Georgetown Basketball: 3 reasons why Dante Harris should play more

Dante Harris is a capable offensive player

I think that when it comes to offensive versatility, Dante Harris brings a lot to the table. Don’t let his low scoring average fool you, because he can do much more than his statistics would suggest.

Prior to Georgetown’s game against St. Johns, Dante Harris was averaging 3.2 points and 11.6 minutes per game and had not scored more than 9 points in any of Georgetown’s contests. As we all know, that changed on Sunday when he exploded for 22 points in 43 minutes of play and played a huge role in the Hoyas’ victory over the Red Storm.

Now, let me be clear about this, Dante Harris’ outstanding performance on Sunday certainly caused me to pay a little more attention to him, but I was already aware of what the 6’0″ guard could do. Despite scoring a total of 16 points in five appearances (before the St. John’s game), and shooting just 35% from the field (7-20), Dante Harris showed me that he is much more of an offensive threat than Jalen Harris is.

Even though he wasn’t always able to finish the job, it was clear to me that Dante Harris could cause some problems for opposing teams. He is an energetic guard who can get good looks when he is playing on and off the ball.

When Dante Harris is playing off the ball, he does a really good job of paying attention to detail when he is sprinting across the floor and preparing to utilize screens (for example, slowing down and making sure that his shoulder makes contact with the screener’s shoulder), which allows him to catch the ball cleanly, and read the body language of his defender(s)/see where they are located.

If they are behind him as he is coming off screens, Harris will put his head down, take his speed to the next level, and get the ball up on the rim. If his defenders are in decent (but not great) defensive possession, Harris will keep his eyes on the rim, take two dribbles, and control his momentum as he is preparing to get straight into his nice-looking mid-range jump shot.

When Dante Harris isn’t playing off the ball, he likes to keep things fairly simple. When he has the ball at the top of the key and comprehends that he needs to make something happen quickly, Dante Harris often completes a between the legs dribble move, and a basic crossover as he is surveying the floor, and then takes one long step (while pushing the ball out as far as he can without losing control of it), before getting into the teeth of opposing defenses (when he can then kick the ball out to a teammate, or take advantage of an open lane to the basket).

While Dante Harris isn’t as fast from end-to-end as Jalen Harris is, he certainly has the ability to catch the ball on the run and make opposing teams commit to him right away (or he will continue to make his way toward the rim, and try to make a positive play).

I can honestly say that Dante Harris’ terrific play on Sunday, didn’t surprise me as much as it probably surprised you, because I knew that it was only a matter of time before his shots began to fall (and it also helped that he got to foul line 9 times, and made 8 free throws).

Sometimes, you have to be able to identify when a player could potentially be special, even if that player isn’t filling up the stat sheet all the time. Their shot selection, ability to consistently get to their favorite spots on the floor, and supreme confidence should tell you a lot about who they are as a player, which is something I learned a very long time ago.

Shifting gears to Jalen Harris, I think that part of the reason why he was heavily scrutinized at New Mexico (from 2016-17) and Arkansas (from 2017-20, but he redshirted during the 2017-18 season) was because of his indecisiveness with the ball in his hands.

Fast forward to the 2020-21 season, and the Wilson, North Carolina native still has the same issue. I understand that when Patrick Ewing recruited Jalen Harris to Georgetown, he planned to play him a lot, but if it is clear that he is clueless with the ball in his hands more often than not, he cannot stay on the floor for too long.

Sure, Jalen Harris has recorded 24 points in five games this season and has showcased his ability to hit catch-and-shoot threes, but when it comes to being a guy that can wear defenders down, and make one decisive move with the ball before taking a high-percentage shot (even if it does not drop), Jalen Harris struggles mightily. Before arriving at Georgetown, it seemed like the second he realized that his signature shammgod crossover or long/mesmerizing right to left crossover wasn’t going to shake many defenders at the college level, he had a hard time figuring out how to consistently create separation, and take solid shots.

I get that Jalen Harris is a pass-first point guard, and his 26 total assists this season indicate that, but I think that because he is not a serious threat to score at the moment, you could certainly make the case that Jalen Harris is hurting the Hoyas right now. However, if Dante Harris’ playing time increases, and he begins to get more comfortable on the floor, the Hoyas may find that it is not only easier for them to score, but also easier for them to secure victories in Big East play (which is the most important thing).