At 5-7, Colonial's Diante Harrison stands out in football, basketball

At 5 feet 7, Diante Harrison looks up to almost everybody when he is on a football field or basketball court.

But that's only if you look at it from the tape measure's point of view.

Colonial High coaches say Harrison is a guy classmates have been looking up to for a long time. He is a rarity in an age of sports specialization, becoming arguably the top athlete in two sports at a Class 8A school, all while earning acclaim as an honor-roll student and high-character leader.

"He's a tremendous athlete for our school, and he's a quality guy for our campus," Grenadiers basketball coach Eddie Johnson said.

Colonial football coach Steve Breitbeil echoes those sentiments and said Harrison is the best all-around player he has coached.

Now if they could get college coaches to see what they see.

Harrison has impressive numbers in all facets (except that tape measure), including a 3.3 grade-point average, but he has zero scholarship offers.

"I know the college guys are looking for bigger kids," Breitbeil said. "But he has the complete package of speed, quickness, vision, toughness and knowledge of the game. We're sending film out all over the place. There's a place for Diante out there somewhere."

Harrison, who bounced around the country at a young age as the son of two Army veterans, said his favorite sport is football, where he was a first-team All-Central Florida player. But he would consider college basketball as a Plan B.

"I just want a team that will accept me and let me play," Harrison said. "I just need the chance to show that I can play football."

He figures there is no better way for the door to open than to keep knocking with effort.

"I'm still confident,'' Harrison said. "My main focus is to keep working hard."

The 165-pound senior was Colonial's leading receiver, scorer and tackler in football, and he had four interceptions and four blocked kicks.

He came out late for basketball and missed two preseason games, but is averaging 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. The Grenadiers are 8-2, with eight consecutive wins, going into Tuesday's opening round of the Father Lopez Holiday Tournament in Daytona Beach.

"I've never seen a guy work harder to get better at two sports," Johnson said.

Harrison averaged 19 points as the Grenadiers won Glynn Academy's holiday tournament in Brunswick, Ga., last week. He poured in 34 in a double-overtime win over previously unbeaten Brunswick in the opening round.

"He just would not let us lose," Johnson said. "He's a great ballhandler, and if I need one score, we know we're looking for Diante."

In an age where top athletes tend to transfer to top programs, Harrison never looked to leave his neighborhood school. His family moved to Sanford when he was 7, then settled in Azalea Park several years later.

"Even during football games, I had guys telling me I should have transferred after my sophomore year," Harrison said. "I just tell them I'm fine where I'm at. If you're good, it shouldn't matter what school you play for, what record you have, height, weight, anything."

bcollings@tribune.com

Source: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/os-hs-colonial-diante-harrison-20111226,0,3547047.story?track=rss

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