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.
