Razorbacks' Denijay Harris Flying Under Radar, but Players Know

Transfer from Southern Mississippi hasn't made headlines in camp adjusting to new style

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Oct 20, 2023 10:26 AM EDT
Original:
Oct 19, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The average Arkansas fan is probably just loosely aware Denijay Harris transferred here from Southern Mississippi in the off-season. His teammates, though, apparently have learned what he brings to a roster full of new faces adjusting to a lot of changing things.

"He’s a DAWG," Joseph Pinion said about the 6-foot-7 forward. "He’s gonna play hard no matter what’s going on. The calls aren’t going our way, he’s still going to play hard. Rebounds really well. He’s really strong. He finishes well around the basket. He's just been a really good player, a really good addition."

That's exactly what Harris is aiming to be. It was clear Thursday afternoon it's not an accident and he's trying to accomplish just that.

"That's pretty much been my mindset since the start of me playing basketball," Harris said. "I like to approach the game hard and giving it all I've got. That's been my mindset my whole career. It's pretty much a habit now."

After playing in Hattiesburg, Miss., he's been adjusting to a very different place in Northwest Arkansas. On the basketball floor, just about everything has been different after making the change to the Razorbacks back in June.

"Any time you're making a change from one place to another, it's an adjustment process in itself," Harris said. "Coming here I had to get used to the pace and how everything works as a whole. Everything is quicker and fast-paced, but I've been adjusting well."

That pace this year may be a welcome change and more what coach Eric Musselman has in mind for the Hogs' offense. It's been missing for a couple of years. We get to see the Hogs against a team in another uniform for the first time Friday night in the exhibition opener against UT-Tyler at Bud Walton Arena. There will be no television broadcast of the game.