Terrell Harris (191-G-1993, college: Georgia Coll., agency: Players Group) is a 28 year old 190cm guard from Indiantown, Florida that finished his fifth professional season and second with the NINERS Chemnitz (Germany-ProA) averaging 11,4ppg, 3,3rpg and 3,9apg. He will play his sixth professional season with the Hakro Merlins Crailsheim. In 2019-2020 in the Pro A with the Ninners he averaged 14,1ppg, 2,6rpg and 5,0apg. In 2018-2019 he played with the Rostock Seawolves (Germany-ProA) averaging 13.6ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.4apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 66.3%. Three seasons ago he played with the Svendborg Rabbits (Denmark-Ligaen) playing 24 games averaging 17.0ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.3%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 71.6%. In his rookie season he played with the Iserlohn Kangaroos (Germany-ProB) averaging 18,1ppg, 4,3rpg and 1,8apg. He started his basketball career at Mars Hill (NCAA2) in 2011 and then moved to Georgia College in 2012. As a senior he played 29 games averaging 24.6ppg, 6.7rpg, 4.0apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 36.3%, FT: 76.8%. He concluded his college basketball career winning the All-PeachBelt Player of the Year 2016. Harris spoke to germanhoops.com after bowing out in the Fiba Europe Cup to Leiden.

The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim suffered a tough 85-77 loss to Leiden and are out of the Fiba Europe Cup. With what kind of an approach did the team go into the game having won only by 3 points?

We go into every game trying to win by executing the game plan no matter who we play.

What is your personal opinion of this format? A game three would of kept you alive.

I can’t argue with the format they came to us and we beat them, we had a chance to beat them there but didn’t. Give them credit they played a good game and won on the point differential.

The first quarter was tight. Did you see Leiden make any new adjustments on TJ Shorts who still couldn’t be stopped?

They pretty much had the same game plan from the first game. Tj made the correct plays and passes myself and others were able to take advantage of open shots.

The second quarter continued to be a real dog fight. Leiden hit a late 3 to lead 53-49. Why couldn’t any team get away from the other?

It was a dog fight all the way to the end. No lead was safe from neither team. Basketball is a game of runs.

TJ Shorts went out injured in the third quarter. One saw after that just how valuable he is. How difficult is it to play good team basketball without him?

Anytime your best player goes out it’s hard to adjust right away but we had no choice.

What is the status on him? Will he be ok?

He has to be evaluated that’s all I know. He should be ok though.

You then took over at the point. How much of a challenge was it getting thrown into cold water? You know how to run the point, but with a Shorts around don’t need to worry about it usually.

Nobody was expecting that to happen but it did. So I had to take over the one. I could’ve still brought us home with a win, but we had some crucial turnover that allowed them to open the game. I will watch film and move on. Have to do whatever the team need of me.

Leiden made a run in the last three minutes as Maarten Bouwknecht gave a huge spark. Did Leiden find a better defensive routine without Shorts in?

They didn’t do anything different. They took advantage of the turnovers we gave to them including myself.

Leiden did a super job keeping the double figures lead for the most part. Crailsheim came back a little in the last minutes, but it wasn’t enough. Leiden gave up 28 points in the second half. Was that success more on them or because Shorts was out?

They played good the entire game. We did struggle when TJ went out on top of missing open shots we usually hit.

Were the 14 Leiden offensive rebounds the biggest thorn in the side of Crailsheim on the night?

Rebounding did hurt us along with open shots from cutting and etc.

Leiden got huge support from Maarten Bouwknecht. What was toughest to slow him down?

He played very solid for them. He hit all the open shots he needed to hit.

The Hakro Merlins played a strong Fiba Europe Cup. What is your summary of how the team played and what positives did it gain that will help them in the last months of the season?

Yes we won some good games and had a lot of ups and downs. We built chemistry and trust on the road. We played in a lot of countries throughout this time. For sure thought we had the team to win but unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. What if TJ didn’t get hurt will always be there but we have to move on. We have a competitive German league waiting on us.

You played a very solid Fiba Europe Cup competition averaging 12,2ppg, 3,3rpg and 3,0apg. What did you enjoy most about the competition and does the whole experience get you excited to do it again next season?

I had some solid games, it was very fun to play against teams from other countries and the experience of playing in two leagues. You have to be ready at all times. Every team is good or can be beaten. If given the opportunity I would love to play in another European competition next season.

The Fiba Cup Final 4 is set with Baaken, Leiden, Reggio Emilia and Turkish team Bahcesehir. Will Emilia and Bahcesehir make it to the final or could there be an upset?

All teams are good and can be beaten. Best of luck t everyone.

The Hakro Merlins Crailsheim now have 2 games in 4 days with Chemnitz and Bamberg. You don’t have much time to regroup. How is the team moral? Currently you have a 3 game BBL losing streak. What will be key for getting back on track?

This team moves on. We don’t dwell as players on games. We are aware that we have a tough schedule ahead in the BBL so no need to dwell on the past. We will get back to the drawing boards and figure things out.

What is your opinion of Tom Brady returning? Was the whole retirement thing a PR gag?

Best of luck to Tom Brady and his family he can do whatever he wants, he earned it.

Thanks Terrell for the chat.

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