Canada can’t boast this one

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What does Montreal have in common with Twentynine Palms? The boys’ basketball team, of course.

Montreal Harris is not only the top player for the Wildcats, he was the Southern Section Division IV-A player of the year as a sophomore last season, when he averaged 17.6 points and 10.9 rebounds.

Harris, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound guard, is averaging 21.2 points this season, helping the defending Division IV-A champions to a 12-1 start. He scored 23 points Saturday night to lead Twentynine Palms to a 62-43 nonleague victory against host Palm Desert.

If you don’t feel like driving all the way to Twentynine Palms (142 miles from downtown Los Angeles) to see this kid play, the Wildcats open Wednesday against Arlington at the Paloma Valley tournament in Menifee (79 miles from DTLA).

Word is, Harris is also a pretty good football player and might have better scholarship opportunities on the gridiron. He totaled more than 1,200 yards of offense and scored 30 touchdowns as a receiver/running back last season and produced some pretty good numbers as a defensive back.

I know what you’re thinking. Folks out in Twentynine Palms probably see more UFOs than college recruiters, but that’s what they said about Rudy Burgess a few years ago.

Burgess went to Desert High on Edwards Air Force Base, which is about as far into the boonies as you can go and not have to dig for water. He’ll finish his college career Thursday as a starting receiver for Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.

Burgess was also unique in that he has started at receiver, running back and cornerback during his college career.

-- Dan Arritt