aaron-harrison-andrew-harrison.jpg
Aaron Harrison (2) and Andrew Harrison (5) played together for a once-beaten team.
(AP Photo | James Crisp)
For all but one of 39 games for a college team that lost only its last game, Andrew and Aaron Harrison were the starting backcourt for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Having each other was of some comfort when Kentucky's undefeated season ended in the NCAA Final Four against Wisconsin, and again now, as the twins go through the NBA draft process together.
"It's easier having somebody with you," said Aaron Harrison, a shooting guard at Kentucky.
Point guard Andrew Harrison has to be his brother's favorite scout.
"I'm not saying this just because he's my brother, I really do feel like he's the best two-guard," in the draft, Andrew said of Aaron. "He can handle the best. He makes the biggest shots in the biggest situations. He has a heart."
Of course, Andrew Harrison evaluates himself pretty highly, too.
"I honestly feel like I'm the best point guard in the draft," he said.
The brothers each started 78 out of 79 games during their two seasons at Kentucky, which lost seven players to this year's draft.
That includes the twins from Richmond, Texas, who won a Class 5A state title with Travis High School there, then came within two games of an undefeated national title this season until Wisconsin unseated them in a national semifinal.
Aaron, older by one minute of the 20-year-old twins -- and Aaron Jr. because of it -- said being surrounded by NBA-ready teammates in college should benefit them both.
"I think I was always on the court with four other NBA players," he said. "So I think I'm kind of used to playing with talent."
Both of the Harrisons are projected as second-round guards. Andrew is projected as a mid-round pick. Aaron is projected somewhat lower.
They could both be available when the Detroit Pistons pick in the second round, at No. 38 overall, when the team is more likely to look for potential backups at one of their positions of strength, center and both guards.
The Harrisons haven't gotten their signing bonuses yet but they already spent a little of it on a new Mother's Day BMW for their mother, Marian.
"You grow up wanting to take care of your mother and your father when you get the opportunity," Andrew Harrison said.
That charitable side might not have been as apparent when the Harrisons were on the court together.
They formed a fierce, competitive backcourt. Aaron Harrison led an NBA-ready team in scoring, at 11.0 points per game. Andrew Harrison was fourth in scoring (9.3) and second in assists (3.6). They ranked 2-3 in steals, behind projected lottery pick Willie Cauley-Stein.
They often didn't look to have much fun, and Aaron Harrison said was the biggest misconception about them was "that we aren't, like, upbeat guys, we're just mean guys."
"We don't think that's true at all," he added. "I guess it's our facial expressions. So try to smile more, I guess."
-- Download the Detroit Pistons on MLive app for iPhone and Android
-- Like MLive's Detroit Pistons Facebook page