Aaron Harrison won a championship in Portugal last season. (X Photo)
During his second season at Kentucky, Aaron Harrison got to play with and mentor Tyler Ulis. Now Harrison will be coached by Ulis when he plays for La Familia, the Kentucky alumni team hosting The Basketball Tournament (TBT) regional at Rupp Arena July 19-23.
Harrison was officially announced as a team member Tuesday and joins his twin brother, Aaron, along with Nate Sestina, James Young, Daniel Orton, Kellan Grady, Marquis Teague, Willie Cauley-Stein, Eric Bledsoe, Doron Lamb and Reid Travis.
Aaron Harrison hit game-winning shots in consecutive games against Louisville Michigan and Wisconsin in the 2014 NCAA Tournament when No. 8 seed UK charged to the national title game. He played with Ulis in the 2015 Tournament when 38-0 UK was upset by Wisconsin in the Final Four.
“I think that’ll be pretty cool,” Harrison said when asked about being coached by Ulis. “Obviously, Tyler was a great point guard and knows a lot about the game. I’m excited about that.”
Could there be more game-winning shots coming in the TBT?
““If it comes down to it, sure. I’m definitely down to take the last shot. But the Elon ending (in TBT games) is kind of different, so we’ll see,” Harrison said Tuesday.
Harrison was always a confident player. At age 29, that has not changed because when asked who he thought would be La Familia’s most valuable player in its first game July 19, he said “probably me” as had been expected.
He turned pro after his sophomore season — many had expected him to do that after his first year but he returned to UK with his brother — and spent part of three seasons in the NBA before continuing to play in the G League and overseas. He played for FC Porto in Portugal last season and helped his team win the Portuguese Basketball Cup.
He said playing with his brother again was a big draw to joining the team but not the only reason.
“Just wanting to play in Rupp again, being a part of the Kentucky alumni basketball and getting the opportunity to do that again. Just want to take the opportunity,” he said.
Other than his brother, he’s looking most forward to playing with Cauley-Stein.
“We played together in school. We had a good connection and he’s a friend of mine, so I’m excited to see him,” Harrison said.
He’s excited about playing in “legendary” Rupp Arena again.
“I got a lot of memories there. We’re both just excited to go play in there again and just be in front of that crowd again,” he said.
