Two coaches who know former professional baseball outfielder Monte Harrison very well said they believe the University of Arkansas football program got a steal when Harrison went public with his commitment to the Hogs on Tuesday.
Harrison starred in football, basketball and baseball at Lee's Summit West (Mo.) High School in the Kansas City area before being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
He was also a consensus 4-star football prospect in the class of 2014 and signed to play football and baseball at Nebraska. He also had scholarship offers from Missouri, Michigan State, Iowa and others out of high school.
The expectation of him being a high selection in the MLB Draft likely scared off numerous other football programs from extending offers.
Harrison, 28, went on to play 10 seasons in professional baseball, including stints in the major leagues with the Miami Marlins in 2020-21 and the Los Angeles Angels in 2022.
He will be a preferred walk-on as a receiver at Arkansas and his tuition will be paid as a part of his baseball contract.
Former Arkansas Razorback and All-SWC offensive lineman Limbo Parks has been coaching 24 years in the Kansas City area at Raymore-Peculiar High School and most recently at Lee's Summit West.
"He's by far the best athlete I've ever been around," said Parks, who played for the Hogs in 1985-1986. "We've had some great athletes at Lee's Summit West. Arkansas never came and got any of them. Well with Monte, you got the best of the best. He's the king. He's one of the best athletes to come out of Kansas City area and I'm just ecstatic. I'm so excited he's coming to my alma mater, the University of Arkansas."
Parks recalls marveling at Harrison's athleticism and jaw-dropping plays in three sports in high school and said he believes he'll do the same at Arkansas.
"I was amazed and now he's bigger faster and stronger at 28," said Parks, who coaches the defensive line at Lee's Summit West. "He's a professional athlete, who made money by keeping his body in peak condition."
Harrison used his speed to record 210 stolen bases in the minor leagues. Two YouTube videos titled "Monte Harrison robs homer, winks at camera" and "Best of 2021: Monte Harrison scales wall to make the catch" are examples of his eye-opening athleticism.
He first visited the Razorbacks for the April 13 Red-White scrimmage and made a return trip Wednesday in preparation of reporting to Fayetteville later this month to begin summer workouts and classes.
Lee's Summit West basketball Coach Michael Schieber said he also expects Harrison to make an immediate impact at Arkansas.
"He hasn't taken a football beating over the years," Schieber said. "I can tell you I watched the kid on the football field and he will belong, that is for sure."
Schieber also said he hasn't personally witnessed anything like Harrison in his 25 years of coaching.
"He's the best athlete I've ever seen in person," Schieber said. "His explosion is noticeable. I guess how the kids say it, when you look at it, it's different. He's a different cat."
He also coached Harrison's older brother Shaq, who played two seasons in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns (2017-18) and Chicago Bulls (2018-19). Monte started for Schieber as sophomore when his brother was a senior.
Parks said he remembers Monte stunning an opposing team's student section as a sophomore with a thunderous two-handed dunk with his head above the rim.
"We were at an away game and the student body was behind the goal at St. Joe Central," Parks said. "You look at those kid's faces and they're like, 'Oh my God.' Just the expressions on their faces."
College basketball coaches hoped Harrison would choose basketball as his sport in college but knew his skills in football and baseball made it unlikely.
"Even when he was a sophomore in high school, I had people calling me wanting to know if they offered him in basketball, whether not he would consider it," Schieber said.
About five years after graduating high school, Harrison showed up at the school's gym to meet up with his brother, who just finished a workout.
"He had on a pair of Timberland boots, jeans and a sweater," Schieber said. "There was a ball sitting out and Monte reaches down and picks up the basketball. He hadn't been in a gym or shot a ball or anything in probably four or five years. All of a sudden, he takes this ball and throws to off the side of the backboard and jumps up and hammers it. I've very rarely ever been surprised ... that shocked me."
If Harrison had time, he might of added a fourth sport to his resume of college scholarship opportunities.
"They were trying to get him to do the triple jump and long jump in high school, but I don't think his baseball coach would've liked that too much," Parks said laughing.
Schieber said he is confident Harrison will be in the receiver rotation at Arkansas.
"I found it hard to believe you're going to find four better athletes on the University of Arkansas football team than that dude," Schieber said. "I can tell you this, Monte Harrison is not coming down there to back anyone up."
Parks said Harrison could've gone on to play football in the SEC, Big 12 or Big Ten, but is giddy about him being in Fayetteville.
"Why not? We have him at the University of Arkansas instead of having to go against him, because to me that's more scary and I would've been cheering for him regardless who he was playing for," Parks said. "It just makes me happy he's now playing for my beloved Hogs."
Schieber said he knows the SEC is stiff competition, but that doesn't lessen his expectations for Harrison.
"I know the SEC has a bunch of freaks," he said. "He's going to be right there with them."
Email Richard Davenport at [email protected]
This is a 2023 photo of Monte Harrison. This image reflects the Milwaukee Brewers active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, when the photo was taken. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)