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Joe Harris. Joey Buckets. Joey Hoops. #swoon.
The Chelan, WA native has been the stalwart for Virginia Basketball for the last three years. It feels like there's nothing he can't do. First year, Harris led the team with 65 made 3-pointers, which was second in the record books for 3-pointers made by a freshman in UVA history. He averaged 11.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in ACC play his first year. Harris finished his second year converting 44% from the field, despite breaking his hand in mid February. Last season, his laundry list of accomplishments is too long to even detail. Like teammate Akil Mitchell, Joe played in and started a school record 35 games, averaging 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists a game.
His teammates have even figured out there's nothing he isn't good at:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>So <a href="https://twitter.com/joeharrisuva">@joeharrisuva</a> just came to my house and was the first 2 not only beat me in darts,but this fool also beat me in madden <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23IsHeBadAtAnything&src=hash">#IsHeBadAtAnything</a></p>— Justin Anderson (@HooNamedS1mba) <a href="https://twitter.com/HooNamedS1mba/statuses/378336771027005440">September 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Harris missed being named pre-season ACC Player of the Year by one vote to Syracuse's CJ Fair, but Joe is the lone member of the 2012-2013 All-ACC First Team who is back this season. Virginia fans expect a lot out of their hero this season, and the increased star power around him should help prevent the fade in productivity he experienced at the end of last year.
And it seems this year the Cavalier fans aren't alone in their faith in Harris this season:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Full. Speed. Ahead. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23wahoowa&src=hash">#wahoowa</a> <a href="http://t.co/M4mAdsl0Um">pic.twitter.com/M4mAdsl0Um</a></p>— Virginia Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/UVAMensHoops/statuses/392409041806172160">October 21, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Virginia's offense has had immense success with the pick and roll, something that allowed Harris to showcase his jumper on multiple occasions throughout the season. With the return of Malcom Brogdon and the addition of first year London Perrantes, the Cavaliers will have more offensive threats in the point guard position, which will help Harris in a few ways. One, the scoring pressure will be more balanced and keep Joe from feeling like he needs to do it all himself. Secondly, the threat of a scoring point guard (sorry Bub, I love you, but you weren't a scoring threat) will require the defense to pay more attention to Brogdon/Perrantes/Teven Jones, thus leaving more options under the basket for the big men or for a kick out to Harris. This means Joe won't be facing a double team every time he touches the ball.
Joey Buckets suffered a stress fracture in his foot this summer, forcing him out of the training camp for the United States' World University Games. With time off this summer and limited action, the foot has healed and Harris is expected to be full strength right out of the gate.
Harris has Sean Singletary like expectations on him this season, but if he continues his upward trend as he has over the last three years in a Virginia uniform, fans of Joey Hoops can expect amazing things this year.
The Stats:
Position: Guard
Height: 6-6
Weight: 225
Best Performance Last Season: @Duke (Career high 36 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks)
Best Shoutouts for that Best Performance:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Joe Harris just drained a 3 from Boylan Heights on The Corner at <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23UVA&src=hash">#UVA</a> with 5 co-eds hanging all over him.</p>— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) <a href="https://twitter.com/whatwouldDOOdo/statuses/307342430238289920">March 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Way to dismantle Duke. Proud of you guys @HooNamedSimba23 <a href="https://twitter.com/TJonesUVA5">@TJonesUVA5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/joeharrisuva">@joeharrisuva</a> @bubevans1 @pjuva2 <a href="https://twitter.com/ajmitchell25">@ajmitchell25</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Wahoowa&src=hash">#Wahoowa</a></p>— Sean Singletary (@SeanSingletary) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanSingletary/statuses/307519053377986560">March 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Twitter: @joeharrisuva
Best Tweet:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/EvanNolte">@EvanNolte</a> š©š©š©</p>— Joe Harris (@joeharrisuva) <a href="https://twitter.com/joeharrisuva/statuses/336560684416524288">May 20, 2013</a></blockquote>
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The Wahoo fans have known about Joe Harris for three years. Now it's time for the rest of the country to get on board. This is the #swoon movement.
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