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Strath Haven's Harrar commits to Penn State

04/30/2017, 8:00pm EDT
By Will Slover

Strath Haven's John Harrar, the 2016-17 Central League MVP, is headed to Penn State later this summer. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

Will Slover (@WillSlover31)
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After deciding what sport to play at the next level and then seeing his recruitment suddenly hit high-major levels in the recent weeks, Strath Haven’s John Harrar is officially off the board. 

The 6-foot-9, 230-pound big man decided to continue his college career in University Park at Penn State, jumping on an offer from the Nittany Lions he picked up two weeks ago; though he added one from UConn this weekend, that wasn't enough to change Harrar's mind about a school he'd been hoping to get offered from for a long time.

"I have loved Penn State since I was a kid and knew it was the place for me," Harrar told CoBL by text on Sunday night. "It is an unreal feeling to know that I will be receiving a Penn State degree and be a part of the Penn State basketball family."

After previously being committed to continue his career on the gridiron at Army, Harrar realized that basketball was his true passion. He re-joined Philly Pride, whom he played with last summer on the Under Armour Association circuit, for the two April live recruiting periods, and the decision paid off.

Harrar’s most impressive part of his game, his ability to score on the low block, was almost certainly a huge reason why Pat Chambers decided to offer the Central League’s MVP, who averaged 19.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in his senior season, back on April 19.

"He's a player with tremendous upside, he's just turning 18 this July,” Strath Haven head coach Dave McFadden said. “Hard working, physical kid with the body of a mature college player who's ready to work and ready to do whatever he needs for Coach Chambers and the rest of the team."

Harrar won't need to make an immediate impact right away as Penn State already boasts three true post players on its roster in Julian Moore, Satchel Pierce and Mike Watkins. The Nittany Lions will use rising sophomore Lamar Stevens, a Roman Catholic grad, heavily at the '4' spot in a perimeter-heavy rotation.

But down the road, his physicality will pay off in the Big Ten; if he can develop more of a consistent face-up game, Harrar could develop into a key piece for the Nittany Lions in a few years' time.

"Once I get up there I am going to take every day as an opportunity to get better and do anything that will help the team to win," he said.


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