Ethan Harris

[Zstatman]

https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/basketball-men/2026/05/01/iowa-mens-basketball-ethan-harris-recruiting-ben-mccollum-hawkeyes/89843292007/

I have to admit I hadn't paid much attention to Harris just assuming he was pretty good for Iowa to go after him.

But after reading this article in hawkcentral I am really impressed and say, come on down!

I have suggested in various threads here in HN that it would be great if one of the wings could slide over and be pretty good at a guard position, for sure a #2, maybe even some PG. Harris could be that option. In the article his HS coach calls him a guard.

And he's 6'9".

Both is parents played college ball at the U of Portland. He eats right, he plays right, what's not to like?

go hawks

 

[haydensly]

Another good player who fits the culture.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

We are definitely stacked at the tall guard/small forward position. 6'9 would be an awfully tall shooting guard. Seems more likely you slide Tate down to that 2 position. I think we are going to see a larger rotation this season. I don't see the 3 centers playing a lot together, but I think all will get some minutes and let their play dictate who is in their in the second half. We have some really good options at the 2-4 positions and I could see 5-7 guys rotating their. I am guessing Combs gets the bulk of the minutes at the point with Coleman or McCollum subbing in their. 11ish man rotation seems very realistic.

 

[Gander Hawk]

We are definitely stacked at the tall guard/small forward position. 6'9 would be an awfully tall shooting guard. Seems more likely you slide Tate down to that 2 position. I think we are going to see a larger rotation this season. I don't see the 3 centers playing a lot together, but I think all will get some minutes and let their play dictate who is in their in the second half. We have some really good options at the 2-4 positions and I could see 5-7 guys rotating their. I am guessing Combs gets the bulk of the minutes at the point with Coleman or McCollum subbing in their. 11ish man rotation seems very realistic.

I always like to see a lot of players rotating but I'm not sure that's McCollum's style. I know Stirtz played almost 40 a game, did he rotate much last year?

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I always like to see a lot of players rotating but I'm not sure that's McCollum's style. I know Stirtz played almost 40 a game, did he rotate much last year?

Stirtz never came out, but my impression is that was unique to Stirtz as he was that good and capable of managing that heavy a load. I don't think that is Ben's normal operating approach. No one else played the entire game. Iowa typically had an 8 man-rotation, except that Stirtz never came out, so 7 guys rotated 4 spots. My guess is that is more typical for Ben. I don't see another Stirtz on this roster, so I think we will see a 9-10 man rotation, especially early.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

If Ben decides to press more often, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Harris ends up being the guy in space harassing the ball-carrier, much like Tom Davis used Chris Street back in the day. Harris has that same pesky energy.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Does anyone really press these days except at the end? Tom Davis, Arkansas 40 minutes of hell, etc. Miss that. Doesn't feel like you see a whole lot of pressing in the middle of the game anymore.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Does anyone really press these days except at the end? Tom Davis, Arkansas 40 minutes of hell, etc. Miss that. Doesn't feel like you see a whole lot of pressing in the middle of the game anymore.

Not really... Takes deeper teams to really do that and most teams don't want to go 8 plus deep for significant mins with their backups

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Does anyone really press these days except at the end? Tom Davis, Arkansas 40 minutes of hell, etc. Miss that. Doesn't feel like you see a whole lot of pressing in the middle of the game anymore.

You definitely don't see it as often.

I'm not sure if depth is the issue since roster size and makeup hasn't really changed. My guess would be (like with any strategy) coaches learned and adjusted, and, over time, it became less and less effective.

Kevin McGuff, continues to effectively use it with the OSU girls.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I suspect it is an analytics thing. I suspect it lead to too many open 3 point shots, which 25 years ago, if you broke the press and a kid quickly launched a 25 footer he would probably get benched. The game has changed for sure.

I think a coach that brought back the Davis press could do pretty well. Sort of like when Georgia Tech ran the triple option. Teams had trouble because it was so novel.

 

[trj]

I learned the following lesson watching college basketball this season: size matters again in the sport. You can’t just spread the floor and shoot 3(s) anymore with a bunch of wings and 2-guards. Having a back-to-the basket big offensively, and can roam the paint defensively is huge now…getting 2 or 3 guys like that is even better(see Illinois and Michigan).

