NBA Draft Blog Interview with KT Harrell

For many, the college basketball path is fairly straightforward; you pick a school, play one through four years, and hopefully play at the next level. Sometimes though, the path isn’t so straight, but it’s in those detours that players find out what they’re made of. Auburn senior KT Harrell changed his path along the way, and he knows he came out a better player, and person, for it.

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Harrell started his career at the University of Virginia under Coach Tony Bennett, but after a freshman year where he played over 22 minutes and averaged over 8 points per game, he decided to move closer to his Montgomery, Alabama home, and attend Auburn University.

Though he has to sit out a year due to transfer rules, Harrell made his presence known as a junior; he led the team, and finished sixth in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), in scoring, as well as being second on the team in rebounds and assists. This was all a set-up to a senior year which really made people notice.

This past season, Harrell, a 6’4 shooting guard, led the SEC in scoring at 18.5 points per game, which also placed him in the top 40 in the nation. He also shot a very impressive 43.4 percent from three-point range, also among the best in the conference and nation. Though the team won just 15 games on the season, they made a surprising run to the SEC conference tournament semifinals, knocking off NCAA Tournament team Louisiana State along the way.

Harrell was named to both the SEC All-Tournament Team and to the Second Team All-SEC squad. It’s been an up-and-down five years for Harrell, but he can see how it has all paid off dividends on his development.

“Most of my growth was off the court,” said Harrell. “I really learned through transferring to know what you want and how to earn it. It takes a lot of work, and sitting out was one of the toughest things I had to do, but I learned to really value the process.”

Leaving Virginia wasn’t something that Harrell took lightly, but he saw it as the best decision for him. “I didn’t see myself as mentally tough, and missing home made it worse,” Harrell said. “Like most kids, I looked to leave, but it was through leaving, and having to sit out and not to what I love, that I became mentally tough.”

Sitting out was tough, but Harrell made the most of it, and when he was able to finally get back on the court for his junior season, he made an instant impact, averaging over 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. “I used the year off to my advantage and stayed in the gym as much as possible, that allowed me to make a quick impact,” said Harrell. “I had the respect of my coaches and my teammates, and I knew what I was capable of.”

Coming off a strong season, things were disrupted again as Head Coach Tony Barbee was dismissed. Harrell wasn’t going to let it get in the way of what he started at Auburn. “When Coach Barbee was fired, I had no intention of leaving,” Harrell explained. “I was excited for Coach Pearl to come to Auburn. He’s a winner who knows the game, and the whole experience was amazing.”

Pearl, who was coming back to coaching after NCAA sanctions ended his time at Tennessee, would be Harrell’s third college coach. While that may not seem ideal, Harrell doesn’t see it that way. “I was able to take things from each coach I played for, but Coach Pearl was different,” said Harrell. “I’ve never seen a coach so passionate about the game, and what it means to be a part of it. His enthusiasm rubs off on you, and his players start to take on his personality.”

With his college career behind him now, Harrell is able to look back and see where he has grown on the court as well. “I’ve learned to become a great teammate and leader, and letting my body language on the floor set the example for the team,” Harrell explained. “There were a lot of tough games at Auburn, but I learned how important it is to be there to support your teammates through it all.”

After the season ended, Harrell was invited to the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament for the top seniors in the country. He averaged over 11 points per game while helping lead his team to the Championship game.

As Harrell prepares for the next step in his basketball journey, he has a good idea why pro teams are interested in him. “My shooting, and ability to score, is definitely what attracts teams the most,” said Harrell, who hit 164 three-pointers in his two seasons at Auburn. “I know my strengths and weaknesses, and not a lot of players are always that comfortable with their game.”

He knows his game isn’t complete though, and Harrell is hard at work in San Antonio adding to, and polishing, his game. “I’ve been working on my ballhandling, so I can create off the bounce better,” Harrell said. “Also, I want to strengthen my defense, so I can do it at a high level. Offense was my priority at Auburn, by now I want to focus more on my defending.”

Putting all these various parts of his game together has helped Harrell envision how he could help any team right away. “I can definitely help right away with my ability to shoot and stretch the floor,” explained Harrell. “I know I can score at the next level, and I can create shots for myself and others.”

Harrell has worked out for, or has workouts scheduled with, Houston, Miami, Utah, and Minnesota, so far, and he’s excited for the opportunity he has before him.

“All I ever wanted to do was play basketball, and I will give everything I have to make my dreams come true,” said Harrell. “I’m excited to show teams what I am a capable of.”

At the end of the day, the team that scores the most points wins basketball games, and Harrell is certainly a guy who can supply that. But his college journey has prepared him for much more, and it wouldn’t be wise to count Harrell out of anything he has his mind set on.

To read more about Harrell’s game and NBA-readiness – check out my Senior Spotlight on him.

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Email me – Ed (at) NBADraftBlog.com