Published: 12:00 AM, Tue Apr 17, 2012
Trinity Christian's Damontre Harris plans to transfer from South Carolina
By Bret Strelow
Staff writer
South Carolina sophomore Damontre Harris, who was a prep standout at Trinity Christian in Fayetteville, plans to transfer. According to a report from SportsTalkgolive.com, new coach Frank Martin is willing to release Harris to any school other than N.C. State.
In a statement released Monday, South Carolina said Harris has "requested permission to contact other four-year NCAA institutions in order to explore the option of transferring from the University of South Carolina. The institution is continuing to work with Damontre regarding his possible options."
N.C. State assistant coach Orlando Early spent Harris' freshman season on the Gamecocks' staff. South Carolina hired Early in April 2010, more than six months after Harris committed to USC, and the Gamecocks went 14-16 in their lone season together.
Harris averaged 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds last season, when he was named to the SEC All-Defensive team. Head coach Darrin Horn was fired, and Harris would be the second starter to transfer since Martin was hired away from Kansas State. Anthony Gill, a freshman, is looking at several schools, including Virginia, Ohio State and North Carolina.
Ranked the No. 68 prospect in the prep class of 2010 by ESPN.com, Harris picked South Carolina over Florida, Wake Forest and Maryland. He averaged 3.7 points and 3.6 rebounds as a freshman and started all but one game as a sophomore, posting double-doubles against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. He scored in double figures nine times, with a career high of 15 points coming against Southern Cal.
Staff writer Bret Strelow can be reached at strelowb@fayobserver.com or 486-3513.