Harrison’s a lock to UK? Not so fast

With Aaron & Andrew Harrison trimming their lists down to three schools, many feel that Kentucky is the overwhelming favorite to win the packaged deal. Even I believed that after Kentucky was left with the likes of SMU and Maryland, how could UK lose them? Maryland may have a very convincing case in their own right, and have schedule a visit with the twins the day before they are set to make their college decision.

Before Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon came to the Terps, he made his residence in College Station, Texas. The Harrison’s reside in nearby Fort Bend, Texas. As head coach of the Aggies, he expressed interest in Aaron & Andrew Harrison very early. Turgeon has developed a very strong relationship with Aaron Harrison Sr., the twins’ father. In fact, some rumors have suggested that while his sons want to come to Lexington, their father wants them to head to Maryland. Could Turgeon’s early relationship give him the edge?

One of the most recent stories have stated that Aaron Harrison Sr. has revealed that college coaches are not allowed to contact the twins and only one person has access. The singular person with access to the Harrison’s is an official with Under Armor. The boys already play on an AAU team that is sponsored by UA. The Terps themselves rock Under Armour jerseys, and guess where Under Armour headquarters is? A hop, skip, and a jump away from Maryland’s campus in Baltimore. Aaron Harrison Sr. has since retracted the statement, and has said that college coaches are allowed to contact his sons.

If Kentucky and Coach Cal can win this recruiting battle, it will be more impressive than most will realize. The longstanding relationship with the coach, the brand, and the Harrison’s even have family close by in Maryland. And if you don’t believe me that college kids will not follow a brand name, let’s take a look back at the recruitment of UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad. Muhammad played with Adidas on his AAU squad before committing to the Bruins. Which brand is UCLA sponsored by? That’s right, Adidas. So, it’s not uncommon for kids to follow a brand.

With everything against Coach Cal and Kentucky, I can’t see why there would be overwhelming optimism that the twins will head to Kentucky. Maryland has an extremely strong case, and gets the closest in-home visit before the ultimate decision is made. If the Harrison’s become Wildcats, I think it could point to one of the most impressive recruiting jobs that has been done by John Calipari. I’m not saying that Maryland is a lock, but they are more of a contender than most have recognized. The battle will be won on ESPNU at 5pm ET on Thursday.