Jennifer Harris | Washburn
Basketball Student-Athlete, 2004-2006
Jennifer Harris played two seasons for the Lady Blues and became the first Washburn basketball player to be named the Division II National Player of the Year – a title which she earned from three different associations her senior season (the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, the Division II Bulletin and what is now the Division II Conference Commissioners Association). Harris totaled 1,314 points in her career to rank ninth on Washburn’s all-time scoring list – the only two-year player to appear on the list. Not only an explosive scorer, Harris also wrapped up her career as Washburn’s career leader in assists with an average of 4.5 per game. On the defensive side, her career 2.4 steals per game is also a Washburn record.
Harris led the Lady Blues to the 2005 NCAA Division II National Championship and back-to-back MIAA regular season titles and postseason championships. She was named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player as a senior and was honored as the MIAA Tournament MVP as well. Her 24.2 points per game as a senior led the nation and set a then-MIAA record with 797 points in a single season.
Harris became the first-ever MIAA women’s basketball player to be drafted in the WNBA Draft. She was the No. 20 pick in the sound round by the Chicago Sky in 2006. Harris went on to play for several years professionally in Europe before returning to the United States.
>> Watch 2024 MIAA Awards Celebration <<