Gicarri Harris may have arrived at Purdue best equipped to contribute immediately
When Purdue was rounding out its 2024 recruiting class last fall, Gicarri Harris was a must, and recruited as such.
It was simple. Harris’ basketball wiring aligned ideally with the qualities Matt Painter and his coaches value most. The high-level shooting was one thing, but the competitive nature — “I hate losing more than I like winning,” Harris says — and defensive identity spoke to Purdue very early in the recruiting process.
That he came along at a time when the Boilermakers would need ball-handling guards and a bit of additional toughness, perhaps, made Harris the right recruit at the right time if there ever was one.
That time is now, as Purdue began prep last week for a season in which it will have to rely on freshmen more than it did a year ago. Harris will almost certainly not just play this season, but be a rotation player relied upon heavily to log minutes, handle the ball and guard at multiple positions.
“I just have to wake up each day with the mindset to get better, to impact games, to impact my team and just help my team win,” Harris said, prior to enrolling at Purdue.
It will be a lot to learn, but Harris has been eager, by every account. He said prior to moving to West Lafayette that he expected to be asking a lot of questions and he has been. The goal is to impact Purdue considerably right away.
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Forged by the talent-rich Atlanta area — a hotbed for NBA and NFL talent and high-level size, speed and athleticism — and his own natural competitive DNA, Harris may be readier than most.
“When you love to compete, you can play,” said Harris, who may be entering a really mutually productive competitive environment playing with and against Braden Smith. “That translates anywhere at any level.”
So does physicality.
The 6-foot-4, listed-at-185-pound — he plays bigger and stronger than that latter number — oozes Big Ten basketball, as Purdue recognized right away.
“Defense is the most important part to winning, that’s what I think,” Harris said.
That’s an obvious avenue for early opportunity.
“I think my defense can keep me on the court,” Harris said. “Just playing hard-nosed defense every time I get on the court, then just being able to make shots, communicate with my teammates and be a leader on the court.”
