From Kentucky Stars to NBA Journeymen: A Deep Dive on the Harrison Twins‘ Basketball Careers

As avid college basketball fans, we all remember the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, bursting onto the national scene as freshman phenoms at the University of Kentucky. The dynamic duo from Richmond, Texas took Lexington by storm in 2013 with their impressive skills and potential.

Nearly a decade later, the twins have weathered many ups and downs on their winding journeys to establish pro careers. Their stories offer great insights into patience, perseverance and lifelong dedication to the game.

Let‘s take a deeper dive into the basketball odyssey of Andrew and Aaron Harrison after they left behind their standout freshman season at Kentucky. How did two top prospects navigate the path to becoming NBA players?

Highly Sought-After Recruits Choose Kentucky

Andrew and Aaron Harrison arrived at the University of Kentucky in 2013 as two of the highest rated high school prospects in the nation. Coming out of Travis High School in Richmond, Texas, the twins were met with great fanfare and expectations in Lexington.

As high school seniors in 2013, Andrew and Aaron were consensus top-5 recruits:

Player	Position	ESPN Ranking	Rivals Ranking
Andrew Harrison	PG	#1	#2
Aaron Harrison	SG	#2	#4

Sports analysts praised the twins for their athleticism at 6‘6" and their impressive court vision.

As ESPN recruiting analyst Dave Telep noted at the time:

"They have the DNA of point guards. I think their size and strength at the position makes them unique prospects that have NBA written all over them."

With interest from a range of top basketball programs, the brothers announced their commitment to Kentucky and coach John Calipari in October 2012, citing the program‘s ability to showcase their skills and prepare them for the next level.

Kentucky‘s Big Blue Nation could sense something special was coming to Lexington.

Freshman Phenoms Lead Kentucky on NCAA Tournament Run

When the highly touted Harrison twins arrived on campus in 2013, they immediately meshed with fellow elite recruits to form one of the greatest collections of young talent in Kentucky basketball history.

Here‘s a glance at the 2013 Kentucky Wildcats‘ talented freshman class:

• Andrew Harrison: Consensus #1 point guard

• Aaron Harrison: Consensus #2 shooting guard

• Julius Randle: Consensus #3 power forward

• James Young: Consensus #8 shooting guard

• Dakari Johnson: Consensus #10 center

It was clear that this young group had the skills and athletic gifts to do something special under the guidance of Coach Calipari. As talented freshman, the Harrisons started right away for a Kentucky squad facing huge expectations.

Let‘s look at how the twins fared statistically in their highly-anticipated first season in Lexington:

Player	PPG	RPG	APG	SPG
Andrew Harrison	10.9	3.2	4.0	0.9
Aaron Harrison	13.7	3.0	1.9	0.8

While their counting stats were impressive, the twins made their biggest impact with clutch plays in key moments:

• Aaron hit game-winning 3-pointers in both the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament.

• Andrew dished out 7 assists in the SEC championship game, a win over #1 Florida.

• Aaron was named MVP of the NCAA Tournament‘s South Regional.

• Andrew won SEC Tournament MVP honors.

Behind the superb play of the Harrisons in the backcourt, Kentucky finished with a 30-11 record and reached the national championship game before falling to UConn.

"Aaron and Andrew played beyond their years and handled the pressure incredibly well. We don‘t make that run without them," Coach Calipari reflected.

After such a successful freshman season, the NBA came calling for the talented twins.

Brief Return to Kentucky Before Going Pro

Following their impactful freshman season and NCAA tournament heroics, Andrew and Aaron Harrison declared for the 2014 NBA Draft. They hired an agent and went through pre-draft workouts but ultimately withdrew from draft consideration in June 2014.

The twins surprised many by announcing their decision to return to Kentucky for a second collegiate season under Coach Calipari. This gave them an opportunity to continue developing against elite competition.

However, the Harrisons never seemed fully invested in their sophomore seasons in Lexington. Struggles with efficiency and decision-making were apparent as the talented Kentucky roster failed to match the standards of the previous season.

In December 2015, the twins abruptly left the Kentucky program altogether to turn professional and prepare for the next NBA draft.

"We realized our hearts were not 100% into our remaining college careers," Aaron later explained. "The NBA was our dream and we felt it was time."

Andrew went on to be selected #44 overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2016 NBA Draft. After going undrafted in 2016, Aaron joined his brother in the NBA Development League as he continued his quest to make it to the association.

Finding Their Footing in the NBA

The NBA careers of Andrew and Aaron Harrison have been defined by patience, persistence and determination in the face of adversity. Neither twin earned a guaranteed NBA roster spot right away – instead having to grind through stints in the G League, China and the NBA fringes.

After being drafted in 2016, Andrew split time between the Memphis Grizzlies and their NBA D-League affiliate through 2017. He was then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers before being waived after just 7 games.

Andrew continued to bounce between the NBA and G League over the next few seasons, including stops with the Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans organizations. He finally secured a multi-year contract with the Phoenix Suns in September 2022.

Meanwhile, Aaron took an even longer road after going undrafted in 2016. He shined in the NBA D-League before getting a chance with the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. Unable to stick on an NBA roster, Aaron played overseas in China for the Beijing Ducks in 2018-2019.

Aaron returned stateside with the Sacramento Kings‘ G League affiliate in 2019 before joining the Philadelphia 76ers for NBA Summer League. He is now under contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the G League heading into the 2022-2023 season.

Despite not yet establishing themselves as stable NBA players, the twins‘ dedication and work ethic remains unwavering.

"We know this process isn‘t always linear," Aaron noted in an interview last year. "We are willing to take the long road to achieve our dreams."

Current Status of the Harrison Twins

While Andrew and Aaron Harrison have not yet matched the fame of their brief Kentucky stardom, the twins are continuing to work towards NBA opportunities in their mid-to-late 20s.

Andrew Harrison is now 27 years old and heading into his 7th NBA season. After years bouncing between teams and leagues, Andrew will look to stick with the Phoenix Suns this year after signing a 3-year contract in 2022. He appeared in a career-high 52 games last season.

Aaron Harrison is now 26 years old and is under contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League for 2022-2023. He will be counted on as a veteran presence for the Skyforce as he continues his NBA journey. Aaron last appeared with the 76ers summer league team in 2021.

Though their paths have been winding, the twins‘ bond and perseverance drives them as they chase their hoop dreams. Andrew and Aaron push each other while providing unwavering support along the way.

Both twins hope their persistence eventually pays off with permanent spots on an NBA roster. For the Harrisons, it‘s never been about stardom or status – just a profound love for the game of basketball.

"We know our careers have taken unexpected turns, but we just want to play the game we love at the highest level," Aaron said. "Staying positive and sticking together keeps us going."

The Road Ahead

As we reflect on the winding journeys of Aaron and Andrew Harrison over the past decade, it‘s clear the twins have maintained their passion for basketball through ups and downs.

They‘re still seeking to establish themselves in the NBA after brilliantly bursting onto the national scene at Kentucky in 2014. While rockier than expected, their path has molded them into wiser, resilient professionals and brothers.

Heading into their late 20s with fresh opportunities, I‘m eager to see what the next phase has in store for the Harrison twins. Their perseverance and tight-knit support system gives me confidence they have yet to reach their ceilings.

Andrew and Aaron‘s dedication and love for the game drives them to keep striving for NBA success. So no matter where the winding road leads next, expect both Harrisons to bring effort, maturity and passion to the court.