Photo from DBB
Germany’s hopes of success at EuroBasket 2011 took a minor hit as Gonzaga University star Elias Harris ruled himself out of Dirk Bauermann’s squad for Lithuania with lingering shoulder and Achilles tendon injuries.
“I still feel the effects if the injuries and would like to fully recuperate from them this summer,” Harris said on the German Basketball Federation’s website.
“A training camp with the national team at the end of July would just come too early. I can’t really help the team this way. I hope that everyone understands.”
The injuries kept the 21-year-old forward Harris from living up to his promise this past season at Gonzaga, where he averaged 12.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists and shot nearly 52 percent from the field and 35 percent from long range. A year earlier Harris shined as a freshman, averaging 14.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting nearly 55 percent from the field and 45 percent on three-pointers.
“Of course the loss of Elias hurts, but we have enough quality on the team to compensate for his absence,” said German national team Dirk Bauermann.
Harris is one of the stars of a young German generation – along with Robin Benzing and Tibor Pleiss – looking to carry Germany internationally following the eventual departure of Dirk Nowitzki and other veterans.