Kyle Harrison over hype?

[livinglegend]

Im just wondering what makes Kyle Harrison such a standout player. i looked at his stats from his last year of college. they wernt anything to go nuts over there were tons of guys with more points than him. i know they won the championship that year and he was one of there better players. but everyyear theres been a bette player lead a team to victory than him. so im just wondering why he got the big stx deal and why hes so hyped up.

[faceofflax15]

Im just wondering what makes Kyle Harrison such a standout player. i looked at his stats from his last year of college. they wernt anything to go nuts over there were tons of guys with more points than him. i know they won the championship that year and he was one of there better players. but everyyear theres been a bette player lead a team to victory than him. so im just wondering why he got the big stx deal and why hes so hyped up.
He may not have been leading the league in points, but he does it all.

He's a good guy, He's helping the game of lacrosse.

He faceoffs, He was on Team USA.


He's not Mikey Powell

[Formerlaxdemon]

I understand what you are saying.

Why does it seem that everyone is talking about Harrison when each year there seem to be better and brighter stars on the lacrosse field?

Personally, when I watch some teams or individuals play I am in awe of the amount of talent there is to watch. I couldn't fathom an honest guess as to why Harrison has received so much attention both from fans and the people at STX, but maybe they see some potential in him that others might not.

I don't even know what the future will bring in terms of lacrosse stars, but our game just keeps getting more intense, demanding, and is bringing out the best in athleticism that high schools and colleges have to offer.

[RIT37FO]

he was so good because he was the LEADER of the blue jays that year. much like Kyle dixon lead UVA last year(yea he had less points than dixon)
he also had a good story to go with it (when he sent that letter to his coach) but that is here nor there
he was also a stand out with his athletic ability. he was a do it all mid. D,FO's and O there arent many players at the D1 level that can play all those and excel at all of those spots.
trust me if you ever saw him play in real life you would know why he got the "hype"

[Crimdad]

Alot of good points were made by faceofflax, also he was a clutch player in his senior year, when Johns Hop needed a goal with a few moments left kyle was the guy to go to. He was an all around good player, put out and it was noticed by the guys of STX and the MLL and it took off.

[GBSLax25]

He recieves a lot of press because he's a leader. He may not be the most talented player, but he goes out there everyday and works his tookus off and sets an example. Who gets the most press on high school teams ... not just the best player but the captains. The same applies to all other levels.

[Eclipse]

It has alot to do with his raw athleticism.

Kyle Harrison played a different style lacrosse then alot of people of our generation. He didnt try and beat you with swanky moves, and pulling "Finalizer" dodges. The kid just flat out beat you. If you watch him play, he doesnt even cradle sometimes...he just runs with the ball. Plus he had a mean jump shot.

Kyle Harrison defines the future of lacrosse. As more and more disgustingly good athletes start to pickup sticks (Bratton Brothers anyone?) lacrosse is going to change alot. Its going to develop alot faster of a pace (If thats even possible) and draw alot more national attention. Kyle Harrison was hyped because he is the future.

[creaseattack]

He is over hyped, Paul Rabil his freshman year had 4 less points than harrison and he only made third line all american he was almost as big of an impact, he finally got some recognition last year. I thought people were insane to not put Rabil on the same level as Harrison and now I think he is on a level higher than harrison.

[the next 'one']

kyle harrison does everything...very well. yeah others may have more points, but can they play one on one defense as well as kyle harrison can? nope. plus, he is always consistent.

[creaseattack]

I will give him his speed and out side shot which is nasty.

[Eclipse]

He is over hyped, Paul Rabil his freshman year had 4 less points than harrison and he only made third line all american he was almost as big of an impact, he finally got some recognition last year. I thought people were insane to not put Rabil on the same level as Harrison and now I think he is on a level higher than harrison.

Since when did points make a player?

[laxguy19]

He are really good player but a nice person as well. I wrote him a letter for a school assignment about a year ago and i got a hand written letter back. i dont know many proffessional sport players that would do that.

[LeKKeR]

everyone is entitled to their opinions...that being said please don't anyone take this to heart

i really, really hate when people base how good someone is by how many points. points mean absolutely jack in the end. rogowski (d2) had over 100 points last season. an amazing stat, and he is a great player. but does he have a championship ring on his finger? NO.

i'm not a fan of mikey powell. i don't like that kids actually imitate him, but i will support that he has contributed to more exposure to lacrosse.

i am a huge fan of kyle harrison. why? because he represents everything that is good about lacrosse, not just being a good player, but everything inside and outside of the game. beyond that, as stated before...he can do it all.

i would take a team of kyles over a team of mikeys anyday.

again...stats mean almost nothing in the long run. just remember behind every goal, there was the guy who set the correct pick or made a good cut to draw a defender, there was the guy who played great defense and caused the ball to turnover that resulted in a fastbreak, there is the guy who hussled his butt off to check a stick and stop a goal, etc etc you get point.

