The Campanile: What do you enjoy most about basketball?
Alexis Harris: I enjoy everything about basketball.
TC: All right, who do you look up to on the team?
AH: I look up to myself on the team because I’m the only tall player and I have the guards to motivate me to look up to myself.
TC: So how do you get better at basketball to beat the guards?
AH: I train outside of school with a trainer, he helps me with everything. He’s the one who actually helped me get my scholarship.
TC: When did you start playing basketball?
AH: I’ve been playing basketball since I was four years old. When I was young I didn’t know I was going to be this tall, but now I am, and basketball is my passion.
TC: So has your height helped you become a better player?
AH: My height helps out a lot, but being around so many people in my family who play or played basketball motivate me to do better and keep playing.
TC: What is it like to be taller than everybody on the team?
AH: Well since everyone calls me “Tree,” it’s fun, but some days I’m like “Ugh, why am I this tall.”
TC: Alright, if you could say one thing to your coach what would it be?
AH: I don’t know, would you cut any swear words out? Uhh, no comment.
TC: What has basketball taught you?
AH: I’ve learned to be a better player, both physically and emotionally. It keeps me composed, and when I’m stressed out it’s something I can go to focus.
TC: So it’s all good stuff?
AH: Basketball keeps me in-shape, motivated and everything. It keeps me together and without it I wouldn’t really know what to do. Although I’m tall, I don’t like other sports. I only like track, so I might do some of that.
TC: What will you do with the rest of your senior year?
AH: I need to get my knee better because I injured it at the beginning of the season and it still hurts some days. I’ll train, maybe do a little bit of track, maybe not.
TC: So no wild parties?
AH: Oh no, I’m going to party hard! You better believe it. After basketball season I’m going to be free to party, to turn up with the squad, all within legal means.
TC: If you could go back to being a freshman what would you do differently?
AH: Well I would maybe listen to my older peers a little bit. I ignored them because half the time they didn’t know what they were talking about, but maybe I would listen to them.
TC: You were probably better than them anyways. Do you have any pre-game rituals to help you get psyched up?
AH: I turn up with the team in the locker room, dance, party and record them on Snapchat. Before every game you’ll see a Snapchat story and I’ll be going “Mmmm k… Mmmm k.”
TC: What will you miss most about basketball?
AH: I’ll miss the team a lot. I’ve been playing with Coco and Maddy for seven years and the other girls for at least five. I’m going to be on a whole other team, going through college and I’m going to be the youngest person on the team because I’m only 17.
