Elias Harris in Ankara for the Efes Pilsen World Cup

[CaliforniaZaggin']

A little bird just told me Elias will be at GU Sept. 15-16 and he'll be good to go for the entire season.

That's a relief. You gotta love those little birdies.

[ZagNative]

Am tracking it. Thanks, ZN.

A little bird just told me Elias will be at GU Sept. 15-16 and he'll be good to go for the entire season.

Good to hear! Now, maybe we can all lighten up and just enjoy the rest of the ride!

I was just thinking, as I was tracking the stats for this morning's game, with Macedonia taking int to Germany, how tough it might be for Elias to leave his comrades in arms when he believes his play might make a difference for his country ...

[BobZag]

For some reason, I don't associate Macedonia with basketball. More like, Persian invaders.

[Gufan]

Harris compairsons?

I am obviously very excited to see Harris suit up for the Zags this year, but without seeing him play, I wonder if there is another more well known player his game shadows. Hearing his skill set, he reminds me a bit of another former Zag recruit in Jeffrey Taylor. For people in the know, would that be a fair comparison (if there is such a thing as a "fair" comparison)?

[ZagNative]

For some reason, I don't associate Macedonia with basketball. More like, Persian invaders.

Okay, so Germany lost to the Macedonians, but I personally thought the arrival of the Macedonians' coach at the arena in Ankara was a little bit showy and perhaps intimidating to the young Germans ...



Who does the guy think he is? John Calipari?

Oh, well. At least it appears our guy did manage to get off a couple of shots ... Actually, three of three, with 2/2 free throws, for 8 points. Hey, he also blocked a shot, too.



A more legible box score (pdf) should be up on this page later.
Edited to add: Box score is here.

[CaliforniaZaggin']

This might seem like an odd comparison to make, but Elias Harris reminds me a lot of Kenny Thomas, the former New Mexico Lobo and current Sacramento King. They're both slashing-type players with great bounce, active on the boards, and a somewhat unconventional jumper. KT had a great career at UNM, so hopefully Elias can do the same in Spokane.

[sittingon50]

Very nice, Native!

[Kiddwell]

Am tracking it. Thanks, ZN.

A little bird just told me Elias will be at GU Sept. 15-16 and he'll be good to go for the entire season.

If that "little bird" is wrong about Elias and Sept. 15-16, BZ, that "little bird" on Sept 17 is "dead and dinner."

:]

[BobZag]

If that "little bird" is wrong about Elias and Sept. 15-16, BZ, that "little bird" on Sept 17 is "dead and dinner."

:]

The gun is ready.

[Reborn]

A little bird just told me Elias will be at GU Sept. 15-16 and he'll be good to go for the entire season.

And official practice doen't start until October 15th, so he'll have a whole month to get acclimated to the camus and students, and especially the players. I think for a guy like Elias, who has played with about 3 different teams this summer, that that will be plenty of time. I hope he gets situated as a student because we all know how important that is. Im really glad to hear that he will be available for the whole season. I was pretty sure he would be. I just believed that neither he nor his coach would want him to miss out on the opportunity to play for the Zags this year, and I'm really glad that he had a chance to play for and server his country. I know I would have done the same thing. Whether that hurts him or not, we'll have to wait and see how it pans out. It's all up to him, and how he can make the adjustments that it will definitely take.

[ZagNative]

Germany defeated Latvia this morning, 89-72. Looks like they didn't use Elias much this game, but the Box Score (pdf file) shows him with five points:


Bauermann was pleased with the third place finish of the Germans. From a Google translation:

Coach Dirk Bauermann was very pleased with third place at EFES PILSEN WORLD CUP. "We have shown after a weak start, morality and character and very rough play Latvians convincingly beaten.'s Third place in this high-caliber tournament is a great success for this young team, which demonstrates that we are on the right track. In view at the European Championship, this victory is quite gratifying, but he does not change our goal that every victory is at the European Championships a great success, "said the coach.

Next up are two friendlies against Slovenia, in Bonn and Karlsruhe, on September 2nd and 3rd.

[BobZag]

Elias may only take a couple shots per game but he seems to hit almost all of them. His field goal % must be around 80%. He's efficient, I'll give him that.

[MDABE80]

He's playing in an ultra tough tourney. Best of the best. Seems like he's holding up well for a youngster. Hope that knee (as GZ points out above) of his continues to improve. Seems like he just played through it. Knees don't heal well without rest and PT.
Few's got some tough customers coming in. Harris is right up there as the toughest.

