Bouncing Back UI’s Harry Harrison Is Just Wild About Rebounding - In Life, On Court

Rebound. It’s not the only thing Harry Harrison does for the University of Idaho basketball team, but it’s an appropriate metaphor for his life.

In a high school game in Georgia, Harrison once snagged 30 rebounds. At Kings River Junior College in Reedley, Calif., Harrison estimates he topped 20 boards 14 times in two seasons.

As a powerful 6-foot-7 junior forward at Idaho, Harrison grabbed 18 rebounds in a game last week and ranks No. 2 in the Big Sky Conference.

“My goal is 30 a game,” said Harrison, who will try to help the Vandals attain Big Sky win No. 1 against Eastern Washington at 7:05 Saturday night in the Kibbie Dome.

“I know I might not be able to get 30, but it makes me work to get as many as I can.”

Harrison has done his share of rebounding off the court, too.

During his youth, he had to bounce back from his father being imprisoned for 14 years; from the death of his grandparents; from living in the Brunswick, Ga., projects; and from bigger kids thumping him on a basketball court.

“I wouldn’t say we were poor, we got by, you know. We didn’t get the things that I wanted, but we got the things I needed,” Harrison said without a trace of regret. “It’s been somewhat a hard life. There were times when it was harder than I ever imagined; other times when it was great.”

Many of the good times started when stepfather John Hines entered Harrison’s life. Hines became the father figure that had been absent since Harry was 4 years old. That’s when Harrison’s father was jailed in Georgia for burglary.

Harrison remembers trips to see his father. He remembers his father telling him repeatedly, “Don’t make the same mistakes I made.”

When Harrison was 10, his mother, Prescilla, married Hines. Initially skeptical, Harrison soon took a liking to Hines, who pushed Harry on the basketball court against players who were 20-25 years old.

“At first, they’d just beat me down and I’d go home and forget about it. But my step-daddy kept influencing me to keep on playing with them,” Harrison said.

“When I was little, I never got the ball in my hands. They would overlook me because I was little. Then I grew, and they still wouldn’t give me the ball. So I just went and got it. And if I got it, I’d shoot it.”

A rebounder was born.

Harrison stayed out of harm’s way because of the positive influences of his mother, grandmother and grandfather.

“If my friends weren’t going fishin’ or crabbin’, I’d just go home with my mamma,” he said.

School work was burdensome, but Harrison saw its importance when teamed with basketball. Together, he realized, the two could take him places.

He began drawing college recruiting interest when his rebounding numbers soared into the 20s; his points were usually in the teens.

At his mother’s urging, he picked a school far from home.

“Basically, everybody in my family that stays in Brunswick ends up living there,” Harrison said. “When I broke that cycle, I think I made a life for myself.”

At Kings River, Harrison helped his team into the final four of the California state JC tournament. In the quarterfinals, Harrison scored 20 points and had 17 rebounds. In the semis, Kings River lost despite Harrison’s 24 points and 17 boards.

“Sometimes he’d miss a shot three times then get it again and score,” Kings River coach Keith Hughes said. “Sometimes his best shot was a missed shot.”

Harrison found his way academically as well. He earned an A in Hughes’ business class - emphasis on earned - according to Hughes.

As a sophomore, Harrison began dating a Kings River student. Last month, she gave birth to Harry Harrison III. His girlfriend and son will visit Moscow soon.

Harrison’s relocation to Idaho

was a natural. UI coach Joe Cravens played JC ball in Brunswick and is a friend of Hughes. One of Hughes’ assistants sought a job on Cravens’ staff.

More than an assistant, Cravens was looking for a player to replace Deon Watson, who graduated last year as UI’s all-time rebounder.

Watson averaged 12.5 points and 10.1 rebounds last season. Harrison averages 13.7 points and 10.6 boards.

“Harry’s our leading scorer and we don’t run one play for him,” Cravens said. “He manufactures points.”

And he forges rebounds.

“Every time the ball comes my way,” Harrison said, “I just try my hardest to go get it.”

He’s learned he can get a lot out of life by using the same approach.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with story A team leader Harry Harrison leads Idaho in following categories: Minutes: 31.8 per game FG percentage: 58.5 Free throws made, attempted: 48 of 87 Points per game: 13.7 Rebounds: 60 offensive, 89 defensive Blocked shots: 6 Steals: 15