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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Chelan star will play for Bennett

Wenatchee World

When Tony Bennett was still men’s basketball coach at Washington State University, it wasn’t hard to imagine that Chelan star Joe Harris might one day run the floor under Bennett’s direction.

That’s still going to happen, but now it will take place on the other side of the country.

Harris, the reigning Class 1A state player of the year, orally committed to the University of Virginia on Monday, where he will play for Bennett, who took over as the Cavaliers’ coach on March 31.

“It was my gut feeling,” the soon-to-be high school senior said of his decision. “I had an unofficial visit at a mid-June camp, and I just liked the facilities and the school. It was an opportunity I couldn’t really pass up.”

Harris, a 6-foot-6 guard who averaged 26 points per game and led the Goats to the state tournament as a junior, said he received offers from Washington State, Washington, Saint Mary’s, Brigham Young, San Diego and Portland. Oregon State, Gonzaga and Notre Dame also showed interest in him.