Before the season, Maryland men’s basketball coach Kevin Willard touted DeShawn Harris-Smith as perhaps the best freshman he has coached in a career spanning 17 seasons and three schools.
The versatile 6-foot-5 guard validated Willard’s praise during Tuesday night’s uneven, 68-53 win over Mount St. Mary’s in the season opener, scoring 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting while delighting the Xfinity Center crowd with aggressive drives to the basket and defensive energy.
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The reigning All-Met Player of the Year, who led Paul VI to an undefeated regular season in the rugged Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, played off the ball and at point guard.