Courtesy of Howard University Men’s Basketball
The Howard University Men’s Basketball team proudly unveils the inaugural addition to its 2024 recruiting class: Blake Harper (Washington). The announcement came Wednesday.
A D.C. native, Harper has honed his skills at Gonzaga College High School over the past four years. His tenure with the Purple Eagles culminated in a commendable 26-11 record, navigating a challenging national schedule and competing fiercely in the WCAC (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference), known as the DMV’s most formidable league.
“Securing top-tier talent from D.C. remains a cornerstone of our program,” said Howard men’s basketball head coach Kenneth Blakeney, who is also a D.C. native. “We pursued Blake vigorously to keep his talent close to home. Harper is versatile shooting guard with remarkable size, adept at scoring across all three levels and adept defensively against multiple positions.”
Having grown by four inches since his junior year, Harper now stands tall at 6-foot-5 and his inclusion in the Bison squad continues a lineage of skilled shooting guards hailing from D.C., echoing the successes of Marcus Dockery and Jelani Williams.
Reflecting on Harper’s potential, longtime Gonzaga coach Steve Turner remarks, “In Blake Harper, Howard is acquiring a player with a keen basketball IQ that elevates his teammates. His knack for sinking shots and evolving game assures his best is yet to come. More significantly, they’re gaining a leader who’ll excel both on and off the court.”
Harper’s standing as a local luminary in D.C. is undeniable, boasting an illustrious legacy that portends a potential future as the city’s mayor.
“I’m blessed to be able to have an opportunity to play for a coach who believes in me and a university that is in the city that I was born and raised in”, said Harper. “Howard is such a historic university and it is the perfect environment for me to grow new connections and ideas. It also is an amazing opportunity to showcase my talents every night to my family and my broader D.C. community.”
Gonzaga commences their season against Homewood-Floosmoor Saturday, December 2, marking the start of an exciting journey ahead.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.
