Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
I was standing in line this weekend for a bar in Lexington (which is absurd thing to do in a city like Lexington) when I overheard two UK fans talking about this season. One looked at the other and said, “now who is that guy Harris….I like him but I dont know what his deal is.” I chuckled to myself, but then thought that these guys actually were correct. We know Ramon Harris on the team but we dont really know what his deal truly is. Unlike most players at Kentucky, we didnt follow his recruitment. Fans werent clued in on who Harris was deciding between or what schools were looking for visits. In fact, Harris didnt even get the Morakinyo Williams “year to stew over the commitment” time that allows fans to get to know players. People just looked up one day and this kid from Alaska was all of a sudden committed to Kentucky and a few days later he was on the team….Presto, a new Cat….and one we dont really know.
And this year has been an odd one for the Razor. Due to injuries, he was pressed into duty early and often was criticized for his somewhat erratic play. Most people dont give Harris the benefit of the doubt for essentially being a Freshman and along with Michael Porter, the Razor took some heat during the early struggles. However slowly over the season, we have seen steady improvement from Harris. Defensively, he is still the best on-the-ball perimeter defender on the team. Game after game, he guards the other team’s quickest player and often controls the matchup (as against Humphrey at Georgia). He finds himself on the court for 30 minutes or so a game due to this defense and Gillispie is very happy with his command of the offense, defense and his basketball IQ. His offensive ability has even shown some signs of improvement, even on the dribbling end, where it didnt look like he could get much worse. He has had a couple of nine point efforts in the last three games and he doesnt look like a constant threat to turn the ball over, as early in the season. While there is still much work to be done (as his full court drive to the basket on Saturday that included two double-dribbles, a near hit in his own face with the ball and a minor injury can attest), Harris now isnt a total offensive liability….and his athleticism and ability to finish around the basket shows promise for the future.
But what has been really interesting to watch over the last few months is the development of Razor Ramon as a leader both on and off the court. Harris is relatively quiet and says very little unless he is specifically asked. However Gillispie pointed Harris out at a recent press conference as a potential team leader due to some “little things he is doing” that help the team out. Part of what Gillispie was surely talking about is the up front role that Harris has taken in recruiting. Like Bobby Perry and Chuck Hayes before him, Harris has become a key part of the recruiting process and steps up during player visits to try and become the key player contact with the team. Ramon has gone with the coaching staff to watch high school players in the area, including future Cats Darius Miller and Dakotah Euton. Harris hosts a number of recruits on visits and can be seen at local high school games sporting the Blue and White. In addition, he may be the best ambassador UK has on the team, signing autographs longer than any other player after every game and reaching out to UK fans at all times. Quietly, he is showing how a Kentucky basketball player should act off the court and he embraces the extracurriculur parts of the program that make it so special. That leadership rubs off on others and is something that the coaching staff truly values.
During this five game winning streak, I have heard many UK fans talk about the improvement of Ramon Harris and to a certain extent they are correct. However, Razor Ramon is actually right on pace as he develops during what is essentially his Freshman year. While he will likely never be a star at UK, he has found a role and is sure to contribute for the rest of his UK career. However no matter what Harris ends up doing on the court, he should be applauded for his contributions to the team and the chemistry off the court. Ramel Bradley said after the game Saturday that this team is a “family” more than any other he has been on. While many factors play into that, the work that Harris does as a Cat off the court is a big part of that improvement.
More throughout the day, including a post by the Turkey Hunter, a look ahead to Vandy and more on Wesley Witherspoon…..
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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February 11th, 2008 at 12:11 am
the man, the myth, the Razor.
February 11th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Matt, When do you sleep?
