Saturday, March 28, 2020

Zion Harmon's Roar Still Rings Bells in the DMV






Zion Harmon has committed to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the first major surprise of the spring.  The Hilltoppers over the last five years have continued to dabble in the conversation of top 30 players in the county. They have again landed a big fish for their small pound in DC native Zion Harmon.  Harmon thanked his doubters in his commitment speech – twice – but few to this day understand how such a talent born and breed in this area didn’t play a single minute for the plethora of schools in his home state. 

Harmon has all of the tools that coaches love to see in point guards ad without the convoluted situation at some of the high major we may be discussing and looking at an entire different situation as it pertain to commitments. 

“The Lion” has great strength for size for a point guard and will be an immediate starter for WKU. Despite being powerfully-built, he has the quickness to penetrate past defenders and get to the rim. He also shoots the ball well, extending out to well beyond the three-point stripe - all of this is well known in this area. 

His feel and understanding of the game is beyond his years, bordering on a professional level that point guards have to possess to be successful at the high major level. He is vastly underrated in his ability to incorporate his teammates into the offensive framework. He also handles the ball adeptly as if it is on a string. He does a great job spacing the floor with his shooting and ability to breakdown defenders, which put him in an elite status among guards – the same status he has enjoyed as Top 20 ESPN Prospect and one he enjoyed as a Top 5 Middle School player. He penetrates to the basket fearlessly. He plays with a great amount of poise and confidence.

Harmon would have never left the DMV if  a local recruiter with NIKE  had met his request to play on the EYBL Circuit as a 7th grader – at which time he average 14ppg and 6ast before entering the 8th grade.  Its amazing how one mistake in the evaluation of a single player can change the narrative of a program and a player.  Harmon went on to finish as a Top 20 player in the country in his classof 2021 according to ESPN prior to re-classing into the 2020 class.

Harmon will long be considered a DMV legend with the final chapter to his story still to still be written – but many never understand why he left; he didn’t have believers or individuals with the ability to evaluate at young age what he would end up being.  Harmon turned down Louisville, Kansas, Maryland and Kentucky in picking Western Kentucky emphasizing what it takes at even a young age to properly gage talent.

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