We knew it was a done deal, but it's nice to hear the "letters have arrived" at Tim Floyd's office.
Harris definitely has eligibility concerns, but there's no way Tim Floyd would be recruiting him if he wasn't positive he would be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. KTSM has also confirmed that Harris will have four years of eligibility with UTEP. It's not clear if he will have to sit out next season, per NCAA transfer rules, since he did not play in any games last season with Georgia State.
KTSM also confirms that William Small, Harris' recruiter at Georgia State, will join Tim Floyd at UTEP but the article wasn't clear in what capacity he will serve. He won't be UTEP's Director of Basketball Operations, as that spot has been filled by former Floyd player (USC Forward) Keith Wilkinson. So, it appears Small will be an assistant coach and/or recruiting coordinator. Small has 16 years of coaching experience and it's all in the southeast. He's coached at Southeastern Louisiana, Troy, Western Kentucky (where he's credited with signing Courtney Lee who's now with the New Jersey Nets), Tulane, and most recently Georgia State. At Georgia State, Small was the lead recruiter of Harris and three star forward James Vincent. If Small could consistently sign 3 and 4 star recruits to the Colonial Athletic Association's Georgia State, I can't even begin to imagine what he might be able to bring to UTEP. So far, with Harris coming along with him, he's off to a good start in El Paso.
Also, in news that slipped through the cracks seemingly everywhere else, John Bohannon, of Lancaster, has also signed on the dotted line.
These signings give UTEP a 6'9 center who physically is ready to play immediately and a 6'10 freshman who has seemingly endless upside. Bohannon was the star of Tony Barbee's final recruiting class and it was vital that Floyd keep him committed.
With Jamison Stearns and Darrious Curry out of the picture, the only Miner recruit unaccounted for is Matt Korcheck, a 6'9 center out of Sabino High School in Tucson. Scout has Korcheck rated as the #29 center prospect in this year's class. On April 14, Bill Knight reported that Korcheck is "still with the Miners" but I have not found confirmation that he's made it official. If he does sign, or has, the Miners will be set in the post in 2012. Exciting times.
