Their time with USF men's basketball was relatively short, but when the Bulls (13-16, 6-10 American Athletic Conference) meet the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (5-23, 1-16) on Wednesday night at the Yuengling Center, it will be a fond Senior Night farewell for Tyler Harris, Keyshawn Bryant and Serrel Smith Jr.
Harris (Memphis) and Bryant (South Carolina) arrived this season from the transfer portal and had an unmistakable influence over any success the Bulls enjoyed this season.
Harris, while making the transition to a true point, leads the Bulls with a 17.1 scoring average and has 88 made 3-pointers to tie Derrick Sharp's school record. He's shooting 40.4-percent from 3-point range and 82.7-percent from the free-throw line while becoming the first USF player since Dominique Jones (2009-10) with three 30-point games.
Bryant averages 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds, while leading the team with 19 blocked shots. But his dunking ability has created the biggest stir. His spectacular, acrobatic plays have five times been featured on ESPN's nightly Top 10 plays. In last week's 82-75 win at UCF, Bryant had four jaw-dropping dunks — and two them were featured on ESPN.
Meanwhile, Smith, who began at Maryland and East Tennessee State, has played the past two seasons at USF in his return to the Tampa Bay area (he finished third for Florida Mr. Basketball while playing at St. Petersburg High School). He's averaging 3.9 points — with a high-game of 21 points at Memphis — but he will be best remembered for making four straight free throws in the final minute to ice away the victory at UCF.
In a COVID-era twist, four-year college players Jamir Chaplin and Jake Boggs will be recognized, but both players have the option of returning for a bonus season.
Then there is Mark Calleja, the longest-tenured Bull, who has been with the team since the 2018-19 season. He arrived on campus as a walk-on and earned a scholarship for the 2021-22 season. Head coach Brian Gregory praised Calleja's work ethic and determination.
"He shows up every day with enthusiasm and passion," Gregory said. "He is one of the hardest workers you'll find and he gave us everything we asked of him. He's going to have tremendous success in his life after basketball."
Also honored are senior team managers Brandon Buckman, Christian Fiore, Alex Kirschner and Dan Thompson, who have each worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
"Senior Night is always special and always emotional,'' Gregory said. "You want to play well and get a victory. We're really grateful for all our guys who will be playing for the final time at the Yuengling Center.''
Harris, a stalwart at Memphis and Iowa State (2020-21 season), came to USF in hopes of making himself into a more complete player, while maintaining his scoring touch.
Mission accomplished.
"Tyler's dad said something to me that means a lot: 'Coach, I wish he played all four years for you because he'd be in a much different spot,' '' Gregory said. "We gave him an opportunity, but also held him accountable for what he needed to do at the point-guard position.
"I mean, look at Tyler's numbers. He has had an incredible year. I think he has grown as a competitor as well as a basketball player.''
Bryant has battled injuries all season. When healthy, he has produced the spectacular.
"Keyshawn is the best dunker in USF basketball history.''
Who said that quote?
None other than Charlie Bradley, USF's all-time leading scorer and a pretty good dunker in his own right.
"When he has been healthy and able to practice, Keyshawn has been a big contributor number-wise,'' Gregory said. "I think, all things considered, it has been his best year yet. In a new program, where the responsibility and accountability factors are different, he has been a pleasure to be around when he's on.''
Smith did not put up the numbers everyone expected when he left St. Pete High, but Gregory saluted his persistence and ability to contribute when asked.
"He has gone up and down in terms of allowing circumstances to determine his attitude,'' Gregory said. "But for the most part, he has been pretty darn good.
"He has shown growth in terms of still being dialed in and focused even when he's maybe unhappy that he's not playing more. But he has given us the opportunity to win some games. At UCF, I told him in front of the team after the game that his (made free throws) said a lot about him as a player, but also as a person and a man. He was committed to the other 14 guys in the room. And that's something we're going to remember long after he has left USF.''
