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Player Movement Central: Tyler Harris Transfers to Auburn

By Chris Godfrey

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Bruce Pearl continues to pull rabbits out of his hat at Auburn. After wrapping up a recruiting class that included two ESPN 100 prospects and the nation’s top junior college transfer, it looked like Pearl had done enough for one offseason, but apparently there was room for one more piece of the puzzle. Tyler Harris, formerly a key contributor at Providence, has decided that he will play his final year of eligibility at Auburn.

Tyler, who is the younger brother of Orlando Magic forward, Tobias Harris made the decision to attend Auburn after choosing to leave Providence as a graduate transfer. That, of course, makes him available to play right away in year two of Pearl’s reclamation project.

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Harris played a crucial role in getting the Friars to the NCAA Tournament last season. As a potent third option to star players Kris Dunn and LaDontae Henton, he averaged 9.9 points per game, but reached double-figures in scoring 20 times over the course of last season.

At Auburn, Pearl can lean on the 6’9 forward to carry a larger load offensively, and that’s something that Harris likely sought out when attempting to find a role with a new team. There’s also a sense of familiarity already established between Pearl and the Harris name. Pearl coached big brother Tobias while he was at Tennessee, meaning that he had a proverbial leg up in securing Tyler.

Harris is a natural small forward who will definitely ease the expectations of the Tigers incoming recruits, providing senior leadership and a winning attitude to a group that will need resolve in order to navigate through what could be a trying season.

Along with Kareem Canty, a transfer from Marshall who will also debut for Auburn this season, and the host of talented newcomers, Bruce Pearl’s Tigers are inching closer towards the expectation of an NCAA Tournament bid, and that’s a thought that was nearly unfathomable when Pearl took over during last off-season.

It seems that Auburn has four starters set in stone, even though Pearl has been coy about who he plans to roll out. It seems that Canty would share the backcourt with JUCO sensation T.J. Dunans, while Harris occupies a swingman role. Returner Cinmeon Bowers will occupy the frontcourt with a player to be named. The fact that Pearl has legitimate options to fill that fifth spot in the lineup is a testament to how far he has taken the program in a calendar year. Depth has been a foreign concept at Auburn, but now it’s a reality with their reloaded roster.

Bruce Pearl has never been one to temper his excitement, and Harris’ commitment is another reason for optimism. It may be too early to project, but with this most recent addition, the Auburn Tigers may be an NCAA tournament team. Who would have thought that we would ever be able to say that so soon.

Next: Under the Radar Impact Recruiting Classes

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