pacific update

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

UOP: Andre Hazel, EJ Harris
Recruiting Update--(Sept. 2, 1999)

Andre Hazel (6'-0" Sr. PG) from Artesia HS, is reportedly being recruited by Big West Conference rivals University of the Pacific and Nevada-Reno. While others have experessed interest, these appear to be the leaders. In our view, Andre is one of the most under-rated and under-appreciated point guards among those being recruited from the senior class out of SoCal, and while we'd personally like to see more major programs like UCLA and other Pac-10's getting involved with him, that doesn't appear to be in the cards, at least not for now. No word yet on whether Andre will sign early, or wait to see what else opens up in the Spring. Andre attended ABCD camp, and played this summer with most of his high school teammates on the Wayne Merino-coached QBL travel team. He was selected to the All-Tournament team at the adidas Las Vegas Big Time Tournament, led QBL to the final game at the Pump Best of Summer Tournament, and consistently played outstanding ball all summer. He's quick, has a great handle and makes excellent decisions on the court, and can defend even the quickest point guards he's thrown up against.

The other point guard prospect being pursued by UOP is another SoCal player, E.J. Harris (6'-2" Sr. PG) from Crenshaw, who is also getting attention from (according to Mike Miller), Kansas State and Washington State. E.J. is another player who seems to have been widely overlooked by a lot of schools, and in our view, he's another one who might be wise to wait until the spring to see what other opportunities develop. He's got great size for a point, excellent quickness and a deadly accurate, although not pretty, set shot from out in three point range. E.J. is one of those guys who a lot of coaches seem puzzled about and who likes to frustrate the recruiting "gurus." He is possessed of tremendous skills, but often doesn't seem to be "trying" which is a strange knock on a young man who averaged close to 20 ppg this summer. E.J. attended Nike Camp, and played with Sports Express first at the beginning of the summer (actually in late May when they traveled to Europe) and then again at the Nike Summer Championships. The team had horrible results, but E.J played very well and impressed a lot of people.