Tobias Harris, SF
Overall ranking: 6th
Position ranking: 2nd
Signing class: 2010
To this day, Tobias Harris is not only the Vols’ highest-rated signee ever, but he’s still the only Vol to go one-and-done into the NBA.
Harris joined the Vols as another McDonald’s All-American and picked UT on national television on ESPNU. He had high hopes placed on him immediately, and he didn’t disappoint. The one Vol squad he was on, however, was full of disappointment.
The 6-foot-8, 226-pound freshman earned Freshman All-American honors for his play in his first and only season at Tennessee. Harris averaged 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the 2010-11 season while shooting 46.0 percent overall and 30.3 percent from three.
Unfortunately for Harris, his one year in Knoxville was one of the most volatile in recent UT history.
Harris’ only year as a Vol was Bruce Pearl’s last, and that season was marred by the dark cloud of the NCAA hanging over Tennessee’s program. After the Vols were blasted by Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Pearl was eventually fired. Harris decided to test the NBA waters, and it looks like he made the right choice.
The Charlotte Bobcats drafted Harris No. 19 overall in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, and Harris was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team trade. He became the Vols’ eighth all-time first-round draft pick into the NBA. Harris has blossomed into a star into the NBA over the last few years, and he signed a max-deal contract with the Philadelphia 76ers this past offseason.
In nine seasons in the NBA, Harris has played in 557 games and has averaged 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 36.0 percent from three and 47.0 percent overall.
