By Stan Cole
Associate A.D./Media Services
One of the friendliest students on the Campbell University campus turns into one of the fiercest competitors when he steps into the lane on the basketball floor.
Marvelle Harris, whose smile is a constant throughout the day, has revealed an even more determined side as the veteran on a young and talented Fighting Camel roster.
A regular in the Camel lineup over his first two years, when he was counted on primarily for defense and rebounding, the 6-foot-6 forward has taken on greater responsibilities in his junior season.
The native of Macon, Ga., averaged 5.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in his first 63 games in the program. Through 10 games in 2012-13, Harris is contributing 7.5 points, 7.3 boards and shooting better than 58 percent from the floor.
"Since I've been here three years, I know what the coaches expect," said Harris, who is the only Camel on this year's roster to play in every game over the past three seasons. "I try to hold myself, hold my teammates accountable, and ask them to do the same for me."
During the offseason, Harris dedicated himself to improving his jump shot, ball-handling and rebounding skills and his strength. That preparation showed in a four-game stretch through mid-December, the last 3 when the Big South's leading scorer Darren White (21.9 points per game) was sidelined with a hand injury.
In a 4-game stretch, Harris more than doubled his career averages, scoring at a 12.8 clip, while pulling down 10.5 rebounds per outing, shooting 71 percent (22-31) from the floor and 70 percent (7-10) from the line.
Harris grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in a win over Newberry; then poured in a career-best 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting (plus 3-of-4 from the line) against mid-major power Robert Morris.
"While Marvelle's not our most vocal guy, he's the most important player on our team from a leadership standpoint," said 10th-year head coach Robbie Laing. "When his engine is running at a high rate, he draws enthusiasm and energy out of team teammates. They feed off his example."
On a team that entered the season with just nine years of combined Division I experience among its scholarship players, Harris has been able to demonstrate those areas that don't always show up in the box score, but are necessary to have in a winning program.
"As our most experienced player, Marvelle puts a lot of energy into helping our team improve," said Laing. "Especially on the defensive end, he sets a great example. Offensively, we've done a better job of finding him. He's really developed his mid-range jump shot and helped out around the basket as well."
An all-state performer as a junior at Northeast High School in Macon, Harris earned minutes as a freshman and sophomore primarily as a defender and rebounder. Through mid-December, he already ranked ninth on Campbell's career blocked shots charts with 87. At his current pace, he'll become just the eighth player in CU's Division I era (since 1977-78) to pull down his 500th career rebound sometime in January.
On a team picked by league coaches to win the Big South North Division title, Harris realizes that how Campbell finishes the season is much more important than how it starts. He constantly encourages his teammates – through his actions and words.
Harris, who lets his smile off the court, and effort on the floor, speak louder than words, does have a simple, regular reminder for his teammates.
"I just tell them to bring energy, effort and focus, believe in yourself and in each other," said Harris. "The chemistry on this team is much better than the last couple of years. This team is really tied together and we're working harder every day."
As much as he appreciates Harris' contributions to the team during practice and games, Laing is even more impressed by the way the junior goes about his daily routine.
"Marvelle is very likeable, a great guy to be around," said Laing. "He's a friend to everybody, which is refreshing in this day and age when all too many people are tied into their phones or head phones."
