Harris Sets Big Goals, Ready to Prove Doubters Wrong
Oct 18, 2022 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Ja'Mia Harris hasn't yet put on a Kansas State basketball uniform for an official game and hasn't yet scored a single point, but the DeSoto, Texas, native has no qualms about sharing her goals for her freshman season with the Wildcats.
"I think I'll prove a lot of people wrong and a lot of people right," she says. "There are a lot of doubters out there. A lot of people doubt and think I might not play or do well or that this was the wrong decision. There are a lot of people doubting but I can prove them wrong or I can prove them right.
"I'm ready to play."
Harris, a 5-foot-8 guard, committed to head coach Jeff Mittie on October 3 last year and arrived in Manhattan on June 5. She came with solid credentials. She was a McDonald's All-American nominee who averaged 17 points and five rebounds to help DeSoto High School to the 2022 Texas 6A State Championship alongside current K-State teammate Mimi Gatewood. She also earned Texas 6A Offensive MVP in the state title game.
She and her mother took an unofficial visit to K-State during her sophomore year.
"I was young, but I loved the school and could see myself committing, and it was a lot of fun when we came here," she says. "I just loved the atmosphere, the campus and the coaching staff. I just wanted to wait because I was so young, but then K-State came back around and I took the opportunity."
Harris says she chose K-State over 12 other scholarship offers.
This is a destination where her hoops dreams could come true.
"This feels like a second home to me," she says.
Harris's first love was cheer, but things began to change when she picked up a basketball for the first time in second grade. Her twin brother, Jerome, played basketball, and she wanted to join.
"I played on a boys and girls team and my brother and I played on the same team," she says. "I'll never forget the first time I played basketball I stood in the middle of the court just playing with my hair."
That quickly changed.
"I loved the competitiveness of basketball," she says. "I loved to win. I just liked to have fun. My competitiveness? It just came from myself. I've always had a don't-like-to-lose mentality. Even in games like Uno, I never wanted to lose."
Harris's competitiveness shined through during her high school career. She collected Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region honors in 2018-19. In 2020, she earned All-Area Second Team honors by the Dallas Morning News while averaging 15.0 points per game. Then she helped DeSoto High to the state title and earned the McDonald's All-American nomination.
"My game developed tremendously from my freshman year to my senior year," she says. "I've always been good at defense, but that improved. My shooting and ball handling improved. My basketball career was really fun. I'd say my junior year it really got fun to where I could just have fun, go out, and beat everybody, you know? Just really having fun."
And she's certainly having fun with the Wildcats.
"I just like the way we bonded and uplift each other," she says. "Good or bad, we lift each other up and keep it going daily."
She's excited to show her talents.
"I'm a hard-nosed, gritty player," she says. "My strength is driving the ball and shooting and finding the open players. If another player commits to me, I can dump it off. I'm a team player. I get my other teammates involved."
K-State plays its first exhibition game against Fort Hays State on October 31 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats open their regular season against Central Arkansas on November 7.
"I really envision the first game," she says. "I just know I'm going to be so nervous, but that's a part of it."
K-State then begins the Big 12 Conference season at Texas on December 31.
"There are a lot of good players in the Big 12 and I have some teammates from high school in the Big 12, so I'm ready to compete against them," Harris says. "I'm ready to compete and win the Big 12."
It should be quite a ride.
"I want to win the Big 12, win the NCAA Tournament, and get Big 12 Freshman of the Year," she says. "I'm so excited."
Ja'Mia Harris hasn't yet put on a Kansas State basketball uniform for an official game and hasn't yet scored a single point, but the DeSoto, Texas, native has no qualms about sharing her goals for her freshman season with the Wildcats.
"I think I'll prove a lot of people wrong and a lot of people right," she says. "There are a lot of doubters out there. A lot of people doubt and think I might not play or do well or that this was the wrong decision. There are a lot of people doubting but I can prove them wrong or I can prove them right.
"I'm ready to play."
Harris, a 5-foot-8 guard, committed to head coach Jeff Mittie on October 3 last year and arrived in Manhattan on June 5. She came with solid credentials. She was a McDonald's All-American nominee who averaged 17 points and five rebounds to help DeSoto High School to the 2022 Texas 6A State Championship alongside current K-State teammate Mimi Gatewood. She also earned Texas 6A Offensive MVP in the state title game.
She and her mother took an unofficial visit to K-State during her sophomore year.
"I was young, but I loved the school and could see myself committing, and it was a lot of fun when we came here," she says. "I just loved the atmosphere, the campus and the coaching staff. I just wanted to wait because I was so young, but then K-State came back around and I took the opportunity."
Harris says she chose K-State over 12 other scholarship offers.
This is a destination where her hoops dreams could come true.
"This feels like a second home to me," she says.
Harris's first love was cheer, but things began to change when she picked up a basketball for the first time in second grade. Her twin brother, Jerome, played basketball, and she wanted to join.
"I played on a boys and girls team and my brother and I played on the same team," she says. "I'll never forget the first time I played basketball I stood in the middle of the court just playing with my hair."
That quickly changed.
"I loved the competitiveness of basketball," she says. "I loved to win. I just liked to have fun. My competitiveness? It just came from myself. I've always had a don't-like-to-lose mentality. Even in games like Uno, I never wanted to lose."
Harris's competitiveness shined through during her high school career. She collected Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Region honors in 2018-19. In 2020, she earned All-Area Second Team honors by the Dallas Morning News while averaging 15.0 points per game. Then she helped DeSoto High to the state title and earned the McDonald's All-American nomination.
"My game developed tremendously from my freshman year to my senior year," she says. "I've always been good at defense, but that improved. My shooting and ball handling improved. My basketball career was really fun. I'd say my junior year it really got fun to where I could just have fun, go out, and beat everybody, you know? Just really having fun."
And she's certainly having fun with the Wildcats.
"I just like the way we bonded and uplift each other," she says. "Good or bad, we lift each other up and keep it going daily."
She's excited to show her talents.
"I'm a hard-nosed, gritty player," she says. "My strength is driving the ball and shooting and finding the open players. If another player commits to me, I can dump it off. I'm a team player. I get my other teammates involved."
K-State plays its first exhibition game against Fort Hays State on October 31 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats open their regular season against Central Arkansas on November 7.
"I really envision the first game," she says. "I just know I'm going to be so nervous, but that's a part of it."
K-State then begins the Big 12 Conference season at Texas on December 31.
"There are a lot of good players in the Big 12 and I have some teammates from high school in the Big 12, so I'm ready to compete against them," Harris says. "I'm ready to compete and win the Big 12."
It should be quite a ride.
"I want to win the Big 12, win the NCAA Tournament, and get Big 12 Freshman of the Year," she says. "I'm so excited."
Players Mentioned
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