[creaseattack]

I respect harrison as a player and a person, I despise Mike powell. I guess Im just mad that Rabil didnt get as much credit as he should have for the 05 run.

[st.joslax10]

he mostly gets his fame because of the fact that he is a minority. the one who gets the least credit i think is john Christmas.

[Eclipse]

to be honest..its probably because hes black.

im not racist.

Honestly probably not. John Christmas? Chazz Woodson? Any over hype about these guys...? Not at all. You going to try and tell me Jim Brown was so hyped because he was black? What about the entire Morgan State team?

Please.

[Laxattack05]

Wow... a few of you guys are reeeeeeaaaallllly racist...

the reason why kyle harrison is so hyped is because he is the best all around player out there. he is one of the best dodgers on the planet. his outside shot is straight fire. he has excellent field vision. when you watch him play, his dodges and the respect of those dodges cause opposing teams to double up on him. usually he passes out of said double team and gets the third or fourth pass before a goal. he plays great defense and is just an all out athlete. one of which we've never seen in the sport of lacrosse.

it's not because of the color of his skin. it's because of his drive. it's because of his hustle. it's because of his attitude. and it's because of how he makes everyone around him better...

[Gaib]

Honestly probably not. John Christmas? Chazz Woodson? Any over hype about these guys...? Not at all.

Christmas had a lot of hype his first year at UVa, and lived up to most of it. If I'm not mistaken, he injured himself either his soph or junior year and his game took a lot of steps backwards

[nmlaxer]

In my opinion, it's not so much about how many points he's scored, but like the others said, Kyle Harrison is an incredibly well-rounded middie who can be valuable to any team. You could put him on almost any team because he can do it all: FO, D, score...

[wolfie8914]

to be honest..its probably because hes black.

im not racist.

Kind of. But not really. Kyle Harrison brings diversity to mainstream lacrosse. He is a fresh face—and thats what STX and other people want to see. While his stats are not overwhelming, he is undoubtedly an unbeleivable lacrosse player. His personal style is unique. He is definitely an individual in a world of bland lacrosse players. Yes that is a slight generalization.

[CanuckLax]

to be honest..its probably because hes black.

im not racist.


I don't think it's racist to acknowledge that he is a minority in a sport that is viewed by the non-lacrosse world as an elitist , white, private school sport.

I don't think it's racist to acknowledge that sports companies like STX would like to expand their market as wide as possible to increase sales and if a minority like Kyle can bring "urban" appeal to their line then great.

I don't think it's racist to acknowledge that the growth of the sport as a whole is contingent on the above myth being despelled and that STX sales aside, Lacrosse as a sport is served by lifting up and recognizing it's ethnic diversity.

He is very talented, the best? no, but the best current minority? sure and there's nothing wrong or racist about that.

[6ftPOLE-D20]

Kyle Harrison made everyone around him a better player on the field, also when it mattered most the ball was in Harrison's stick

[RockStar]

Meh, I haven't seen too much of Harrison's NCAA play, but:

-I saw several of his games at the Worlds and he didn't really do much to impress, and,
-He failed to crack the Philadelphia Wings roster in a non-playoff year.

What's the problem? Plays great against the boys, but not so great against the men? How are his MLL numbers if any?

[dram183]

well he doesnt seem to be the sort of player to play nll

[shiftylax]

In my opinion, it's not so much about how many points he's scored, but like the others said, Kyle Harrison is an incredibly well-rounded middie who can be valuable to any team. You could put him on almost any team because he can do it all: FO, D, score...

Uhmm...no, he can't play defense. I agree with most of the other point son this topic, but he can't play D. He gets pushed around by MLL players that are bigger and stronger. He is one of the fastest guys out there and his outside jumpshot is fantastic - I just don't think he offers much more than that at the next level.

[DJ Death]

He failed to crack the Philadelphia Wings roster in a non-playoff year.

Wings??? WTF??? :thinking:

Anyway, his stats from his games with the NJ Pride were pretty nice.

