Harris’ hoops career reaches new heights

Nathan Miller

One McDonald’s High School All-American in Kansas, Micah Downs, is returning to his home in Seattle, while the other McDonald’s High School All-American, Jennifer Harris, is scoring as many baskets as there are raindrops in Seattle.

A senior returning guard from last year’s Lady Blue Division II National Championship team, Harris has taken the lead role once again as she leads the Lady Blues in scoring with 21.1 points per game. But can you expect anything less from a Division II Bulletin Super 16 Preseason All American.

“I didn’t even know I was a preseason All American. So that really wasn’t a motivation factor for me at all. Scoring 39 points in the Northwest game was pretty nice. But I don’t worry about things like that, I’m here to help my teammates out, and accomplish the goals we set forward,” said Harris.

Scoring 39 points wasn’t just nice against Northwest Missouri State on Jan. 4, it was a landmark in Washburn history, as Harris set the record for the most points scored in a game by a Lady Blue. This is a remarkable feat, considering last year Harris was just named to the MIAA honorable mention team, and even had a few critics that would say Harris’ performance lacked drive in some of the smaller games last year. But Harris believes that it is a fair criticism.

“Yeah, I think it was a fair criticism, because I know I really didn’t show up in some of the smaller match ups last year,” said Harris.

But to say the least the critics have been silent this year. Harris has been the leading scorer in 12 of the 19 games the Lady Blues have had so far. This should come to no surprise to individuals who know Harris’ background.

Harris’ Top 100 McDonald All-American finalist high school career was just a start to one of the most successful stories in college basketball. Before coming to Washburn, Harris played for Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, where she and her team went 36-0 and won a NCJAA national title.

Last year at Washburn, Harris turned up her game come tournament time and was awarded South Central Regional Most Valuable player, racking up a second national title in a game she couldn’t play in because of back injury she had suffered prior.

Remarkably, Harris has only lost three games in her entire career, and hopes to end it that way.

“I wouldn’t be disappointed at all if we don’t go undefeated. In basketball you have goals, and that’s one of mine to go undefeated, but the most important is to win another national title. My teammates and I want to be national champions again, and get to experience the hoopla, and receive a ring and all that. We know what it takes to get there from last year, but we need to work even harder to get there,” said Harris.

Harris hopes the goal setting for basketball won’t stop after this year, in hopes to move her game to the next level.

“That is a goal of mine. But I do want to finish my degree sometime. Mass Media is my major and it’s important to me. But at the same time I would like to take my game to the next level, but right now I’m focused on this season and finishing this season on a high note,” said Harris.