Eron Harris: Waiting For His Turn
12/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Hanna Sprague, MSU Athletic Communications
For Eron Harris, it's all just a matter of time. From learning the game in his hometown of Indianapolis, to making the move to West Virginia, Harris had only dreamed of stepping on the court in East Lansing.
"Time is going to keep moving, so that means you have to make the best use of your window of time," said Harris. "My motivation to succeed is within me."
Harris' basketball career started out as a toddler. Two-year-old Harris and his three-year-old brother spent hours practicing on a Fisher Price mini hoop, diapers and all. A few years down the line, the Harris brothers joined the Douglas Park little league.
"I can remember playing in that league with the little short rims," said Harris. "We were just running around, could barely dribble, double-dribbling."
Noticing an early passion for the game, Harris' father spent hours in the gym rebounding, teaching, and being there to support his son's dreams to take his game to the next level.
"The other parts of my game came from watching YouTube videos of Kobe, and Jordan and other different players," said Harris. "I watched a lot of players. I love watching basketball, and when I go to the gym I just try to do the same exact thing."
By the time Harris was in seventh grade, he had the opportunity to go to school in Lawrence Township, where he stayed through graduation. This is where Harris got serious about his future on the court, alongside teammates who were doing the same.
"I got to play with some different AAU teams and my high school team was very good, very talented," said Harris. "I had guys that had committed to Kentucky, Purdue, Xavier and they played with me. There was a high expectation from the players from that school."
It wasn't until after his sophomore year that he got the call, a call that proved to be the first of many coaches wanting Harris to bring his game to their program.
"I got an offer from an NAIA school, Indiana Wesleyan University," said Harris. "That was the first offer. I got excited then. I thought `okay I might actually be playing in college.' I kind of turned my efforts up a little bit."
His senior season of AAU, the summer after his junior year of high school, the offers started to roll in, including his first offer to a division I program.
"That was a big day," said Harris. "I got the call from the coach and I ran out to my dad. I was like `you won't believe it, but a D1 school just offered me a full ride.' A D1 school offered me a full ride scholarship. That is crazy."
After that, Harris was asked to play in a tournament with Indiana Elite, one of the best AAU programs in the state. He did so well, he kept playing with them, gaining valuable exposure and more offers from mid-major schools.
The final summer of AAU basketball was nearing the end, but Harris' heart wasn't set on one school just yet.
"At the very last second of that summer, here comes West Virginia," said Harris. "They came and watched me work out and they offered me. That's a no-brainer. They play on TV, this is a big place, this is a big school. I'm going there."
The 6-foot-3 guard spent two seasons at West Virginia playing under head coach Bob Huggins, averaging 13.6 points in two seasons, including 17.2 points as a sophomore. Transitioning from high school basketball to college basketball was a lot to take on, but Harris says it shaped him as a player and a person.
"The biggest thing I took from West Virginia was definitely my mental toughness," said Harris. "I played some big games at West Virginia, but Huggs would not let you go down mentally. He's going to push you mentally every single day."
Being nearly six hours away from his family, Harris struggled with the separation from his youngest brother.
"Toward the end, my father and I just decided that I'm going to come close to the home," said Harris. "I was kind of stressed out. It was hard being away from my siblings. I had a little baby brother that I felt like I should be influencing."
Being away from home for two and a half years, Harris makes it an effort to connect with his youngest brother when he's home, taking him to the gym and working out with him.
"I wish I could influence him a lot more than I have," said Harris. "To be honest, he's my biggest motivation. I'm working for him, making sure everything is going to be good for him so he doesn't have to struggle.
Asking for and receiving his release from West Virginia after his sophomore season, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo was the first one to reach out to Harris.
"I had heard that a few schools wanted me, but not Michigan State," said Harris. "As soon as I got my release, Coach Izzo was the first coach to call me. He called me that day."
It didn't take long for Harris to make a visit to MSU, and, after that, he didn't look any further. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Harris cannot dress for the 2014-15 season. When the team travels, Harris stays in East Lansing and watches the games from either the Breslin Center or his home.
"To be honest, when I watch them it's still surreal that I'm a part of the team," said Harris. "I'm watching Michigan State, but I've watched Michigan State my whole life as a fan. I really looked at these guys as pros on this level. I wish I were out there right now."
Harris uses this year as motivation, making sure he'll be ready when his name is called next season.
"I can't do anything about the fact that I have to sit out," said Harris. "But the season is kind of flying by for me. I'm going to run out of that tunnel one day dressed in a jersey. It's still like a dream."
With life-long dreams of playing in the NBA, Harris is sure that his transfer to MSU is going to help him climb another step toward his goal.
"Coach Izzo constantly reminds you what the next level guys want and what they look for," said Harris. "If you tell him you want to make it to that next level, he tells you what you have to do. And he holds you to that every time you come in that gym."
The time will pass and circumstances will change, but Harris assures that it's all part of his journey as a basketball player, as a Spartan, and as a person.
"It's a game, and at the end of the day I've been playing this game a long time," said Harris. "I'm here for a reason, and that's something I believe in. Things are going to happen how they're supposed to."
