This 2017 Hall of Fame inductee was the MVP of Danbury High's 1989 State Basketball Championship team. Anthony Harris' former Syracuse teammate and assistant coach Mike Hopkins remembers the first time he saw Danbury High Star Anthony Harris bring his game to the Syracuse University Carrier Dome. Hopkins said, "He was the most explosive offensive player I've ever seen."
Prior to his time at Syracuse University, Anthony was the most prolific men's basketball player in the history of Danbury High School. Anthony is the third leading scorer in Connecticut history with 2,491 points. His senior year in high school, he averaged 33.4 points per game. For three straight years, 1989, 1990, and 1991, Anthony was first-team All-State and All-FCIAC. In 1990 and 1991, he was first team All-American.
In 1989, Anthony was a sophomore when the 4th seeded Hatters made their championship run. The Hatters defeated Fairfield, Wilbur Cross, Windsor and St. Joseph to make it to the title game at Kaiser Gymnasium on the campus of Central Connecticut State University. The Hatters won a thrilling 78-76 victory over New Canaan High School in front of 4,000 fans. As the championship game MVP, Anthony scored 25 point in 27 minutes.
As a two-time Parade All-American, Anthony was highly recruited by many colleges. He enrolled at Syracuse University where he scored 14 points in his first collegiate game against Lafayette. He would later play at Marshalltown Community College for the 1993-94 season. He finished his collegiate career at the University of Hawaii playing 1994-96. Anthony led Hawaii in scoring his senior season with 22.4 points per game.
Mike Hopkins also said of Anthony, "He had it all. He had this little shake-and-bake, a fade-away jumper from the left that was so soft. The moment it left his hands, it was money. I also remember him having major hops, he could really jump. I just remember how explosive he was." But if one was lucky enough to watch Anthony Harris play for the Hatters, one has incredible memories of that little shake-and-bake followed by that sweet fade-away jumper.
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