Sophomore sensation Kendre Harrison of Reidsville (N.C.) is named 2023-24 National Grid-Hoop Player of the Year. He has a chance to go down as one of the best in U.S. history, but his story is far from finished.
Last December we honored NBA Hall of Famer George McGinnis the week of his passing. The late McGinnis will not only be remembered for his gentle disposition, but for being one of the best Grid-Hoop (football-basketball combo) athletes in U.S. high school history. McGinnis is recognized as the first two-time National Grid-Hoop Player of the Year by Ballislife.com during his time at Washington (Indianapolis) over 55 years ago. Joe Girard III, who helped Clemson to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2024 and is currently on the Toronto Raptors’ summer league team, was also honored after his junior and senior campaign at Glens Falls (N.Y.) five years ago.
Which brings us to this year’s honoree, Kendre Harrison of Reidsville (N.C.), a 6-foot-7, 240-pound menace at tight end, defensive end and power forward. Harrison’s exploits are incredible, but many know him for recently shattering two backboards within three months and for assaulting the rims on the Nike EYBL 16U circuit with Team CP3.
Harrison will now be just as well known for becoming the first sophomore ever to be honored as the nation’s finest football-basketball combo athlete. The all-time list dates back to the 1954-55 season and includes some of the finest athletes ever to grace high school playing fields with many of them going on to play in the NFL. Many recruiting experts feel Harrison has the kind of potential to one day join that exclusive group who were terrific at hoops and went on to the NFL.
Perhaps no sophomore ever has been as highly honored in both sports and it’s incredible to think Harrison still has two more high school years to develop and add to his impressive resume. Scouring around the country, there were a couple of senior (class of 2024) standouts in both sports such as Terry Bussey of Timpson (Texas) and Caden Pinnick of Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.), but none seemed to be on the level of the top underclass choices. Among juniors, C.J. Ingram of Hawthorne (Fla.) was more explosive and arguably better than all the seniors, too, after leading the Hornets to FHSAA Class 1A state titles in both sports as a quarterback and wing player. He too has shined on the EYBL with the Florida Rebels 17U club, but Harrison’s resume and accolades were attained at a higher level of competition.
In football, Harrison helped Reidsville capture the NCHSAA Class 2A crown by hauling in 62 receptions for 930 yards and 16 total touchdowns for a 15-1 club. On defense, the grid-hoop sophomore sensation was in on 70, tackles, including 17 for loss, to go along with eight sacks, 30 quarterback hits, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
