2012 Mr. Basketball Gary Harris hosts second annual basketball camp

After the afternoon session of Thursday’s invitation-only basketball camp featuring many of the top high school juniors in the state, I asked trainer Christopher Thomas for his top performer.

He pointed to Gary Harris.

Well, yeah. Of course.

Harris, the 2012 Indiana Mr. Basketball from Hamilton Southeastern, hosted his second annual Health, Hoops & Happiness camp on Thursday and Friday at Fall Creek Middle School and HSE. Several of the state’s top 2028 players were in attendance, including Blackford’s Amarian Leggett, Lawrence North’s Chandon Gilbert, HSE’s Varschon Clark, West Lafayette’s Jaece Vogt, Anderson’s Don Bowling III, Kokomo’s D.J. Nash, Ben Davis’ Jasir Rogers and Eron McDuffey and Pike’s Tim Smith, among others.

It does not seem all that long ago when Harris was in the same shoes as the kids in his camp. He is now 31 years old, one of the elder statesmen on his new team, the Detroit Pistons. The former Michigan State star had his 6 and 4-year-old sons tagging along with him in the gym.

“I just wanted to figure out a way to give back to the younger kids and the younger generation,” Harris said of the camp. “I was trying to brainstorm ways of trying to help give back. You know, so many people helped me along the way, and I just want to help the younger generation. There’s so much going on, from these high school kids trying to get recruited to NIL to getting to the league to playing professionally. There’s so much information these kids need to hear because it’s a long journey they are just starting on.”

The 6-4 Harris was part of a 2012 graduating class that was one of the strongest and deepest in the state’s basketball history. Harris edged out Park Tudor’s Yogi Ferrell for Mr. Basketball that season, though Harris’ HSE team was upset in the sectional championship by Carmel. The Greyhounds would go on to win the Class 4A state title that year and the following season.

One of Harris’ best friends, former HSE teammate and 2013 Mr. Basketball Zak Irvin, also helped out with the camp. After Thursday’s afternoon session, both Harris and Irvin spoke with a group of HSE middle school players entering the school for open gym.

“Just life in general – habits,” Harris said of his message for younger players. “We always talk about habits on the basketball court, but those habits translate to real life. It’s all about being the best version of yourself. Keeping your head down, working on your mental health, working on your body and continuing to push forward and realizing it’s not just you on this journey. The battle is with yourself but there’s so many people that can help you along the way. We’re just trying to teach them that, help them stay focused and chase their goals.”

Harris’ involvement with the upcoming stars of high school basketball is a benefit that goes beyond just the game itself. Former Mr. Basketball winners like Irvin, Tech’s Trey Lyles (2014) and Lawrence Central’s Kyle Guy (2016) have also stayed connected to their roots, putting on free camps and other events. Harris, Lyles and Guy actually played together earlier this week.

Harris talked about his hope to “immerse myself back into Indiana basketball.”

“There’s no place like home,” said Harris, who was had his mother Joy and brother Cameron in the gym with him on Thursday. “Fishers has been great to me. My family is here. I live here in the summer. I try to stay connected to my hometown as much as possible and really all of Central Indiana and all of Indiana basketball in general.”

Harris is going into his 13 th NBA season, making him the most experienced player on the Pistons’ roster. After 11 seasons with the Denver Nuggets (6-plus) and Orlando Magic (4-plus), Harris spent last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, who struggled though a 32-50 season and are going through a rebuild.

As part of a six-team trade, Harris and Bucks’ teammate Taurean Prince were sent to the Pistons. In Detroit, Harris will be a veteran guard presence for a franchise coming off a 60-win season and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons narrowly avoided a first-round loss to Orlando in the first round, then were taken out by Cleveland in seven games in the Eastern semifinals.

The move from Milwaukee to Detroit – where Michigan State fans remember him fondly – has Harris feeling rejuvenated.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the team with high goals, playoff hopes and championship goals,” Harris said. “Just going in there and being the best version of myself. Whatever the team needs of me. I’m there to be the vet and help in any way they see fit. I’m just looking forward and happy to be part of the team.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2012 Mr. Basketball Gary Harris hosts second annual basketball camp

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