 

[thedukeofearl]

I really have high hopes for Ethan Harris

He is going to be quite difficult to stop on offense

If his passing is as good as his shots, especially to newcomer Jayden Coon

Not to mention, Cooper, Jacob, Trey and Tate, Isaia and Kael

I am already buzzed about this squad

Ben has a lot to work with

Go Hawks

 

[trj]

I suspect it is an analytics thing. I suspect it lead to too many open 3 point shots, which 25 years ago, if you broke the press and a kid quickly launched a 25 footer he would probably get benched. The game has changed for sure.

I think a coach that brought back the Davis press could do pretty well. Sort of like when Georgia Tech ran the triple option. Teams had trouble because it was so novel.

I dunno, man. For every 30 point comeback against Kansas, where the press was huge…it feels like there would be 5 Georgia NIT games, where they just threw over-the-top of the press, and it becomes a dunkfest…where your athletes can’t keep up with their athletes.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I dunno, man. For every 30 point comeback against Kansas, where the press was huge…it feels like there would be 5 Georgia NIT games, where they just threw over-the-top of the press, and it becomes a dunkfest…where your athletes can’t keep up with their athletes.

To be clear, I have no idea if a pressing system with 11 man rotations would work in modern basketball. The fact that seemingly no one is doing it suggests that it would not.

But, you cannot argue with D R . Tom's overall success and record as a head coach using that system. And not just at Iowa. He was a regular in the tourney, and unlike Fran, had a couple decent runs. The system worked, at least during his era.

I still believe that if you found a dozen kids to buy into the system it could cause some havoc. The shot clock is less in modern basketball and a press, even if broken, would speed up the offense and maybe lead to more bad shots.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I really have high hopes for Ethan Harris

He is going to be quite difficult to stop on offense

If his passing is as good as his shots, especially to newcomer Jayden Coon

Not to mention, Cooper, Jacob, Trey and Tate, Isaia and Kael

I am already buzzed about this squad

Ben has a lot to work with

Go Hawks

Sounds like he has guard like ball skills. Who wouldn't sign up for a 6'9 guard?! Iowa could have a really tall lineup out there at times. Ben can mix and match and create mismatches like crazy.

 

[ajdwhs87]

To be clear, I have no idea if a pressing system with 11 man rotations would work in modern basketball. The fact that seemingly no one is doing it suggests that it would not.

But, you cannot argue with D R . Tom's overall success and record as a head coach using that system. And not just at Iowa. He was a regular in the tourney, and unlike Fran, had a couple decent runs. The system worked, at least during his era.

I still believe that if you found a dozen kids to buy into the system it could cause some havoc. The shot clock is less in modern basketball and a press, even if broken, would speed up the offense and maybe lead to more bad shots.

Texas A&M presses and Kentucky and ISU does some too. It might not be as much as Mr. Davis. Someone thinks it is happening similar to that....

I think it will to a certain but a bit less percentage-wise with more height and depth. Jirak guarding the inbound, Harris and Coleman looking to steal, we have guys like Mckeever and Trey back to protect the rim. Coach Ben seems like the guy to use it at the right times and against the right teams in the right amounts but it probably won't be a Mr. Davis amounts but remind us of like ole' Dusty says.

 

[BuiltLikeWilt]

I'd much rather have a true guard bringing the ball up. A 6'9'' guy has more space between the floor and the hand to swipe the ball away , and the quickness factor of getting around the defender and not getting trapped . There are exceptions obviously but trying to transform a 3 or stretch 4 guy this late in the game and in this league would be very tough.

 

[haydensly]

I'd much rather have a true guard bringing the ball up. A 6'9'' guy has more space between the floor and the hand to swipe the ball away , and the quickness factor of getting around the defender and not getting trapped . There are exceptions obviously but trying to transform a 3 or stretch 4 guy this late in the game and in this league would be very tough.

Magic Johnson would like a word.

 

[BuiltLikeWilt]

Magic Johnson would like a word.

Oh I was thinking about him when I posted that . It would take way to long to type out about his skills. If this kid is half of what he was he could play point for me lol oh Penny Hardaway was pretty good too.

 

[haydensly]

Oh I was thinking about him when I posted that . It would take way to long to type out about his skills. If this kid is half of what he was he could play point for me lol oh Penny Hardaway was pretty good too.

Yeah, I was just having fun with you. There are obvious outliers but you are mostly correct about 6'9" guys and dribbling.