Transfer will fill recent opening

~ Junior college point guard Hank Harris plans to sign next week.

It didn't take the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program long to fill the scholarship that became available this week when Dionte Perry decided to transfer.

Seward County (Kan.) Community College point guard Hank Harris said Thursday that he has accepted a scholarship offer from the Redhawks and plans to sign some time next week.

Harris was in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday for a campus visit and said he came away impressed with the Redhawks' prospects for next season.

"I played with the guys and I think we have a lot of potential," Harris said. "I feel like we can be a contender in the OVC."

Harris, a 5-foot-11, 175-pounder, averaged nine points and four assists per game as a Seward County sophomore last season.

Originally from Topeka, Kan., Harris shot 47.8 percent from the field overall, 29.7 percent from 3-point range and 74.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Harris said he is quick and a strong defender.

"That's it right there, and I like to get my team involved. I like to win," he said.

Harris, who said he was also being recruited by California-Irvine, Southeastern Louisiana and Campbell, has heard that most people expect Roderick Pearson to retain his starting point guard spot next season.

But Harris said he plans to make it as difficult as possible on Pearson -- although if he is Pearson's backup, he'll try to help the Redhawks in any way he can.

"I'm going to compete. Definitely. I'm not just going to lay down and let him keep his spot without a fight," Harris said. "But the main thing, I just want to win."

Harris would fill Southeast's last remaining scholarship, assuming nobody else leaves the program.

Southeast coach Scott Edgar is prohibited under NCAA guidelines from commenting on Harris until he receives the signed letter of intent.