This weekend, Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) won its second Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in the last three years with a 71-53 title game victory over St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). Ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Super 25 behind only Montverde, Paul VI re-asserted itself at the top of the TOC and maintained its hold as one of the best teams in the nation.
The tournament MVP was Duke signee Darren Harris, who scored 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting with four 3-pointers in the championship game against Bosco. According to the Springfield News-Leader, he had 11 points in the second quarter, during which Paul VI took a lead it would not relinquish.
Duke commit Darren Harris went off for 23 points in the championship W of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
He also took home MVP of the tournament 🔥 @darrenwh11 pic.twitter.com/RtocWziIYL
— Ryan Lommen (@TheDukeNation) January 14, 2024
Harris played an integral part throughout the tournament. In the Panthers’ 48-37 semifinal win over No. 21 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), Harris had nearly half of his team’s points as he scored 20 on 7-for-15 shooting with three 3-pointers.
That was perhaps the closest game of the tournament for Paul VI, which also dismantled Glendale 82-21 after not allowing a point in the first quarter and going into halftime with a 45-3 lead.
Harris, the tournament MVP, is a four-star wing for the Panthers ranked as the No. 57 player in the nation on the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 195 pounds, the sharpshooter received five offers from universities before committing and signing with Duke, according to 247Sports.
Duke commit Darren Harris has officially signed on the dotted line ✍️ @darrenwh11 https://t.co/DeKhhfDVK0 pic.twitter.com/EuOhLC1JZu
— Prep Hoops 🏀 (@PrepHoops) November 9, 2023
This isn’t Harris’ first MVP award of the last several months. He was named the most valuable player of the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in July.
He opened 2024 with another.
At the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, McEachern finished third behind champion Paul VI and runner-up St. John Bosco. Edmond North (Okla.) came in fourth, falling to McEachern 61-59 in the bronze game.
