End of an era: After four years at USU, Harris looking toward future

Utah State has been good to Nate Harris.

The star basketball player finished his college career last Thursday by scoring 19 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in the Aggies’ 75-61 loss to Washington in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Even though he went 0-3 in the Big Dance during his tenure in Logan, Harris said he doesn’t feel bad about it.

“A lot of players don’t get to play in the tournament,” he said. “For me, to play in it three times, I was very fortunate. The losses are not a disappointment.”

He said he still feels like this year’s team went out on a good note.

“I was pleased with the things we were able to do,” he said. “We were in a new league and performed well when people didn’t think we would.”

Harris and Jaycee Carroll were the undisputed leaders of the team this season, averaging 33.6 points and 11.2 rebounds between the two of them. But being a team leader was a new role to Harris.

For his first three seasons at USU, he played behind Spencer Nelson, Cardell Butler and Desmond Pinegar.

Harris said he learned a lot from Nelson, especially.

“Spencer Nelson made me such a better player,” he said. “I learned things from him. He passed the ball so well.”

He said he was a dark horse on the team when, for his freshman year, he played behind those players.

“I was a guy nobody knew about,” he said. “Other teams would focus more on Pinegar and Nelson. He was able to find me for easy buckets.”

But with Nelson, Pinegar and Butler all long gone, it was Harris’ turn to step up and lead the team this season.

“I was the guy they’re looking at to be an example,” he said. “I had to be more vocal in practice and lead by example in games.”

Harris said it was quite an adjustment at first.

“It’s not my nature to be vocal,” he said. “Every year, you embrace your role. It was a role I accepted and I enjoyed it.”

Harris said he hopes his basketball career is not over yet.

“I’m looking to further my career somewhere,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll make an NBA summer team. It’s every player’s goal to get to the NBA. If that doesn’t work, there’s always overseas. I’m going to try to find the best situation for me and my wife Kelly.”

After seeing Nelson nearly make the Utah Jazz last season and seeing Pinegar play a few games for the Orlando Magic, Harris said that gives him hope that he can make it.

“The odds are against me,” he said. “The percentages are so slim. I’m going to try to stay optimistic, but be realistic. Those other guys led the way. That gives guys like me hope.”

If he can’t take his game to the next level, Harris said he will use his physical education degree and be a coach.

“The goal is to teach and coach,” he said. “I’d want to start at the high school level and move on from there.”

Coaching is one thing Harris said was a huge positive at USU for him. Head Coach Stew Morrill made him a better player, he said.

“I learned so much about the game of basketball from him that can carry over in life,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better coach.”

Harris said players like him thrive under Morrill.

“The offense and system that he runs is big-man friendly,” he said. “He wants to get the ball inside first. It’s nice knowing you’ll get the opportunity.”

Even with good coach and the fact he grew up five miles away in Smithfield, Harris said nothing could have prepared him to play in the Spectrum.

“You never realize what it’s like until you’re on the floor,” he said. “The noise is so deafening. I’m not sure where else to find that. It’s definitely a different experience.”

Harris said the games he’ll remember most in his USU career were his three NCAA tournament games and the in-state rivalries.

“The in-state games are a big deal around here,” he said. “I always played well against those schools, especially BYU.”

During his four years as an Aggie, USU went 10-3 against other schools from Utah, including a perfect 7-0 at home.

All in all, the Aggies were 96-30 with him in the lineup. As much as playing in Logan was good for him, both parties appeared to benefit.

Nate Harris was also good to USU.

-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu