Harden was a 5 star recruit so he was thought of pretty highly out of high school. Reading his old scouting report is interesting because some of it is still true. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/James-Harden-1241/ This season he is doing better on defense. He still always goes left. He can finish in traffic. He has a pretty good shot. He has insane court vision.
I was expecting to read one of his essays on a Boy Scout adventure he had as a freshman or something like that. I am disappoint!
I remember watching him in college vividly. I thought he played like an old man. He moved at a super slow pace - which is rare to see from a college player because as a guard it means the game is moving slow for you. Usually college guards are out of control, even when they're good. He'd out-muscle other players in the paint with old man strength and a big booty. Fun to watch back then, but not as fun as my fav Pac-10 guy around that time, Aaron Brooks.