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File photo of former Half Hollow Hills West star Tobias...

File photo of former Half Hollow Hills West star Tobias Harris. Credit: Howard Schnapp

The results of the first Harris poll? This is no ordinary college freshman.

Tobias Harris, a Newsday All-Long Island basketball selection and player of the year in his senior season at Half Hollow Hills West, glittered in his college debut at the University of Tennessee on Wednesday night.

Before a rabid crowd of 17,878 at Thompson-Boling Arena, Harris showed why he was a McDonald's All-American and why he is a starter at small forward in the rugged SEC.

Playing only 23 minutes, Harris shot 6-for-8 and scored 16 points with five rebounds as the Volunteers crushed Division II Brevard College, 91-42, in an exhibition game.

"It was really exciting just to be out there. A great atmosphere for an exhibition game," Harris said in a phone interview Thursday. "I played well. The work is paying off."

Of his transition to life at a big-time college, Harris said, "Being away from my family is tough, but you make the best of everything. There's a pretty rigorous schedule every day. There's not much free time, so you have to rest your body. You're just trying to find out about yourself and about life in general. The basketball is a lot harder than in high school. You've got to fight for your spot every day."

Harris impressed Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl right away and said he wasn't surprised to learn he was starting the opener.

"It's been going well in practice. Coach Pearl is intense, but that's college basketball at this level," Harris said. "I haven't changed my game, but everything is getting better. I'm really working on my defense. You can't play for him without going hard on defense."

Asked about Harris' debut, Pearl told reporters, "Tobias was Tobias. He's just solid. Finishes around the basket. Moves well for a big guy. Had a couple unforced turnovers. I thought Tobias was fairly representative of what we've been seeing. Probably can play a little better."

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