The announcer of the game today used “Enthusiasm Personified” to describe Montrezl on a basketball court. Cardinal Nation really got their first glimpse of this and Montrezl Harrell’s greatness when he helped the Cardinals come back from a huge deficit to win a Big East Title in MSG this past season. He took over that game and made it look easy. Today Montrezl stepped up big for team USA and led them with 17 points and had 4 rebounds, 4 blocks and two assists capturing the U19 gold 82-68 over Serbia. And again made it look easy.

Harrell had a great tournament and started all nine tournament games for for the U19 squad. His tourney averages were 10.5 points a game, 3.6 rebounds a game, 0.8 assists per game, 1.2 blocks per game, and all while averaging only 18.2 minutes per game. Hows that for production? I have said it before and I will say it again this kid has a motor that doesn’t stop running. He loves to be on a basketball court and is always giving his best effort. He has that quality of stepping up in big game situations and that’s the kinds of things that will have NBA scouts salivating.

Most draft experts already have Montrezl predicted to be a lottery pick next season and I’m sure after his performance in these world games the past couple of weeks has solidified that thought. I’m looking forward to seeing what Montrezl has in store for the college basketball world this fall and am expecting great things out of him. His ceiling keeps getting higher and higher and there’s no end to what this kid could achieve. Any doubts about our front court strengths are evaporating daily. There won’t be many teams who have a player like Montrezl this season.

One of the things that was considered as Harrell’s weaknesses coming into his college career is that he would be in a little bit of position limbo but with Pitino’s style of play and his physical growth he will be a nightmare matchup for a small forward or a unique match for a bigger guy. He has shown in just the last couple of weeks that he is developing his game more in the post and also improving his ball skills. With his size coming out of high school he had to become a more skilled player and he is doing just that. The raw materials are there and when he plays he goes hard, real hard.

“Enthusiasm Personified”