2006:
Finished 2nd in the league amongst midfielders with 17 assists. Appeared in 11 games for the Pride due to US World Team commitment. Scored 25 points on 8 goals and 17 assists. Season high 5 point game twice during the season, recording 4 assists in each of those games. Was 16 of 33 on faceoffs during the season.

So he manages rack up the 2nd highest number of assists in only 11 games, had 2 5-point games, and had a faceoff percentage of just under 50%. Doesn't seem too bad. Don't forget that he's playing alongside guys like Jesse Hubbard, AJ Haugen, Scott Urick, Liam Banks, and Walid Hajj.

[middie16]

Honestly probably not. John Christmas? Chazz Woodson? Any over hype about these guys...? Please.

i have playied against chazz woodson, he really isnt all that great, i mean hes fast as hell but thats really all he has. there are a few guys on my team that blow chazz out of the water.

[Lax101]

Uhmm...no, he can't play defense. I agree with most of the other point son this topic, but he can't play D. He gets pushed around by MLL players that are bigger and stronger. He is one of the fastest guys out there and his outside jumpshot is fantastic - I just don't think he offers much more than that at the next level.
In college, he could do it all. But at the MLL level, there are better faceoff guys, better d-middies, and honestly, his scoring ability ain't that great either.

Kyle was a finesse player that played a pretty style of lacrosse that made traditionalists swoon in the NCAA. He shoots well with both hands, only does one dodge when he scores, and plays all facets of the game.

And, I hate to say it, but Kyle's black and is a very articulate guy. It makes him a great face for the sport-not to expand some urban market, but to show the rest of the world that it isn't just a white man's sport anymore.

[RockStar]

Wings??? ........
So he manages rack up the 2nd highest number of assists in only 11 games, had 2 5-point games.......
Yes, Wings. They play pro lacrosse too. They drafted Harrison before their 2006 season. Used up a second round pick. They've been around for 20 years. Look them up sometime.

Anyway - I'm looking at the points nos. and you know, 25 in 11 games is nice, but not awe-inspiring. In fact, Outside of the two exceptional games you mentionned, we have 15 pts in 9 games, so our man is a 1 to 2 point per game guy most of the time.

In a league like the MLL where goals come cheap and easy, is this even anything to get too excited about?

[laxman359]

he was the leader and all around player, and on another note didnt his father play for that morgan state team

[BlackAttack2]

He's Black and hes competing, at a very high level, in a (now) predominantly white sport and doing very well

[DJ Death]

In a league like the MLL where goals come cheap and easy, is this even anything to get too excited about?

You have to give credit to his teammates, too. When you play alongside guys like Jesse Hubbard, Scott Urick, Liam Banks, and AJ Haugen, there's not much left for you take, and looking as his numbers, it seems like he's taking more than his fair share.

[RockStar]

...........When you play alongside guys like Jesse Hubbard, Scott Urick, Liam Banks, and AJ Haugen, there's not much left for you take..........
Are you trying to make the point that it's harder to rack up points when you're playing with lots of other guys that can score?

That's a different way of looking at things.

[DJ Death]

Are you trying to make the point that it's harder to rack up points when you're playing with lots of other guys that can score?

yes, that's exactly what i'm trying to say.

[RockStar]

yes, that's exactly what i'm trying to say.
How do you figure?

-If I have talented offensive partners to take some of the other team's attention, and,
-if I have talented shooters to take my feed passes,

doesn't it follow that there's more opportunity for me to score points?

[goalie1215]

kyle harrison was a great college player who i think deserves his trophy. what you are seeing is a player with a style who was good for college but not for the pro game. what made him valuble was his ability to do it all, but the higher you go the harder it is to not specialize.

we have seen it in football. people have won the heisman but just couldnt play the pro game.

[nmlaxer]

Im just wondering what makes Kyle Harrison such a standout player. i looked at his stats from his last year of college. they wernt anything to go nuts over there were tons of guys with more points than him. i know they won the championship that year and he was one of there better players. but everyyear theres been a bette player lead a team to victory than him. so im just wondering why he got the big stx deal and why hes so hyped up.
I just looked at the STX website, and I just noticed that Kyle Harrison was one of the youngest players compared to Gary Gait and Tom Marechek. He's probably getting hyped up by STX because they want to create a younger image, and because he won the Tewaarton.

[RockfordAttack9]

kyle harrison was a great college player who i think deserves his trophy. what you are seeing is a player with a style who was good for college but not for the pro game. what made him valuble was his ability to do it all, but the higher you go the harder it is to not specialize.

we have seen it in football. people have won the heisman but just couldnt play the pro game.

