CONWAY — Coastal Carolina fifth-year senior Joseph Harris has enrolled in classes and will play his fifth season for the Chanticleers, the school announced Thursday.
Harris announced he was going to go enroll at UAB to pursue a Master’s degree in nursing, which Coastal doesn’t offer.
“When I sat down and thought about it, I was leaving a lot behind and taking a big chance on a 50/50 waiver,” Harris said. “I thought about all of the things that make a team successful. At Coastal Carolina, the chemistry was already there. The teammates are good people. I know what to expect from the coaching staff as well as academically and in the community. I feel like I had a commitment that I didn’t finish here. They gave me a chance out of high school when no one else did. I wanted to keep my loyalty to them.”
Harris, a 6-5 forward, was an all-Big South first team member last season for Coastal Carolina, averaging 15.2 points and 11.4 rebounds a game. He had a streak of 11 straight double-double’s last year, including a 33-point, 22-rebound performance in a 100-97 win over VMI on Feb. 14. He also scored 32 points at UNC Asheville, 30 at VMI and 27 in a win over Western Illinois in November. Harris shot 57.6 percent from the floor and had 36 blocked shots and 45 steals for the Chanticleers.
Harris needs 53 points and 184 rebounds to become the second player in Big South history with 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. He is tied for fifth in school history in career rebounding average (8.2/game) and is second in total career rebounds (816). He needs 73 rebounds to become the Chants’ all-time leading rebounder.
“Joseph will be given a second opportunity,” Coastal Carolina coach Cliff Ellis said. “I thought that he was making a mistake. At the same time, he’s done a lot with the teams and I know he will bring it when it comes to the court. I hope he learns from this experience and shut the door on this and move forward. We’re glad he is back.”
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