With basketball season officially underway, we take a look at the college experience of one of Winthrop University’s former men’s basketball players.
Antwon Harris is an alumnus of Winthrop University and graduated in 2008 with a degree in sociology.
During Harris’ time at Winthrop, he played on the men’s basketball team. As a member of the team, he was able to play in multiple Big South Conference Championships.
In 2007, his team won a game in the first round of the NCAA National Tournament, defeating No. 6 seed Notre Dame by a score of 74-64. Additionally, the team was able to play on national television multiple times.
“Men’s basketball is a brotherhood in which the past players always reach back to the present players and coaches,” Harris said.
One of Harris’ favorite memories is being featured in the March Madness 2008 edition of the Sports Illustrated magazine and having his photo cover an entire page.
While Harris was a student-athlete at Winthrop, the men’s basketball team lost one of its own, DeAndre Adams, in a car accident in May 2006.
“His death rocked the university and city of Rock Hill,” Harris said. “He has a mural in the Winthrop Coliseum on the concourse.
“His death taught me a lesson which was to live life to the fullest and to enjoy the moment.”
From the passing of Adams, Winthrop fans began the tradition of holding up their hand when a player steps up to the free–throw line to mirror the stance Adams would take each time before attempting a free throw. He would hold the ball up before taking the shot, and now fans still hold their hand up in remembrance of him and the impact he made on the team.
As a player on the basketball team, Harris was not involved in any other organizations or clubs.
However, he explained that if he could do it all again, he would have gone to more events when important people were on campus. He also wishes he would have met people outside of the “sports bubble.”
During Harris’ time on campus, former President Barack Obama came to campus while he was then still an Illinois state senator. Additionally, during a theatre Maymester course, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Aunt Viv from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and Lee Thompson Young from “The Famous Jett Jackson” visited the class for a couple of days.
As an alumnus, Harris has continued to stay involved with the basketball program.
“I still have a relationship with former and current Eagle Club members,” Harris said.
In March of 2021, the Winthrop men’s basketball team earned its spot in the NCAA National Tournament again, and Harris took over the Big South Conference Instagram page. By taking over the social media page, Harris had the opportunity to follow Winthrop in the “COVID-19 bubble” in Indianapolis.
Now, Harris is the CEO and founder of the “Antwon Harris Group.” In this position, he is a consultant and motivational coach, speaker, podcast host and author.
As for advice for current and future students, Harris said that students should always show gratitude and do things that will make their future selves happy.
Another piece of advice from Harris for Winthrop students is to begin building meaningful relationships, try to understand the perspective of others that are different from you, and invest in yourself.
This weekend while cheering on the men’s basketball team at the Homecoming game against Mercer University, take a moment to remember the players who have helped shape the program into what it is today.
