Jenaro Harris goes up for a shot.
SANFORD - Jenaro Harris, point guard and shooting guard for Central Carolina Community College's Cougar basketball team, is excited about playing for the Flying Fleet at Erskine College in the fall.
"There's a good chance I'll make an immediate contribution to the team," he said. "I bring the ability to shoot and to get my teammates involved. I'd like to help Erskine win its conference championship."
His freshman year at CCCC, Harris had the top 3-point field goal percentage in the NJCAA Tar Heel Conference, shooting 43 percent. In his sophomore year, he was second, shooting 40 percent. Erskine put together a scholarship and financial aid package to bring him onboard.
"Jenaro is a quality person both on and off the court," said Mike Neal, CCCC director of student activities. "He makes everyone better by adhering to a high standard for himself. He will bring maturity and confidence to the Erskine program and will make a fine student as well."
Harris played several sports growing up, but basketball is his game.
"You're out there with the other players with the same goal: win the game," he said. "The team and the crowd make playing the game fun."
Harris is a graduate of Cox Mill High School, in Concord, where he played point guard and shooting guard for the Chargers. His parents, Lisa and James Harris, were checking out colleges for him when they heard that CCCC has a basketball team. His dad sent Harris' highlight video and the college was interested.
"He's a great young man," said CCCC basketball Coach Doug Connor. "In the two years I coached him, he was very coachable. I think he's going to excel."
Harris will graduate from CCCC in July with an Associate of Arts degree and transfer to Erskine, where he plans to major in business management. He said he would love to play professional basketball, but if that dream doesn't come to pass, he plans to own his own business - maybe a sporting goods store.
"Jenaro is great on the court and off - that impressed me," said Brian Hurd, CCCC assistant basketball coach. "He's a great young man that's going to be a great addition for Erskine. He was one of the hardest working kids for us. Just so he could graduate this year, he took 16 credit hours in the fall and 18 in the spring. He really wants to be successful. He's setting himself up for life, not just basketball. I can't wait until I get to watch him play at Erskine."
Harris has nothing but praise for his instructors and coaches at CCCC.
"They prepare you for what it's like to have a full course load at a university, with time management, studying every night - how to balance hanging out and school work," he said. "Coaches Hurd and Connor worked to make me a better player and better person in general. I wouldn't be the player I am today without them."
Jenaro Harris goes up for a shot.
Jenaro Harris, point guard and shooting guard for Central Carolina Community College's Cougar basketball team, will play for the Flying Fleet at Erskine College, in Due West, S.C., in the fall. During his two seasons at CCCC, the 6 ft 3 in Harris ranked first or second in 3-point field goal percentages in the Tar Heel Conference of the NJCAA's Region 10.