Nov. 20, 2013
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington men's basketball coach Scott Cross announced the signing of high school seniors Julian Harris and Kevin Hervey to national letters of intent. Both are set to join the Mavericks for the 2014-15 season.
"I am very, very excited about the addition of two great, local basketball players in Julian Harris and Kevin Hervey," Cross said. "Julian and Kevin are even better people than basketball players, and I am confident that both of these players will be loved by all our Maverick fans."
Hervey, 6-7 forward from Arlington Bowie High School, averaged 10 points and eight rebounds last season as a junior. He was named to all-district Team and the district's Newcomer of the Year.
Hervey played for Bowie coach Alan Gratts and for the Dallas Mustangs in AAU this past summer. He is the 36th-ranked player in Texas by Texas Hoops and an ESPN 3-star recruit.
"Kevin plays for Coach Allen Gratts at Bowie High School right down the road," Cross said. "Bowie has had a very strong basketball program over the last 10 years and has also been the home of two former Mavs in Keith and Jarrett Howell. The Howell brothers helped us win our first conference championship back in 2004.
"Kevin played this summer for Coach Tony Johnson and the Dallas Mustangs and was one of the best sharp shooters in the state. He is 6-7 and still growing, and I expect him to be the same type of shooter as we had with Bo Ingram back in 2012. Kevin has one of the prettiest jump shots, and I believe that his best basketball is still in front of him."
Harris, a 6-5 forward from Mansfield Lake Ridge High School, averaged 10 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior last season and was a second-team all-district selection. He played for Lake Ridge coach Donte Wilson and for the LBA Seawolves in AAU this past summer.
Harris is the 76th-ranked player in Texas by Texas Hoops and an ESPN 2-star recruit. His sister was a four-year letterman in volleyball at Nicholls State.
"Julian plays for Coach Donte Wilson at Mansfield Lake Ridge, and they have very strong basketball program that will have a chance to make a run in the playoffs this year," Cross said. "Julian played this summer for Coach Lawrence Johns and the Dallas Seawolves and caught our eye the very first time that we watched him play.
"I envision Julian becoming a player similar to former Maverick great Kevin Butler. He is a 'tweener' that can play inside or out and can really shoot the basketball. He is a solid defender and does a lot of the little things that may not show up on the stat sheet. He is also an outstanding student with very high character."
