Randolph Resident Now Fourth on College’s All-Time List – Posted 2/6/15

County College of Morris (CCM) point guard Ryan Harris, of Randolph, has surpassed the 1,000-point barrier for the Titans men’s basketball team on the strength of a 34-point performance against Valley Forge on Thursday, February 5.

Harris, who is averaging 24 points per game this year, now has 1,025 points in his career. He becomes just the fifth Titans men’s basketball player to reach 1,000 points, surpassing Angelo Parenti (‘85-’87) and his 1,013 points for fourth place all time.

CCM will honor Harris with a 1,000-point ball commemorating his accomplishment on Saturday, February 7, prior to the Titans’ game against Harcum College. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in the Health and Physical Education building gymnasium.

“I’ve just wanted to get better every single day,” said Harris of his journey to the milestone. “Just to be able to play is fun for me; I love to compete. My brother is on the team, but I consider the whole team my brothers.”

Harris, 20, is joined on the Titans by his brother Michael. In a twist of fate, one of his other two brothers, Aaron, was on the opposite side of the court on Thursday.

“My brother Aaron plays for Valley Forge,” Harris said. “It was great because my mom recorded the whole game and Aaron was on the court when I broke the mark.”

Harris, a criminal justice major at CCM, has made a verbal commitment to play basketball for Division I St. Peter’s University (Jersey City) next season. In his two years at CCM, he has made an impact on the program.

“You couldn’t have a better representation of CCM,” Jack Sullivan, CCM director of athletics, said of Harris. “He works extremely hard and is deserving of the accolades for this accomplishment. Whatever four-year school does secure him will have a quality student-athlete.”

Harris thanked his family, including his grandparents, mother and brothers, as well as Sullivan, his teammates and coaches at CCM.

“I apply the motto ‘no guts, no glory’ to every aspect of my life, not just basketball,” Harris said. “Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to be successful. You have to be fearless, whether it’s basketball, academics or your career. The harder you work, the greater the glory.”

With five more games to play, Harris trails only Clarence White (1,037), Derick Washington (1,257) and Peter Balfour (1,329) on the all-time scoring list at CCM.

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Photo: Ryan Harris, a criminal justice major at County College of Morris, became the fifth player in the college’s history to reach 1,000 points in his men’s basketball career.