Harris next up to run things for Diebler at Danbury
Tyler Harris was always a point guard while growing up.
He was never coach Keith Diebler’s point guard. Harris led the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division in scoring while playing in the post as a sophomore for Danbury last season.
“It’s getting back to what I know, but Diebler runs it differently,” Harris said. “It’s a different learning style. You have basic ways to run point guard. It gets in-depth with a Diebler offense. There are so many aspects.
“It’s a whole different experience. The moves I have to make ballhandling, the court vision, eyes up the court. It’s a lot quicker than any offense I’ve been a part of. The fastest offense I ever had to learn.
“We’re trying to run our opponent out of the gym. It’s all about transition.”
Harris is the second player to make the unconventional shift from center to point guard for Diebler the last two years. Their height was utilized in the post until Diebler put it to even better use when the roster spot opened on the perimeter.
“It’s different because I don’t have experience at the 1,” Harris said. “I watched Blake [Barker] as a mentor to run the 1.”
Harris tried to drop in as many shots as he could shoot and scrimmaged if possible during the summer. He also studied in Diebler’s basketball laboratory.
“Diebler showed me film of his sons,” Harris said. “We’ve had those meetings. How [Diebler] plays and what he looks for up the court. [Teammates] need me as much as I need them and how to guide them in the offense.
“Directing traffic. To get me into the rhythm of things. We found film of Jon [Diebler]. I’m a bigger guard [6-4] as well. Jon had to change from post to point guard.”
Coach Diebler won a state championship at Upper Sandusky in 2005 with Jake Diebler and Jon Diebler as players.
Harris also tried to take cues from the brothers on defense.
“One is in the middle and one’s on top of the 3-point line,” he said. “That’s where I am [latter]. It’s my job to stay back and catch long passes. Read that and go to opposite sides of the floor to steal those passes and get ‘em up the floor.”
In an effort to make Harris more comfortable at point guard, Diebler makes him uncomfortable at practice. That means Harris has to duck, slither, dodge and twist looking up for passes and just about any shot, without giving up the ball.
“Taking the ball up the court while I’m getting pressured,” he said. “My ballhandling in the offseason had to get better. It had to get better. Ballhandling and getting low. Getting through the press. The main thing I’m not used to getting used to is getting low to make moves or find an open teammate.”
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Harris remains in touch with Barker.
“Watching Blake benefitted me now,” he said. “I look back on practice, we run the same drills. I ask him what he did in situations.”
Danbury will miss Barker’s scoring. Harris also won’t get as many good looks at the rim.
“The expectations are higher, I was a lower-classman,” he said. “I expect to keep those points coming in. I should average 20 points. If I put myself in Blake’s shoes, we don’t have a post who can shoot. What me and Blake had was very efficient.
“We had a play, post-exchange. I’d get a 3. I don’t see us running that. There’s a difference in the offense, not the system, but the plays.”
Diebler doesn’t want Harris to have a conscience as a shooter. Harris doesn’t want to think about anything too much when it comes to his jumpers or internal pressure to do too much.
“Diebler uses that phrase,” Harris said. “I automatically hear Diebler saying that when you say that. Green light is something he told me. If I’m at the volleyball line and the defender’s hand is down or he’s not coming toward me, I’m shooting.
“I’m going to shoot more. Blake scored a lot of points. I have to make up for that.”
Harris is the only returning starter. Seniors Gavin Clark and Elijah Hatfield have varsity experience.
Freshman Frankie Kovach and junior newcomer Ethan Hoffman are the other starters. Senior Logan Borgio and sophomores Ayden Ayers, Miles McDonald and Tommy Dean are reserves.
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Harris was a varsity reserve as a freshman. Last season took on a life of it’s own.
“I didn’t expect to score as much as I did,” he said. “Our second game was a season high [39]. I didn’t know as much as I do now. It was get on the court and score. I got the hang of it. This is my role, I’ll do it every game and this is what I’m going to get done.
“It was an eye-opener. I had four seniors starting with me. I was supposed to be there, but it hit me that night. It was a bit of a shock that was the standard I set.”
Danbury was 13-11 last season.
“Teaching the younger classmen the system Diebler runs,” Harris said of the next step. “It’s more fast-paced than most players are used to. The culture, very demanding.”
Harris knows he’s not a Diebler. He still wants to live up to the bar he already set at 17 points per game last season.
“I did get prepared,” he said. “I knew I needed to step up. I’ve had time to get used to it, there are always things I can improve on. I am prepared for what I’m going to face. Teams saw me. I know they’ll run double-teams at me to get me out of my head.
"I’m ready for that challenge and to take it on.”
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Tyler Harris is second Danbury player to make move to point guard
