North Texas Native, OU 2nd Leading Scorer De'Vion Harmon Missing Start Of March Madness After Testing Positive For COVID-19
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM/CBS SPORTS) - Oklahoma sophomore guard De'Vion Harmon, who played high school ball at Denton's Guyer High, will not be available to the Sooners on Saturday in their first round NCAA Tournament matchup against Missouri.
Harmon tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Indiana, coach Lon Kruger said Wednesday, March 17.
Harmon, who ranks second on the team this season in minutes, points and assists per game, will also not be available in the second round should the Sooners advance against their former Big 12 foe.
"I know I have a great support system around me to help me get through it so I'm gonna get through it," Harmon told CBS 11.
"First thing I always tell him is you gotta persevere and that he is meant for something else," said his father, Deon Harmon.
"If you use it right, adversity can take you to far greater places than success can," added De'Vion.
That eliminates a key piece to OU's two-way attack not just against the ninth-seeded Tigers, who are back in the March Madness field for the first time since 2018, but also against likely second-round opponent and No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga. It also, on paper, could make the Bulldogs' path to a second-ever Final Four even easier with Kansas, Virginia and Oklahoma -- all teams from the West Region -- dealing with COVID issues.
A former four-star, top-50 talent from Texas, Harmon has blossomed into a reliable co-star next to Austin Reaves this season.
"For my teammates go out there and compete and have fun," said De'Vion. "I'm good. Don't worry about about me. I'll be right here watching."
Averaging 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.1 assists, he has helped key Oklahoma's balanced attack all season as a defensive hound and key initiator on offense.
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH DE'VION AND DEON HARMON HERE