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Careful planning
To date, Harris' hardwood development has followed his father's blueprint. Aware of his son's potential, Mike Harris decided to have his precocious offspring forego the opportunity to play varsity football as freshman so he could focus on getting his prep basketball career off to the strongest possible start. Once that phase of the plan was complete, the elder Harris then carefully selected the Illinois-based Meanstreets AAU program to further his son's growth. The deference given to the younger Harris' sport of choice may have led observers to believe that football was a mere afterthought. In retrospect, they were clearly mistaken.
Harris proved to be an unstoppable force on Grand Rapids Christian's junior varsity football team last season, scoring nearly 30 touchdowns. His gaudy performances inflated the expectations placed on his much-anticipated varsity football debut this fall. But as was the case when he stepped on the hardwood for the first time, Harris hasn't disappointed. During the regular season, the explosive wideout amassed 1,022 receiving yards and 11 touchdown receptions. Scout.com Midwest regional manager Allen Trieu was on hand for Harris' biggest game thus far — a nine-reception, 254-yard, two-TD showing versus Muskegon Reeths-Puffer in Week 4.
"He had 160 first-half receiving yards, showing great ball skills, speed and athleticism," said Trieu. "He went high, showing his leaping ability, to snare one pass over the top of a defender and simply ran past the defense on an 89-yard touchdown. It was not great competition that he was going against, but his package of physical skills is very intriguing, and he's certainly a high-level football prospect, as well."
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Two-sport Spartan?
College coaches definitely agree. The first one to suggest that Harris explore his football possibilities, ironically, was Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo.
"Izzo is saying they are making Drake a priority for that class in 2014," Mike Harris said. "They really want him. They love his attitude and love how he plays the game. Izzo also has given his blessing to Coach Dantonio (to have Drake play football). He doesn't have a problem with that. That was his big thing — just telling us, 'You know what, if Drake wanted to do both at Michigan State, we wouldn't have a problem with that.'"
Izzo demonstrated his support even further by showing up on the sidelines for a number of Harris' games this season. Those overtures haven't gone unnoticed by a young man that admits to having grown up a Spartan fan.
"It was because of the basketball program that I've always watched them," he explained. "When I was growing up they always made it to the Final Four and they've always been a good team. They've had great players for them and Izzo has always been a good coach."
Despite that early allegiance to Michigan State, Harris has made it a point to approach his recruitment with an open mind. Among those most undeterred by his childhood preference for the Spartans has been Michigan. Over the past year, Harris has visited Ann Arbor for a number of football and basketball games, and for one of John Beilein's skills camps. Michigan's head coach returned the favor when he made it out to see Harris in Grand Rapids Christian's Sept. 30 game against Grand Rapids Northview.
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