Kupaa Harrison has some Spanish blood in him, so there’s a chance he becomes a fan favorite for Club Baloncesto Tormes.
The former UH-Hilo forward signed a professional contract with the basketball club, based in Spain.
If the 6-foot-5 Harrison produces as he did for the Vulcans, he’s an easy bet to stir up the fan base. He averaged 17.7 points and 7.1 rebounds and was second with 58 assists for the Vulcans during the 2019-20 season.
“It’s a good feeling. I’m definitely happy,” he said from Oahu. “I’m fortunate to be in the position I’m in. I’ve had a lot of help from the previous coaching staff.”
Former UHH assistant Yevgeniy Dyachenko played pro ball in Europe and had some contacts. He sent Harrison’s highlight video, and Tormes liked his skills.
“Yev has connections and sent it to them,” Harrison said. “They liked what they saw and offered me a contract.
“They said I bring different things, scoring, distributing, rebounding. They like that I was able to play small ball 4. It’s more typical style in Europe and I fit into that pretty well.”
GE Coleman, Harrison’s former coach, pointed to intangibles as Koop’s strength.
“His demeanor and leadership were keys for us being able to compete last year,” said Coleman, now an assistant at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Wa. “The one thing we asked him to be last year was to be more aggressive and be an Alpha dog type, and he did that. In the past, he was too unselfish.”
Harrison, who signed a one-year deal, will leave in the first week of September. Training camp starts on Sept. 15, and the season runs until early April. Tormes plays in the fourth tier of the Spanish basketball league. Harrison said league rules mandate a maximum of two American players and one foreign player.
Salaries typically range between $65,000 to $100,000. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harrison signed for a lower rate, he said.
The bonus is his living expenses are covered, so he has a chance to save a bit of money.
“I want to get over there and make a name for myself, represent Hawaii and the people behind me very well and get a second contract and make a career,” he said. “With COVID, there are no fans. The team is not making a lot of money. Hopefully, we’ll get back to normal and things will be secure.”
Harrison shot 49 percent from the field, a stellar percentage. That’s because he constantly worked on his mid-range game.
“Not a lot of people put time into it,” he said. “Finishing at the rim will be a lot harder against bigger guys. I like to shoot from mid-range. That’s where I like to get my shots from.”
Harrison developed his ball skills the old-fashioned way — through hard work. His dad, Tim Harrison, was a basketball coach, and his youngest son of six boys, was short as a youngster.
Harrison grew up under his dad’s watchful eye and went to the Dennis Agena’s Kalakaua Basketball Clinics, focusing on his ball-handling.
“My dad was a high school coach, so the whole time I was growing up I was learning,” Harrison said. “I would go to the Dennis Agena clinic every Sunday. I was really short as a kid and didn’t have a growth spurt until high school.
“I was a guard and worked on ball-handling and skill work. I kept those skills through high school and college, fortunately.”
Growing up, the TV was tuned to Los Angeles Lakers games. Harrison was a fan of the late Kobe Bryant and wears No. 24 in his honor.
“My dad and family are Laker fans. He was my idol forever and was at the top of his game when we played,” Harrison said. “His death was really sad, and it was a big deal that affected many people and impacted the sports world with all types mourning his death.”
For now, Harrison is home in Kailua, where he’s spending time with family, hanging out at the beach and connecting with old friends.
But basketball and the drills that follow along are never far from his mind.
It’s with Bryant’s motto in mind that Harrison heads off to his new adventure: Dedication sees dreams come true.