Daddy did a whale of a job teaching the game……the game of basketball to his baby girl that is.

North Farmington's Jasmine Harris, daughter of Oakland County prep basketball legend Hiram Harris, verbally committed to play her college hoops at the University of Massachusetts, following in her father's footsteps and securing herself as a Division 1 athlete upon her high school graduation next spring.

Jasmine averaged 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game last season as a junior and helped guide the Raiders to league and district crowns when she was a sophomore in 2010. A four-year varsity performer, she has been named ALL-OAA the past two years and will be one of the best girls basketball players in the state of Michigan in 2012.

If you know anything about Jasmine's dad, her prowess on the court should come as no surprise. Hiram Harris was a genuine force of nature suiting up for Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the early 1980s, earning all-state and all-conference honors in both his junior and senior years. His playmaking in the Eaglets' backcourt led St. Mary's to a state championship in 1982, prior to him heading off to college to play at Louisiana Tech. While down on the Bayou, Hiram was a part of Bulldogs squads that captured back-to-back conference championships and made a run into the NCAA Tournaments Sweet 16 in 1985. His superstar teammate with LA Tech back in the day was none other than the Mailman himself, future NBA MVP Karl Malone.

These days, Hiram quenches his hoop hunger by coaching a recreational league team in Oak Park, passing on his love and passion for the game to others, just like he did with his dazzling hoopstress of a daughter.

I for one can't wait to see Jasmine play this winter and tear up the nets in the OC for one more season of glory, leading Raiders Nation!

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