Well put. Kyle Harrison was a go-to/do it all guy at Hopkins. But at the Pro level he is surronded by many talanted players (not saying Hopkins players where bad during Kyle's four years). Kyle Harrison doesn't have to be the dodger/shooter he was in college because the Pride have people who can do those things. It's just going to take a few years for Kyle to find his game at the Pro level.

[fsflaxer30]

He may not have been leading the league in points, but he does it all.

He's a good guy, He's helping the game of lacrosse.

He faceoffs, He was on Team USA.


He's not Mikey Powell
EXACTLY! Kyle's a middie, not an attackman, and a complete middie at that. The thing that made kyle so sick was that he has a jump shot that's (admitted by opposing goalies) so hard to stop because he hides his stick, and he can set others up; he's not selfish. Faceoff-wise he wasn't the best, but he definitely was a force at the X. And finally, he was so good at defense. He was the complete package: A quick middie who can face off, play d, and score/dish the ball. Further, he's a leader... And his stats weren't amazing, but can you say "takeover" against Navy his senior year?


Also, the reason STX picked him up (and I hate to admit this as well) is because he's black. You really have to face that fact, and if you say that's a racist statement you don't really know the meaning of that word. I'm not saying he wouldn't have gotten an offer had he been white, but he's got a legacy in lacrosse through his revolutionary father, he went to unarguably one of the best universities in the US, and he was amazing at lax... I don't know about you, but Kyle being black alone is a factor in me wanting to buy stuff off of his K18 line, just to support him...

and the MLL means absolutely nothing... Kyle's a tiny guy

[Lax101]

Well put. Kyle Harrison was a go-to/do it all guy at Hopkins. But at the Pro level he is surronded by many talanted players (not saying Hopkins players where bad during Kyle's four years). Kyle Harrison doesn't have to be the dodger/shooter he was in college because the Pride have people who can do those things. It's just going to take a few years for Kyle to find his game at the Pro level.
The MLL isn't like other sports. Players don't need to develop a few years to excel at the pro level, because the sport is so young that the MLL hasn't developed a distinct new style that's needed to adjust to. Great MLL players started off as great players their first year into the league. This immediate impact is also due to the fact that players forgoing their junior/senior years doesn't exist.

EXACTLY! Kyle's a middie, not an attackman, and a complete middie at that. The thing that made kyle so sick was that he has a jump shot that's (admitted by opposing goalies) so hard to stop because he hides his stick, and he can set others up; he's not selfish. Faceoff-wise he wasn't the best, but he definitely was a force at the X. And finally, he was so good at defense. He was the complete package: A quick middie who can face off, play d, and score/dish the ball. Further, he's a leader... And his stats weren't amazing, but can you say "takeover" against Navy his senior year?
It's already been established in this thread that he wasn't great at defense, and it shows especially in the MLL when he has to face an all-american offensive-middie every time. And in terms of hiding his stick, if you look at Kyle's college clips, he rarely ever cradled. His stick was always by his side, but he was so fast that he didn't need to.

[fsflaxer30]

The MLL isn't like other sports. Players don't need to develop a few years to excel at the pro level, because the sport is so young that the MLL hasn't developed a distinct new style that's needed to adjust to. Great MLL players started off as great players their first year into the league. This immediate impact is also due to the fact that players forgoing their junior/senior years doesn't exist.


It's already been established in this thread that he wasn't great at defense, and it shows especially in the MLL when he has to face an all-american offensive-middie every time. And in terms of hiding his stick, if you look at Kyle's college clips, he rarely ever cradled. His stick was always by his side, but he was so fast that he didn't need to.
I didn't say this properly, I meant hiding the ball IN his stick when he was about to shoot... Check out those same clips and tell me I'm wrong

Besides he's so down to earth if you ever get to meet him...

[DJ Death]

How do you figure?

-If I have talented offensive partners to take some of the other team's attention, and,
-if I have talented shooters to take my feed passes,

doesn't it follow that there's more opportunity for me to score points?

well in the MLL, there are a lot more guys iso'ing and alley dodging (maybe because of the shot clock and the need to push the ball with speed...or just the ginormous egoes :crazy: ). there isn't as much passing and feeding as there is in the college game. a good number of the goals in the MLL come from massive cranks from the outside or from one guy dodging through 2 or 3 guys and shooting. not to mention the ludicrous (yet sexy) dives that players like conor gill pull every game...

[ekajsk8er]

Damn, what was I talking about?

