NMSU basketball adds transfer from Ohio State
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State head men’s basketball coach Paul Weir announced the addition of A.J. Harris, a freshman transfer from Ohio State. Harris will sit out the 2016-17 due to the NCAA transfer rule.
“A.J. may be one of the more heralded guards we have ever signed here,” Weir said. “For him to choose New Mexico State says a lot about our program and his belief in where we are headed. His profile fits exactly where our model is headed on several levels. He will push Ian every single day to serve us this year and then next year potentially be a tremendous replacement.”
Harris, a 5-9 guard, was a four-star recruit coming out of high school according to ESPN, Rivals and 24/7Sports. He was also ranked No. 14 in his position, 16th in his region and fourth in the state of Ohio according to ESPN – as well the No. 80 recruit in the nation.
The Dayton, Ohio, product scored a season-high 11 points at Purdue on 3-of-4 shooting and went 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Harris made his first-career start the following game against Penn State at home, scoring four points with four assists and two boards in 20 minutes of action.
Harris pulled down a season-high five rebounds against Illinois in the Big Ten opener and dished out a season-high seven assists at Rutgers. He recorded multiple assists in eight of the 18 conference games.
Harris was also a stout prep player for Dunbar High School, averaging 19.3 points, 5.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals in 18 games as a senior. He also reached the 20-point mark 10 times during his senior campaign. He was also a 2015 McDonald’s All-America nominee at the end of his senior year.
As a junior, he averaged 14.5 points, 6.1 assists and 2.9 steals while leading DHS to a 23-4 overall record – including an Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II playoff appearance. Harris garnered Division II Second-Team All-Ohio and First-Team All-Southwest District Selection by the Associated Press.
In his first year with the Wolverines, Harris helped lead Dunbar High School to an undefeated season and state championship.
