Highest goal in the Champions League: "When we are connected, there are not many teams that can beat us" • Sure, his potential has not yet been realized: "The goal - to reach the Euroleague" • And do not forget the loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the cup: Yi Harris, who swept Holon for a great season, in an interview
Harris in action.
Highly tuned
Photo:
Maor Alexelsi
Less than two weeks ago, CJ Harris celebrated his 30th birthday, and looking back he knows he has not reached his full potential and still has ambitions to get higher in his career.
"Absolutely I do not feel I have exhausted my potential. I have a lot more room for improvement, I am far from being the perfect player. My body and head are in good condition, so I have many more years ahead of me."
If I were to ask you at age 20 where you would be in 10 years, what would you answer?
"My dream was to play professional basketball, so I would probably like to play in the NBA and that's probably what I would say. But my path is different and I've been playing overseas for many years. It's amazing, and I love every second of it."
Commentators say you are worth a Euroleague.
"Of course I agree with them. That's my goal - to get to the Euroleague, because that's the highest level outside the US.
There are some reasons I'm not there.
I had some bad seasons and it was not easy to get to the Euroleague.
It's a combination of proper timing, a suitable coach and a good agent.
I'm sure it will be a matter of time before that happens. "
"We have a special group"
Hapoel Holon has enjoyed a good season so far.
In the Winner's Cup she was only stopped in the final by Maccabi Tel Aviv, in the National Cup she lost to the Yellows in the semifinals after extra time, and in Europe she qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in her history. 2: 8.
Harris is one of the key factors in success, and everything is done quietly and classily.
He is first in the group in assists, second in the index, third in points and scores a good percentage of all ranges.
"We have a special team," he told Israel Today in an interview ahead of the opening of the second round of the Champions League in tonight's away game against Italian Brindisi. "This feeling is common to all players, coaches and managers. We have veterans, NBA players and former Euroleague players "And when we are connected there are not many teams that can beat us. We have a goal to do special things, I have been in good teams in my career and the secret is when you have good and unselfish players. We do not care who gets caught but only win."
When Harris talks about special things, he intends to win titles, and says that the losses to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner's Cup and the Cup are in his and his friends' minds. "The loss in the cup was tough for us.
We already felt the game was in our hands, but we did not know how to finish the job.
Both games were tough with a lot of urgency and talk, we learned from the mistakes we made and we are waiting for the next time in front of them.
At the same time, we should not just concentrate on that, because we have other goals to achieve. "
But the closest and most important target is Europe.
"From the moment I arrived the big goal they set for us was to qualify for a stage in the Champions League. We got a tough home, but sure the other teams say that too. I think we have what it takes to go all the way."
"Dontae Smith is a legend"
One of the best seasons of Harris' career was in 2018/19 when he teamed up with Dontae Smith at Po Ortés in the French league and reached the quarter-finals of the playoffs when he showed great ability.
"Donta is a legend, the best player I played with. He's smart, knows everything, just like a coach on the pitch. He always told me 'believe me, you have to play in Israel', so when the offer came from Holon I already had one recommendation."
He started last season in the Chinese league in a Guangzhou uniform, but surprisingly did not hear anything about Eran Zehavi who at the same time punched nets and raked large sums of money in the municipal football team.
"It wasn't until I got here that teammates told me he was a good player and earned a lot there."
“I am very lucky,” he recalls, “I left China shortly before the corona erupted and moved to Turkey (to Turkish Telecom; YM).
It was only later that when people started to die that I began to understand how serious this story was, I did not think it would reach such dimensions. "
Finally, all your career you score an excellent percentage to 3, what is your tip for a young player who wants to be a good scorer?
"It's funny. In high school I was not a good scorer. In colleges I noticed that my team did not have scores, so I took it upon myself and started throwing 500 times a day. The work paid off, and today I just throw with a lot of confidence. That's the best tip - throw a lot and get confidence In your shot. "
