Harrison twins playing great

By: LARRY VAUGHT



Brownson and sons

From what he has seen, Craig Brownson thinks his two former Texas high school stars — twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison — have been “playing great” for No. 1 Kentucky.

“Lot of growth from year one to year two. Unselfish. Buying into the platoon system and all that. It is neat watching them,” said Brownson of the two sophomore guards. “You always hope for the best for them.

"Every now and then you see one of them have a bad game and you feel for them because they are great kids and don’t deserve some of the negativity and some of that stuff (criticism) but hopefully they are not listening to it and just keep playing.”

They both played well in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Aaron Harrison was 12 of 25 from the field and averaged 12 points per game while Andrew Harrison was 13 of 29 and averaged 13 points per game. He also had eight assists with only two turnovers. Both Harrisons were 6-for-11 from 3-point range.

On the season, Aaron Harrison leads the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game and is second on the team in steals (44) and 3-pointers made (53). Andrew Harrison averages 9.2 points per game and has a team-high 126 assists.

"Andrew and Aaron have played so well, it's kind of like they did last year at the end of the year," Calipari said. "They are like, right now, if there are two better guards out there … You're talking about 6-6, physically strong, skilled with both hands, can pass, can shoot, can pull up over a smaller guard, can rebound the ball, they're defending on the weakside better."

They came to Kentucky as highly publicized prep stars and most projected they would each leave UK after one season for the NBA. Instead, they both struggled at times last season before their postseason play helped UK reach the national title game.

“I really do think the expectations were just way too high for them last year. Them coming in with everybody else and getting to the Final Four should have been great, but expectations for 18 and 19 year old kids are a little bit ridiculous at times. That’s why these fans are fans, but they got very little credit for what they did right and a lot of blame for other stuff,” Brownson said.

While the twins have had up and down games, both have improved on defense and coach John Calipari has consistently praised their improved play — and body language — this year. Brownson isn’t sure most UK fans know the twins like Calipari and teammates do.

“They are wonderful kids. They are like family to us,” Brownson said.

He brought his two sons to a game at Rupp Arena earlier this year to see the twins play.

“These guys were so excited. They are like big brothers to them. They are such caring young men. Most people don’t get to know the true them because they have to turn down the autograph requests and have to say no so much,” Brownson said. “Something happens on the court and someone gets a picture and tweets it or something, it gives them a bad name or bad reputation that is unfair because they are wonderful young men.”

He says the body language criticism last year, and at times this season, gets “frustrating for him” and he knows it does for them.

“We always talked about that with them, too, but they are kids. It is a growing process and as long as they continue to grow, that is all you can ask of anybody and they have grown tremendously from last year,” Brownson said. “I look at other people who had the same hype coming out of high school and you never hear stuff about those guys. I feel bad for them because they are wonderful kids. We are always going to love them as young men, not as basketball players.”

Brownson said he will “text them every now and then” just to make sure the twins know he is still supporting them. He said the support at home in Texas has never wavered for the Harrisons.

“It is amazing. The group of about 30 we had from the school at Texas A&M (when UK played there in January) was principals to counselors to family. It was an amazing group that came out because of who they are.  Not because they are basketball players but who they are as young men. That means so much to them,” Brownson said.

He said both have always been intense competitors, but never selfish players as their play this year should have shown by the way they accepted less playing time to make the team better.

“They played with a bunch of good players in high school but they didn’t go to a prep school where they played with all these other McDonald’s All-Americans. They played with regular kids from the neighborhood and they were always willing to give up the ball and share with their teammates,” Brownson said.

“People take pictures and see frustration on the court and say they are being selfish. You know the truth about who they are and that frustrates you like a dad because that is not right. You are reading it wrong, but we know them on a much different level than everybody else does. It is just the Twitter age. Everybody has to have an opinion and make a snap judgment about something they know nothing about. But I am telling you, they are great kids and have had great years for Kentucky.”