Jon Harris as Assistant Coach--St. Louis Post Dispatch

[classof70]

From the St. Louis Post Dispatch

Jon Harris believes he is the perfect person to help college basketball players make the transition from being a one-man gang in high school to filling a specific role at the next level.

The 1998 Post-Dispatch All-Metro player of the year, Harris averaged a Southwestern Conference-best 21 points and 14 rebounds during his senior season at Edwardsville. In college, he was part of a nationally ranked program at Marquette, playing alongside the likes of all-American and future NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade.

Now an assistant coach at Tennessee under Cuonzo Martin (East St. Louis Lincoln), another former All-Metro talent, Harris sees a lot of himself in incoming freshman players.

"In high school, everybody's a star," Harris said. "I was a star in my own right, but when I got to college I (became) a role player."

Harris was counted on by Marquette coach Tom Crean to not only be a fierce rebounder but also do a lot of the little things that do not show up in box scores — like play aggressive defense and set screens.

Before Harris joined the Tennessee staff in 2011, he and Martin had coached together at Missouri State. Harris also has NCAA Division I coaching experience on the staff at Wisconsin-Green Bay.

At Edwardsville, Harris was part of the 1996-97 and 1997-98 teams that lost memorable postseason games. When he was a junior, Edwardsville was eliminated in the sectional finals in a six-overtime loss to Alton. As a senior, he was part of the team that lost on a 70-foot shot at the buzzer to Collinsville in the sectional semifinals.



Harris is ninth on Edwardsville's career scoring chart with 1,269 points. He was passed last season by his nephew, Tre Harris, who wound up with 1,387 points and is fourth on the list.

[Lennys Tap]

Jon was a solid role player and by all accounts an even more solid guy at Marquette.thanks for sharing.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Jon "Windex" harris

[mu-rara]

He sucked.  Couldn't score.

[JWags85]

Jon "The Mason" Harris.  Great player but I've never seen someone consistently struggle at the line over the years like he did.

[MarquetteDano]

He sucked.  Couldn't score.

Good one.  The way this board is now everyone would be questioning his playing time.  Nevertheless,  he was a critical role player.

[tower912]

Jon was a great teammate who did the dirty work.   He represented MU well.   He did not shoot well.    But that is about the worst thing anyone can say about him.

[mu-rara]

Good one.  The way this board is now everyone would be questioning his playing time.  Nevertheless,  he was a critical role player.

One of the best role players ever.   Made his team better.  Loved his game.

[NersEllenson]

One of the best role players ever.   Made his team better.  Loved his game.

Jon also wasn't the starting PG getting the most minutes on the team...a PG needs to be a hell of a lot more than a role player...if you want your team (even with very good talent at every other position) to be an NCAA caliber team.

[wardle2wade]

Jon also wasn't the starting PG getting the most minutes on the team...a PG needs to be a hell of a lot more than a role player...if you want your team (even with very good talent at every other position) to be an NCAA caliber team.

Cant handle it anymore.  Ignored.

[Class71]

Cant handle it anymore.  Ignored.

Did the same some time ago.

[Dawson Rental]

Jon also wasn't the starting PG getting the most minutes on the team...a PG needs to be a hell of a lot more than a role player...if you want your team (even with very good talent at every other position) to be an NCAA caliber team.

Swallowed the bait hook, line and sinker.

[77ncaachamps]

Jon Harris coaching Jeronne Maymon.

At Tennessee.

Program formerly head coached by KO.

Weird world...

And that's leaving out the Summit connection.

[Newsdreams]

Cant handle it anymore.  Ignored.

Will enhance your scoop experience!!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Cant handle it anymore.  Ignored.

Add another to the NEP!