Stepping into a big time NCAA Division I basketball program as a freshman is hard enough. Going from the high school big fish in the little pond to being just another “guy” on a college campus is not an easy transition.
However, in the case of Gicarri Harris, a freshman guard on the Purdue basketball team, that rookie passage is a bit more complicated and one that will inevitably invoke much more scrutiny than his fellow freshmen.
Harris’ Dad Arguably The Most Accomplished Boilermaker Ever
Harris’ dad is none other than the “Big Dog,” Glenn Robinson. one of the most decorated Purdue basketball players ever. Robinson’s list of college accolades compares favorably with the all-time NCAA greats. His honors include: two-time All-Big Ten, two-time consensus All-American, 1994 Wooden and Naismith Awards, and the 1994 AP Player of the Year. He cashed in those honors to be drafted number one overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1994 NBA Draft.
While his pro career was not heaped with hardware compared to his Purdue days, Robinson finished his 11-year NBA stint having averaged 20.7 points per game over 688 contests and was named to the 1999 and 2000 all-star games.
Undoubtedly, Harris must feel unusual pressure to succeed, especially after seeing his dad’s #13 jersey hanging in Mackey Arena’s rafters, right?
Not so much, according to Harris. Yes, he feels his dad’s presence, but he wants to blaze his own path in West Lafayette.
Harris Contributing Mightily On Defense To Purdue Basketball
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier
Glenn Robinson was known as a “bucket”: He was a scorer, one of the best the NCAA has ever seen, and Purdue’s offense revolved around him. Harris’ strengths, at least thus far in the 2024-25 season, lie on the other end of the court. While he knows his dad’s aura looms, he is content being his own player.
“I’m definitely just trying to pave my own way,” Harris said. “We have two different playing styles. It’s cool that he played back in the day here because everybody here is just like family to me because they know him.”
Harris has started in the backcourt that includes scorers Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer all four games thus far this season, and he knows his role to become a lock-down defender on the opponent’s biggest offensive threat.
This unselfish attitude to do the “dirty work” is something that is not lost on his teammates. “He knew how to rotate to guys. He knows how to keep them in front,” Loyer said of Harris. “Now that he has gotten in our system a little bit, you see how hungry he is to guard somebody. Shutting somebody down is his main focus.”
Case in point: Harris’ task in Friday’s huge win over then-ranked #2 Alabama was to shut down the Crimson Tide’s All-American guard Mark Sears.
Through its first three games, Alabama averaged 90 points per game, thanks in large part to Sears and four other teammates pouring in double-digit amount of points.
Sears struggled to find traction with his offense all night long, much of the time with Harris guarding him, going 5-for-15 from the field, and he, and the Crimson Tide as a whole, finished below his season average, scoring just 15 points in Purdue’s 87-78 victory.
The Road Remains Bumpy For Purdue Basketball This Week
There is no time for the Boilermakers or Harris to rest on their accomplishments of defeating 2nd-ranked Alabama. This week, Purdue basketball travels to Milwaukee to take on nationally-ranked and undefeated Marquette Tuesday night at Fiserv Forum.
As for Harris, odds are he will be tasked with stopping the Golden Eagles’ scoring machine Kam Jones, a senior guard who is averaging 24 points per game.
If Harris can find a way to corral Jones, look for the Purdue to keep “Boilering Up” the national rankings.
