Spartans’ Harris picks West Virginia

Josiah Harris — one of Ohio’s most sought-after boys basketball recruits — announced via social media on March 31 he verbally committed to play at West Virginia.

He chose West Virginia over Ohio State, Xavier, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Kansas State. He had close to 20 scholarship offers, but didn’t sweat the decision much.

“I pretty much knew (my decision) all day,” said Harris, who will play small forward in college. “It came down to the great relationships I made with the coaches, and the great atmosphere there. It was a family decision, and it felt right.”

Harris just completed his junior season at Richmond Heights, where he helped lead the Spartans to the Division IV state final four. The Spartans lost to eventual state champion Botkins, 4440, in a state semifinal at the University of Dayton.

Harris’ announcement came exactly at 4:44 p.m. The reason for that time was specific for Harris.

“That’s my favorite number,” said Harris. “The number 444 means a significant change is about to happen in your life. Also, my mom’s high school number was 44 and father’s was 3. Add three fours, it comes out to 444.”

The 6-foot-7 forward led the Spartans this season in scoring at 18.6 points and rebounding at 11.6. He also averaged 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks, and was a first-team Northeast Lakes District pick and a first-team NewsHerald all-star.

Like many high school athletes competing during the novel coronavirus, Harris’ junior season wasn’t without setbacks. According to his coach Quentin Rogers, Harris contracted COVID-19 earlier in the season, and it took a while for him to recover.

The team also had two COVID pauses, but eventually the Spartans found their footing and won big games down the stretch and were dominant in the postseason until bowing out in the state semifinal round.

Harris is also an AAU teammate of Brush’s Elmore James, who led the area in scoring this past season with a 29.8-point scoring average.

Rogers said Harris’ value to the team this past season was immeasurable.

“He’s able to do whatever we need him to do,” said Rogers the week of the state tournament. “It may be scoring, it may be rebounding, it may be defense. He’s grown as a versatile basketball player and he’s still growing. He’s also taken on a leadership role.”

Harris will eventually join two players from Northeast Ohio in Morgantown, W.Va. Seniors Seth Wilson of Lorain High and Kobe Johnson of Canton McKinley will play at West Virginia next season.