No. 1 Tight End Turns Taunts into Triumph

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dale Bliss | Last updated Feb 8, 2025 10:18 AM ET

In entertaining visits from a Super Bowl-winning coach, being a five-star football recruit at tight end and the No. 13 prospect in the 2026 class, Kendre Harrison is used to being a big target and the center of attention, something that carries over to the basketball court.

Wednesday night in Reidsville, North Carolina, the visiting fans from rival Southeast Alamance got on him early in their game against the 20-0 Rams. the defending state champions in 2A basketball. Harrison and his teammates had won 49 games in a row.

Chants of "Overrated! Overrated!" rained down from the visiting stands.

Ever a competitor, the two-sport star (he's a four-star prospect in basketball and wants to play both sports in college) signaled to the crowd with a big wave of both hands, meaning "bring it on."

Harrison then proceeded to pour in 23 points to go along with 21 rebounds in a 73-53 victory, bringing the Rams' win streak to 50, 21-0 as they defend their crown.

Oregon commit Kendre Harrison helped extend Reidsville’s (NC) winning streak to 21 wins this season!

Harrison finished with a monster double-double of 22 pts and 23 rebs. @ReidsvilleHoops I @SupremeDre8 pic.twitter.com/e4rsLmJ3g3
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) February 6, 2025

It's easy to see why the smooth, powerful junior has over three dozen offers in football. He's 6-6, 250 with ideal size and athletic ability for a tight end. Fall and winter competition have made him into a marvel of agility and grace.

New coach at North Carolina Bill Belichick visited on Jan. 31. While Harrison appreciated the attention from the legendary eight-time Super Bowl winner (six as a head coach at New England, two as defensive coordinator with the Giants) he remains committed to the Oregon Ducks, reposting the following photograph on his social media two days later:

pic.twitter.com/XUOUYun2Jb
— k̷e̷n̷d̷r̷e̷’̷ ̷h̷a̷r̷r̷i̷s̷o̷n̷ (@SupremeDre8) February 1, 2025

Harrison told Max Torres of On3 Sports, “I love coach Lanning. I love the coaching staff. I just love the school. I love everything about Oregon. I know Lanning and coach Drew [Mehringer] and all those wonderful coaches out there are gonna develop me on and off the field. And I’m gonna have fun on and off the field. That’s really the main things right there."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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