GuFan's thought on Jeff Taylor (heartbreak) is decent. A bigger , tougher version with better skills as he honed his game with those Euro guys (very physical leagues). He's a big strong kid who is also a leaper. I've qued up some of his games on the WWW. He's going to open some eyes. Can't imagine him in 4 years!! AA skills but so do many of the other kids here and coming. We're in for a wild ride the next 4 years if injuries or NBA defections don't occur.

[Reborn]

Elias may only take a couple shots per game but he seems to hit almost all of them. His field goal % must be around 80%. He's efficient, I'll give him that.

I think it's important to remember that he's playing for the senior national team with older guys who have played together, I would guess, for a long time. The very last thing any young player would do, I think, is go in and shoot up a bunch of shots. Seeing that he shoots so very little is an indication of a smart young man, who plays his role quite well. It's just such an honor and a priveldge to be on that team, I would imagine. He's learning the ropes, and I am sure will one day be a great German basketball player. I can just imgine the pride he feels for making that team at such a young age, and "yes" to be contributing. Some times even more than just a little. One thing is certain, I think, is that when he does get to GU he won't have to look back and wonder, "should I have played with the national team?" When he comes he will be able to give all his focus to the Zags.

[ZagNative]

Elias' Germany Team plays Slovenia in Bonn this morning

Game time will be 8:45 a.m. in Bonn (17:45 Frankfurt time).

Pic from a story this morning linked below:



And from basketball-bund.de:

Germany finishes third at the EFES PILSEN WORLD CUP

Wins against Turkey and Latvia - Two scrimmages against Slovenia before heading to Poland

The German National Team returned from a very successful tournament in Turkey early this morning. Dirk Bauermann's squad finished the prestigious EFES PILSEN WORLD CUP on the third place behind Croatia and Macedonia. The German team opened the tournament with a 74:67 (24:24, 17:13, 15:18, 18:12) win over host Turkey. Jan-Hendrik Jagla scored 16 points to lead Germany to the opening win which lifted the team to the semi-finals. In the second game of the preliminary round, Croatia slipped past Germany (62:75 (16:25, 15:17, 15:15, 16:18)). Konrad Wysocki (picture) had 17 points while Tibor Pleiss added eleven points and eight boards.

In the semi-finals, Macedonia was too strong for the young German squad. Germany lost 75:94 (17:26, 18:22, 21:21, 19:25) when Heiko Schaffartzik and Patrick Femerling led the team with 16 and 11 points.

Despite facing an early deficit, Germany fought back strongly in the game for the third place. With a terrific shooting performance, Dirk Bauermann's team outscored Latvia in the third quarter 29:14. In the end, Germany won 89:72 (18:25, 21:15, 29:14, 21:18) with five players (Heiko Schaffartzik 15, Demond Greene 14, Lucca Staiger 13, Patrick Femerling 11 and Sven Schultze 10) in double figures.

"This thrid place at this high class tournament is a great success for this young team. We came back strong after a bad start and showed our true character. As for the Eurobasket, this win is a joyful result but it does not change our goals at the Eurobasket. Every win with this young team will be a huge success" German Head Coach Dirk Bauermann concluded after the tournament.

The German team has two scrimmages ahead before leaving for Poland. On Wednesday and Thursday, Germany and Slovenia will face each other in Bonn and Karlsruhe. After the two games, German Head Coach Dirk Bauermann has to cut two players in order to meet the regulations of a 12-men-squad for the Eurobasket. "All 14 players work hard and play with heart and soul. Each player can help the team. They are all national team players no matter how the decision prior to the Eurobasket will be", Bauermann underlined.

As for Slovenia, the Head Coach of the German men's program expects exciting games for the Basketball fans in Germany. "Slovenia has a very strong team with several top players. For us, the two games are a though challenge, but this is what we need to meet France at the first Eurobasket game."

Bauermann says Slovenia is one of the strongest teams in Europe, including three NBA players, Goran Dragic (Phoenix Suns), Beno Udrih (Sacramento Kings) and Primoz Brezec (Philadelphia 76ers), and the rest of the team has plenty of Euroleague experience for top European teams.

After the game tomorrow in Karlsruhe, Bauerman will cut the 14-man roster to 12 for the trip to Poland, where they'll face Tony Parker and Ronny Turiaf for France in the first round of the European Championship.

*German language story from sport.aol.de, google translation here. The headline refers to the Slovenia games being a last Hardness test for the "Bauer Mann piglets."

GO ELIAS!