Getting to know 2018 Crescent Valley F Tariq Harris
2018 forward Tariq Harris left Winter Haven (Fla.) to reunite with his older brother, Robert Yarber, a 2002 Crescent Valley graduate.
Harris moved up to Corvallis with his mother to be a part of the Raiders program.
The 6’4″, 185-pounder was named MVP Mid-Willamette Conference earlier this month by The Oregonian as he averaged 18 points, five rebounds and three assists per game as a junior. Harris helped the Raiders make a Class 5A quarterfinal appearance before the team lost to Parkrose.
33 points in season-opening win over Marist.
He called the season pretty solid overall. Harris scored 33 points in the season-opening win over Marist. He’s currently ranked No. 19 in the 2018 Prep Hoops Oregon rankings.
“For me being the new kid, I had a lot to learn and we started off pretty rough with playing the best teams in the state for our preseason,” Harris told Prep Hoops Oregon. “Once we moved into league play we performed really well and finished 11-3.”
Currently, he has interest from Boise State, Eastern Oregon (NAIA) and Georgian Court (Division-II). No offers have come yet, but that isn’t stopping Harris from looking to up the ante this summer playing travel ball for The Hoop in Salem.
“I’m really focused on getting wins in the pretty good tournaments and get on coaches radar,” he said.
Starting his basketball life at age 5, Harris also played football this past season for the Raiders. It was his first time participating in the sport in five years as he lined up as a wide receiver. He says he wants to work on his game on the field and help Crescent Valley win a state title.
On the court, Harris pointed to his ability to getting to the rim, finishing through contact and his mid-range jumper as his biggest strengths. He’s aiming to work on his shooting from outside the perimeter and his passing this summer.
At his new stomping grounds, Harris is thriving. He’s comfortable being the guy and his leadership is growing. He’ll continue to draw notice as long he continues to improve his game. He has good size and strength and his scoring ability is evident. Look for Harris to increase his stock this summer during AAU ball.
Photo credit: Corvallis Gazette-Times