The best current NBA player from every Sweet 16 team left in the NCAA Tournament
By Ben Handler
2. Tennessee Volunteers: Tobias Harris
76ers fans have wanted to rip their hair out for years watching this guy chew up a massive chunk of the salary cap while putting up pedestrian performances, especially in big situations. But for all of Harris’ shortcomings and the fact that he’s woefully overpaid, he’s still the best Volunteer in the league by a pretty wide margin.
The 31-year-old Harris is putting up 17.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this year for Philly, which isn’t bad, but he’s making almost $40 million this year and is a distant third option behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. In past years, when the team has needed him most, he’s continually shrunk in the playoffs.
And this year, they needed him to step up with Embiid on the shelf, and for the most part, he’s done the exact opposite. He leaves fans wanting more, and it seems like he should be a star, but he’s just a nice role player.
Nevertheless, the only other impactful players out of Tennessee right now are Grant Williams and Josh Richardson, and money aside, those guys aren’t on the same level as Tobi.
The Vols have likely lottery pick Dalton Knecht entering the draft this season, and he could be coming for Harris’ spot in short order. Historically speaking, Alan Houston and Bernard Kings are the class of the university at the NBA level.