Yes, he is a very good and extremely athletic player, but I don't think he deserves as much credit as he is being given. What makes him so special over someone like Matt Ward or Kyle Dixon from UVA last year? They did just as much on the field as he did, but nobody is going crazy over them.

[Lax101]

While I agree with you in every other statement you made, I have to disagree here. Remember a certain semi-final against Virginia in '05 when he scored with what, 8 seconds left straight off the draw to force OT? If that isn't clutch, I don't know what is.

Yes, he is a very good and extremely athletic player, but I don't think he deserves as much credit as he is being given. What makes him so special over someone like Matt Ward or Kyle Dixon from UVA last year? They did just as much on the field as he did, but nobody is going crazy over them.
What are you talking about? Harrison was not involved in that play at all. Peyser won the faceoff, and Byrne scored.

Matt Ward and Kyle Dixon 1) got overshadowed by the Duke scandal, 2) were one dimensional players, 3) weren't as marketable of guys as he was.

[chattlax2]

he's just a great guy and thats why i think he's so cool, i emailed him once and emailed me back pretty quick and by what he said he just seemed like a nice guy- he's my fav. player, though im not a big fan of his gear(over priced)

[RockStar]

well in the MLL......
Thanks for the primer on what guys do to score in the MLL.

Thing is, you still haven't told me why being surrounded by talented offensive players in a league where goals are cheap and plentiful would reduce someone's potential for scoring.

[navyboy28]

Honestly probably not. John Christmas? Chazz Woodson? Any over hype about these guys...? Not at all. You going to try and tell me Jim Brown was so hyped because he was black? What about the entire Morgan State team?

Please.
john christmas was hyped but we're still not sure if he is a bust. jim brown was hyped b/c he was a sick football player. fame came and then people pointed out that he played lacrosse. the batton brothers haven't even stepped on a real field yet and people are ready to crown them as gods. you can tell me race plays no part in this. people like to see minorities succeed. dungee winning the super bowl, for instance. race plays a part. its not all of it because as stated, hes a great player at every position who can rip a 108mph shot and is blazing fast. he's also a great ambasitor of the game and a great leader on and off the field. all of that plus hes black and so hes a star

[DJ Death]

Thanks for the primer on what guys do to score in the MLL.

Thing is, you still haven't told me why being surrounded by talented offensive players in a league where goals are cheap and plentiful would reduce someone's potential for scoring.

because that's what his teammates do and KH doesn't play like that. he's a very unselfish player. it's hard to rack up points when your teammate has the ball in his stick and is alley dodging all day long.

[DJ Death]

oh yeah, that was the one game where he went solo for a bit, but who can blame him? he wanted some numbers in the championship game. most guys would do anything just to get to that point. anyway, his MLL career is a better example since it's more recent and he may have changed his game up a little since college. having two games during the '06 season where he racks up 1 goal and 4 assists seems pretty unselfish to me.

[Lax101]

Honestly probably not. John Christmas? Chazz Woodson? Any over hype about these guys...? Not at all. You going to try and tell me Jim Brown was so hyped because he was black? What about the entire Morgan State team?

Please.
If you've ever spoken to Woodson or know of Christmas's past, then you know they aren't very promote-able players.

[DJ Death]

why don't you enlighten us then, lax101.

[wilsontopowell]

john christmas was hyped but we're still not sure if he is a bust.

john christmas has proved he is a baller, he was second on the cannons in points and was a big part of their success last summer

[Lax101]

why don't you enlighten us then, lax101.
I'm not going to outright trash either of the guys based on pure conjecture, because as much as I'm critical of them, they've still done more for the game than any of us ever will. If you wanna learn about Christmas, search the forums and the web. And for Chazz, just meet the guy, have a talk with him.

[WestDPpole23]

Kyle is by far one of the nicest players ive ever spoken too.....He is just one of the players u enjoy to watch and see, and though he isnt the highest scorer, he leaves his mark on the field....He is a play maker..Ive been able to hang with him multiple times when he came up to a store- sponsored tournaments and the lax shop flew him up here....he was playin with us and just loved it, he didnt go out there scoring goals, he would give tips and pass to ya, and was just enjoyable to be around, prolly my favorite lax players by far, so i believe harrison is hyped, but not over hyped

[abomb]

kyle is one of the most nicest guys ive ever met. hes an unprecendented lacrosse athlete. and hes clutch.

[jkolar22]

kyle harrison is a sick athlete he has unbelieveable quickness and that jumpshot hes got is insane...if you guys thought he was good wait for shamel bratton...