New Jersey native & four-star junior Jaquan Harris talks recruitment
Passionate would be the one word I’d use to describe St. Thomas Aquinas guard Jaquan Harris. The four-star junior out of North Brunswick, New Jersey has thrived on the floor over the past few years and has ultimately drawn high-major recruitment with a handful of scholarship offers.
The 6-foot-4 guard hasn’t even started playing this season due to New Jersey’s COVID-19 restrictions on high school sports. But with things improving and the Spring approaching, it looks like they will return to action in February which means Harris will make his long-awaited junior season debut.
With good speed, high-IQ, the ability to score at three levels, and good size at the guard spot, I fully expect another excellent season out of Harris. He’s impressed not only at the high school level but was quite impressive and made a major name for himself while playing on the circuit with the New York Jayhawks.
Harris does have plenty of suitors and holds scholarship offers from Auburn, Seton Hall, UConn, Illinois, Marquette, Rutgers, and plenty of more. As I mentioned, New Jersey hasn’t even begun their season just yet which just shows the potential of Harris and that his upside is only getting higher. Unless we get a list trimmed down, I expect more programs to join the mix.
Stockrisers.com caught up with Harris for an in-depth conversation on his recruitment, his game, and what his expectations are for his team this season.
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Which schools are heavily involved in your recruitment, prior to the start of your junior year?
“Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Creighton, Xavier, Kansas, Auburn are all heavily involved in my recruitment.”
Who would you say are the newest programs you have heard from recently?
“The newer schools are Creighton, Xavier, Providence.”
Let’s talk Seton Hall. Where do things stand with the Pirates and your relationship with the staff?
“What stands out about them is that the school is in [New] Jersey and that’s where I’m from. So my family will be able to come to almost all my games. The relationship I have with the coaching staff is great, I talk to Coach Willard and Coach Grant almost every day. They have been in contact with me since they were able to talk to me in the summer and it’s been great since then.
They said that they believe I can come in and make an impact right away. And they believe I can be one of the next great guards to come out of New Jersey.”
How about a school like Virginia Tech, seems as if they’ve been in heavy pursuit.
“My relationship with V-Tech is great, I talk to them every day. They show that they have confidence in me as a player and a leader and believe I can come in and make an impact right away. We talk a lot about what my role would be on the team and how my game will fit with the offense they run. My overall thoughts are that I love how hard they play, they knocked off a lot of big teams this year and are continuing to do so and I’m enjoying how the recruitment from them is going.”
V-Tech’s rival, Virginia, is also on you heavy but I believe they haven’t offered yet thoughts?
“No, Virginia hasn’t offered, but I talk to them a lot. They have a legendary program and they develop their players to be ready for the league and that’s my goal. They tell me that I’ll be a good fit for them because of my versatility and that they’re a National Championship program and want me to be apart of it.”
And what would you say is the best breakdown of your game, in your own words?
“I’m a 6-foot-4 point guard that can score at all three levels. I’m athletic with a high-motor, I have a great IQ and I’m always looking for a way to get better. I can rebound for my position and pride myself on the defensive side of the ball.”
With the season (possibly) approaching, what are your expectations entering the season?
“Go undefeated.”