Houston team has Baltimore ties, Terps interest
Aaron Harrison comes back to Baltimore five or six times a year, but the Patterson grad's homecoming next month will be particularly special.
Harrison is set to bring his Houston Defenders AAU program here for the Nike Baltimore Elite Invitational Tournament, which is scheduled to run May 6-8 at CCBC-Catonsville.
The Defenders’ 17-and-under team includes up to seven future high-major Division I players, including Harrison’s twin sons Andrew and Aaron -- both consensus top 10 players in the country for the 2013 class.
“The family can get a chance to see them play,” Harrison said. “That is very important. It’s Mother’s Day.”
After starring for the Clippers’ basketball team and graduating from high school in 1987, Harrison joined the army and ended up in Texas. He met his wife in San Antonio, and the couple settled in Houston. He got involved with the Defenders seven years ago. Today, the Defenders are one of the top AAU programs in the country.
In addition to the Harrison twins, the Defenders also receive major contributions from center Shaquille Cleare, shooting guard Christian Sanders, forward Derrick Griffin, forward Clyde Santee, point guard Eugene Wright, shooting guard Wesley Iwundu and point guard Ali Muhammad.
Cleare, a 6-foot-10, 285-pound center originally from the Bahamas, came to Texas in ninth grade. With just three years of organized basketball under his belt, Cleare has already developed into one of the most highly recruited big men in the 2012 class. The Terps currently “stand at the top of his list.”
“They’re definitely working on Shaquille very hard. I would say they’re the front-runners for Shaquille right now,” said Harrison, who also mentioned Texas, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Arizona as schools involved with Cleare. “He’s one of those guys that needs to lose weight. But just his size and his build, he’s a really good athlete [with] incredibly good hands [and] good feet. Great kid.”
Harrison said Santee has also received some interest from the Terps, while his sons are being pursued by “Texas, Texas A&M, Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, UCLA. There’s a lot more. I hate to leave them out,” Harrison said.
The Harrison twins landed their first scholarship offers from Baylor when they were seventh-graders. Aaron, a 6-foot-6, 206-pound shooting guard, and Andrew, a 6-foot-6, 208-pound point guard, couldn’t be more different in terms of personality. Harrison said Aaron is a “free spirit,” while Andrew is “very intense.”
“They’re two separate personalities, but they’re definitely connected at the hip,” Harrison said. “Even if, say, they could go to different schools, they wouldn’t. They’re different, but they want to be with each other. They’re each other's biggest fans. They believe in each other, put pressure on each other.”
Harrison said he’s looking forward to next month’s tournament. It’ll give the Defenders – an Under Armour-sponsored team – a chance to see their coach’s old stomping grounds. Harrison also hopes to make time for a trip to College Park.
“I’m going to try to walk every kid through the University of Maryland, find some time and take a trip over there,” Harrison said. “The younger kids really enjoy it. It’ll give Shaq a chance to see what it’s like over there.”
Comments
Cleare + the Harrison twins = dream scenario for the Terps....make it happen, Gary & staff!!!
Posted by: steph | April 26, 2011 1:15 PM
I remember Aaron Harrison!! patterson c/o 1986 here!! played for coach wrenn football hope your boys like the terps.. well at least one of them.. lol!
Posted by: Ravens21202 | April 26, 2011 1:57 PM
Watch for Cleare to possibly/likely commit to Maryland during this trip.
Posted by: Terps | April 26, 2011 2:51 PM
SHAQ PLEASE COME TO TERPLAND, Already love harrison for the fact he keeps with his roots and will show his boys UMD. If Cleare committs we will be working on arguably the best MD class ever with two top 50 (probably top 25 when new rankings come out) committed for 2012.
Posted by: PV | April 26, 2011 3:02 PM
Jeez. This has an outside shot of being an unbelievable set up for the Terps. Cleare alone would be an amazing get for MD. Add in the fact that if Cleare signs with MD and has a good experience his first summer and few months in College Park that it could help recruit two top ten recruits.
One thing that I think is very important is that the Defenders are sponsored by Under Armour. This is huge in MD's favor.
I hope MD fans show up at the event May 6-8 and shower the Defenders with a lot of support.
Posted by: TL | April 26, 2011 5:00 PM
Um, why do I have an uneasy yet realistic feeling that Gary Williams will be nowhere to be found when the Defenders visit UMD.
Posted by: Justice | April 26, 2011 5:54 PM
Anyone wants 80000000000000-1 odds?
Posted by: Ryan | April 26, 2011 8:32 PM
great article, alot of substance, and some potential great news for the terps...
Posted by: Steve | April 26, 2011 9:05 PM
Thats logical justice, Gary went to Houston to see cleare and the harrison twins but he won"t be in college Park? What a moron
Posted by: jjvanroy | April 26, 2011 11:06 PM
Now that's the size I'm talking about. I don't care if he can't shoot. Get under the boards and rattle it. Of course he can shoot. He can shoot where ever he wants. Just remember college hoops isn't the same as the pros. Hansbrough last night got his shots blocked away like nothing. I think they were gang tackling. Lonnie Baxter type size and strength is what MD needs. Let coach do what he does. You don't know what he's doing quietly. Grab rebounds not headlines.
Posted by: Six foot 9 285 | April 27, 2011 9:56 AM
Once again, "pearls of wisdom" from Ryan.
Thanks to Steve, jjvanroy and Six foot 9 285 for your salient posts.
Posted by: Terp'nTexas | April 27, 2011 12:28 PM
Ryan - I'll take your odds. I'll bet you $1.00
Posted by: loyal terp fan | April 27, 2011 1:17 PM
remember this come tip-off time next october whether cleare is or is not on the roster. —gary williams recognizes talent. that's why we're all salivating at a potential class of justin anderson, shaquille cleare and fill in the blanks with whoever.
Posted by: space | April 27, 2011 5:27 PM
Let's not forget one of, if not THE most important factor in this, is Bino. A lot of Baltimore ties to go around here....
Posted by: Fort Liquordale | April 29, 2011 1:35 AM