February 11th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Stop ease dropping on me when im i line
February 11th, 2008 at 12:50 am
I actually met Ramon, his girlfriend (I think) and his parents. They are extremely nice people. Great people, in fact.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Matt, I have no idea about your actual skills as a lawyer nor am I implying anything but as a long time reader of the blog and having listened to the old school weekly podcasts I can’t help but find the image at the bottom amusing. I may even have a bit of remorse for clients.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:50 am
I like Harris. He is a good ball player in my opinion. He is getting better by leaps and bounds especially his defense. He is also a really nice guy. He talked to me about basketball while i was waiting in line for big blue madness tickets. He has a promising future with Kentucky.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:02 am
fans being critical of Harris was unwarranted..he is basically a freshman and adjusting to a new coach..he also grew 2 inches in the offseason, which takes some time to adjust to as well..he has shown steady improvement and his handling of the ball has become much better..he has begun to supply some much needed offense lately and his D is stellar. I’ve been impressed with the progress he has made.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Not surprised Bradley says this team is more of a family, considering he came in with Rajon (the cancer” Rondo. Then he had to put up with “lazy” Morris and his I wanna be pro attitude. Not to mention his other buddy Joe C. who cried the first part of his frosh year before Tubby and the gang knocked some sence into him.
Bradley has been the only stable one in his phenom class and he and Joe have had enough humble pie to understand where they stand in college ball.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Oh, but harris has filled in nicely as the season has gone on. I just hope he doesn’t try to do to much here down the stretch as he gains confidence. Like the fast break that got him injured.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:13 am
I love watching Harris D people up. He is long armed, athletic, quick, and has that secret nasty streak where you can see he really, really doesn’t like to be scored on. I have never played with him, so I don’t know much about him in that aspect, but he is more offensively skilled then people give him credit for. Certainly he needs to defer to Ramel, Patrick, and Joe, but I feel better about him going to the basket a lot of times than Derrick. Derrick has had several plays this year where he drives, gets in the air, and tries to find a pass as opposed to simply taking the shot. If he would get more assertive driving in to the basket it would open up our offense to much more.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Good stuff Matt……..Ramon has really improved his passing. Assists are the most underrated stat in my opinion. With he and AJ and Darius and DeAndre we will have 4 really athletic wings. I can’t remember a team like that at UK other than Mercer, Anderson, Shepherd and Edwards. I don’t think we realize how special this roster could be by the time Meeks, Jasper and Sweet Pea are seniors.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Matt, excellent article on Ramon. He’s a “glue guy” and there is always going to be a place in the rotation for someone with his unselfishness and defensive skills. I haven’t given him on his developing a decent offensive skill set either. As others have noted, he’s practically just a freshman from an experience standpoint, so there is every reason to think he can continue to develop his offensive game.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:10 am
KING CRAB
February 11th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Matty boy this was a nice story on the Razzor. You need to get a pick of OUr Razor with a toothpick in his mouth. ala the real razor, hehe.
You wanna do well as a team, you need solid players like the Ramon. He is not going to give 15-20 points but he gives you alot of things in order to be successful on the court and as we learned with this story off the court as well.
Does anyone know about Razor’s injury? We really need him healthy and ready for tomorrow’s
tilt against Vandy.. I felt bad for Razor when he came down hard on his hip, he was rithing in pain
GOOOO BLUUUUUUUUUUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 11th, 2008 at 9:21 am
razor has also been very adept at getting timely rebounds during this little win streak…whether offensively or defensively, he has time and again come up with some big boards…unlike many others on the team who need rebounds to drop into their hands, he can often be seen actually going to get the rebound…amazing…
razor, you are my favorite (behind joe, ramel, and ppat of course).
February 11th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Matt, one of your best posts in several months. Great story, and some interesting insights into our Alaskan Assassin.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I expect the light to suddenly
go on for Ramon where he has
a big time scoring game and
becomes a terror in the SEC.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Hustle up with those Picks to Click, it’s a slow day at work.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:54 am
[...] The Razor is a Leader [...]
February 11th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
It sounds like Harris is starting to come into his own a little bit. Its good to have guys like the Razor and Stevenson to put talent around. I agree with #12 guys like Harris and Stevenson are glue guys. You have to have guys like these because they will make Freshman who come in reach their potential much earlier. They lead, they play hard, and they practice hard. Guys like Harris are so important. They may not score alot, but they posess all the intangibles that help teams win championships. Good For Harris. GO CATS!!!