Casey Harriman might be the toughest tap dancer ever to lace up a pair of sneakers for the Creighton basketball team.

Growing up in Ida Grove, Iowa, Harriman liked to mix sports with fancy dance steps. Now, the forward is content to just mix it up on the court, relying on a hard-nosed style to get the job done.

“Just the way I was brought up,'' Harriman said. “Work hard, play hard.''

That simple philosophy has earned the 6-foot-5 junior his teammates' respect.

“He's one of the tougher guys we have,'' center Kenny Lawson said. “For being only 6-5, he's a guy who's not afraid to go get the ball on the offensive and defensive end. He takes charges. He brings toughness and energy to this team, and you rarely see Casey taking a play off.''

Nor does Harriman rest in the weight room.

“He's our strongest player,'' forward Chad Millard said. “No doubt about it.''

Guard P'Allen Stinnett walked by as Harriman talked to a reporter after a recent practice.

“We call him Hoss,'' Stinnett said. “He's our Hoss.''

Such talk leaves Harriman, a former all-state football player in high school, slightly embarrassed. He's a guy who thrives on doing the dirty work while operating below the radar. He focuses on doing what it takes to pile up wins, not points.

After redshirting during the 2006-07 season as a freshman, Harriman has averaged 3.6 points in each of the past two seasons. Hardly overwhelming numbers for a guy who twice led the state of Iowa in scoring in high school, but more than enough, when combined with his other contributions, to score a lot of points with his coach.

Dana Altman said Harriman has been Creighton's most consistent player through fall and preseason practice.

“He'll definitely have a role on this team,'' Altman said.

That's good news for Harriman, whose primary playing time the past two seasons has come at the power forward spot. Creighton brought in a pair of players — junior college transfer Wayne Runnels and freshman Ethan Wragge — who will compete for playing time at the spot.

Last season's starter, Justin Carter, also is back, although the Bluejays have experimented some with playing the 6-4 senior on the wing.

Regardless of where Carter plays, Altman said, Harriman's toughness is going to get him on the court.

“Toughness is measured in a lot of different ways,'' Altman said. “He is our most physical guy right now. He's taken over for Josh Dotzler, who was our most physical player a year ago. He's been doing a good job of putting a body on somebody and being physical.''

Harriman also has been redefining his role in the offense. He's been an extremely selective shooter the past two seasons, taking an average of fewer than three shots per game. Almost two-thirds of them (128) have come from 3-point range, and he's shot 41.4 percent from beyond the arc in the two seasons.

Harriman has shown a quicker trigger finger in practice and scrimmages, although he still looks for his shots within the framework of Creighton's offensive sets.

“I've been loosening up a little bit; I'm not so worried whether I should shoot it or not,'' Harriman said. “I'm more comfortable with my shots, and I'm putting 'em up a little more this year.''

Harriman never hesitated in letting shots fly while playing for Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School. He averaged a state-best 28.5 points per game as a junior, when he had 10 games of 30 points or more.

As a senior, Harriman repeated as the Iowa scoring leader with a 30.5 average. He scored 49 points in a game, making 10 3-point baskets. By the time he was finished, he ranked ninth on Iowa's career scoring chart with 2,243 points.

“It was difficult to go from scoring all those points in high school to barely shooting here,'' Harriman said. “But I'm just here to win. That's all I want. If the team isn't doing well, no one's happy.

“People always wanted to know if it bothered me to go from being a scorer in high school to the role I've had here. I've told them it never has.''

As intense as Harriman is on the court, he's as easygoing away from it.

“Guys like to hang out with Casey,'' Lawson said. “He's a real clown.''

Lawson said Harriman's teammates know about his dancing background. He started taking lessons when he was 3 and kept with it until his final year of high school. In a 2006 World-Herald story, Harriman said he never was particularly concerned about what others said about his dancing.

“I think I make more fun of myself than others do,'' he said then. “In eighth and ninth grade, I really didn't want to keep going, but I knew I should. And I think it has helped me in basketball, with my footwork and my agility.''

Altman laughed when asked if Harriman is the toughest dancer ever to play for him.

“You know, I've never seen Casey dance,'' Altman said, “and I guess I probably never will.''

Actually, Coach, if the price is right ...

Harriman said the last time he put on his tap shoes was a couple of years ago. Another student egged him on, saying he'd buy Harriman a pizza if he'd show off some of his footwork.

“I put the shoes on and did a little jig,'' Harriman said, smiling. “And then I chowed down.''

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com

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