Sullivan | U of L's Harrell a work in progress

Montrezl Harrell with a jump shot is like a sledgehammer that cuts diamonds. It's knockout power with surgical precision, a bulldozer with rack-and-pinion steering.

It is, however, an idea still in development.

The University of Louisville's seismic dunk machine, already recognized as a preseason All-American, ignited the imaginations of his Cardinal constituents last Friday when he made three of his four 3-point shots in U of L's season opener against Minnesota.

Yet though that sample represented more 3-pointers than Harrell had previously attempted in two full seasons of college basketball, it still qualifies as an anomaly rather than a new reality. Harrell missed four of his five jump shots and all three of his 3-pointers in Louisville's 88-39 drubbing of Jacksonville State on Monday night, and at least a couple of them were cringe-worthy.

And maybe it's better that way. Maybe it's better that a power forward who made his mark by grabbing rebounds and menacing rims would need more time to refine a subtler skill. Maybe it's better that Muhammad Ali didn't moonlight as a violin virtuoso and J.J. Watt doesn't conduct interviews in iambic pentameter.

Otherwise, what hope is there for the rest of us? If Montrezl Harrell can expand his repertoire and effectively double his range in the space of one off-season, perhaps he is not All-American but All-Alien, otherworldy and overqualified to compete with college students. If Harrell were capable of performing consistently as he did last week in Puerto Rico, his decision to delay his NBA career would seem almost as pointless as Stephen Hawking repeating algebra.

Happily, it's not that easy. Some of the open looks Harrell had Monday night produced shots opponents might willingly concede. Some of them clanged off the rim. Some of them could have been classified as bricks.

RELATED: Cardinals cruise past Jacksonville State, 88-39

RELATED: Instant Analysis | U of L 88, Jax State 39

Still, Harrell's willingness to attempt those shots and his newfound efficiency at the free throw line (80 percent so far) are both signs of profound progress.

"He's way more comfortable, more confident than last year," said fellow forward Wayne Blackshear. "Last year, he was kind of hesitant. But this year he's just letting it fly and not thinking about it."

"His making shots makes it tougher for them to guard him," U of L guard Chris Jones said. "They just can't trap him in the post because he has range. He can hit the elbow shot with ease. You can't guard him."

After watching Harrell's performance in Puerto Rico, The Sporting News' discerning Mike DeCourcy decided the 6-foot-8 junior had lifted his game to a lofty plateau.

"Is it silly to name a leader for College Player of the Year after one night?" DeCourcy wrote. "Of course it is. But Louisville was bold enough to open its season against a legit opponent. So he and the Cardinals deserve something more than a 1-0 record."

Monday's effort won't enhance Harrell's odds at the Wooden Award — he was one of 50 players on its preseason watch list — but 15 points and seven rebounds is solid production for 24 minutes of playing time. If Louisville coach Rick Pitino prefers that Harrell establish his presence with post-up moves, and that his jump shots evolve from inside-out passing rather than fast-break opportunities, those adjustments are well within Harrell's gargantuan grasp.

"Everybody has off-shooting nights," Harrell said Monday. "I wasn't as good as I was in the first game. ... I've just got to get back in the gym and keep working at it.

"I took a couple of bad shots here and there, but it all comes in the game. Everybody's not going to take perfect shots."

Harrell attributed some of his shooting woes of last season — and specifically his 46.5 percent free throw shooting — to a wrist injury that affected his release. He credits his renowned gym rat approach to his improved accuracy.

"I feel like I've put the time in the gym," he said. "I've worked on all phases of my game — the 15-footer, shooting with my back to the basket. I feel like right now I'm playing confident basketball and I'm playing the way I want to play. I'm not forcing anything. I'm not trying to go out there and score 40 a night. I'm letting the game come to me."

When he's sinking his jump shots, Montrezl Harrell makes the game look easy.

Tim Sullivan can be reached at (502) 582-4650, by email at tsullivan@courier-journal.com, and on Twitter @TimSullivan714