Josh Harrellson was not supposed to be a factor in Kentucky’s success this year. The school that sent five players to the NBA Draft last June and brought in the top recruiting class in the country this year wasn’t supposed to rely on a senior who played just 88 minutes last season.
But Harrellson was instrumental in last night’s 76-69 victory over North Carolina, scoring 10 of his 12 points in the first half as the Wildcats jumped out to a 38-30 lead and held on for victory in the East Region final at the Prudential Center to earn their 14th Final Four appearance — their first since the 1998 national championship team.
Harrellson held his own against the Tar Heels’ more heralded front line and helped set the early tone for Kentucky’s victory.
“The first five minutes of each half really dictates the game,” Harrellson said. “We came out and we played aggressive, played together as a team, and that really dictates what’s going to happen throughout the first half normally.”
Harrellson, a 22-year-old from St. Charles, Mo., arguably has been the Wildcats’ best player in the NCAA Tournament other than freshman sensation Brandon Knight. The seven points he averaged during the regular season has turned into 14.8 while he’s shown an athletic dimension to his game that was previously unknown.
“[My confidence] definitely has increased,” said Harrellson, who is listed at 6-foot-10, 275 pounds. “If someone is playing me too tight and I see a lane, I just try to drive it and get around him. And that helps out my teammates because they don’t play me as tight and it [makes for] easier passes because they won’t guard me as tight. But it is something I never thought I would be able to do.”
Harrellson provided a tough presence in the paint on both the offensive and defensive ends, and added eight rebounds and four assists while making several hustle plays.
“He’s a fantastic player,” North Carolina center Tyler Zeller said. “He doesn’t have a lot of moves, but he does a lot of great things inside, offensive rebounding. He’s a really solid player.”
dtomasino@nypost.com