
. He is projected as a possible early-to-mid second round pick in the draft.
While at the University of Kentucky he earned the nickname "Jorts" (slang for jean shorts) because he was often seen wearing them.
Pro career
Harrellson was drafted in the second round (45th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
by the New Orleans Hornets, but was traded to the New York Knicks for cash considerations reportedly between $700,000 and $750,000.