University of San Francisco Athletics

Multi-talented guard can score coming off the bench, either by driving to the hoop or popping a jumper...excellent defender with long arms and excellent quickness.

SENIOR: Averaged 7.3 points and 2.4 rebounds for USF this season...averaged 7.1 and 2.1 in WCC play...started 18 of 28 games despite ankle injury suffered in game at second ranked St. Joseph's...USF started a four-game winning streak when he returned to the starting lineup...scored in double figures in five of first six games before his injury and in all four games of USF win streak.

JUNIOR: Played his first season for USF after sitting out in 2001-2002...averaged 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest...appeared in 27 games with four starts...season high 17 points in 21 minutes in USF's win at Pepperdine, making six of eight shots from the floor...also scored 14 in opener at Seton Hall and 13 in Northwestern Mutual Game vs. Fresno State...shot 43.4% from the floor and 32.4% from three-point range.

REDSHIRT: Jovan sat out 2001-02 and attended Contra Costa Junior College.

SOPHOMORE (SMC): was the fifth-leading scorer in the West Coast Conference with an average of 15.2 points per contest...also ranked third in the league with a 78.2 FT percentage...in WCC play was the fourth-top scorer with 16.9 points per game and was fourth in 3-pointers made with 1.93 per contest.

FRESHMAN (SMC): As a freshman averaged 7 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 1.7 apg and was fourth on the team in scoring for the Gaels...had seven double-digit scoring games, including career-high 16 against Wright State (12/13/99).

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at El Cerrito High in the East Bay where he was coached by Chris Huber...averaged 18 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg and 2.1 spg... three-time All-League selection... member of El Cerrito team that went undefeated in league play...won League, North Coast Section and Nor-Cal titles. Jovan Harris was born 2/20/1981 in Richmond, CA.

Harris’s journey started in Richmond. As a 13-year-old student at the now defunct Adams Middle school in the mid-late 1990s, he developed an authentic passion for the game. He  schooled his classmates on the court and even his peers realized he had size and skills that were beyond his age. By the time he got to high school, Harris realized he might have a shot at playing professional basketball one day. 

The El Cerrito High School alumni went on to star at St. Mary’s College in Moraga where he was one of the leading scorers in the West Coast Conference and an all-league honorable mention his sophomore year. Despite Harris’s on the court success, the team did not win many  games his first two seasons. In addition to losing, the transition from the public school system to a private institution was a struggle for Harris.

"It was a culture shock," Harris said. "I learned quickly that private schools are different and you really have to be a student-athlete first. I never needed a tutor until I got to college." After two seasons of individual success in Moraga, Harris transferred to Contra Costa College and sat out one season before going to the University of San Francisco.  

In 2007, he drove down to the San Joaquin Valley and landed a spot on the Bakersfield Jam, a team in the NBA's Development League. The D-League, now referred to as the G-League after a sponsorship deal with Gatorade, is the NBA version of a farm system that prepares players, coaches and staff for the NBA. Harris’s scoring, ball-handling, and size for his position impressed scouts and coaches during a workout for the team.

He played one season for the Jam before being traded to the NBA affiliate team in Iowa where he played for current Toronto Raptors head coach and NBA champion Nick Nurse. While Harris was playing in the D-League, Harris’s younger brother, Franco, was just starting his professional basketball career across the border in Tijuana. After Harris played a couple of seasons in the NBA’s minor league, Franco reached out to his brother about an opportunity. As one of the best players in the country, Harris played his way onto the national basketball team.  In 2013, Harris tore his ACL and couldn’t walk five months before playing at the FIBA Americas Championship for Men.

"I worked really hard to get back on the court and play again, Harris said. "I wanted to play for the national team and continue my playing career, but I knew teams weren’t going to pay an injured player."

Harris did recover and signed a new contract, and also lifted the country to a gold medal victory with his epic fourth quarter performance. However, disappointment would set in again when he wasn’t invited back to play on the national team the following year. He had his sights set on playing in the 2014 World Cup in Spain, where some of international basketball’s biggest stars take center stage, including Team U.S.A that features cream of the crop NBA players.  

"I thought they’d ask me to play on the national team again after how I played the year before," said Harris. "We didn’t just qualify for the World Cup, we won the tournament."  

Harris admits the experience wasn’t flawless. It was a struggle to be away from family and friends for half of the year. The league lacked the overall organization of more established sports leagues in North America. Harris continued to play in the LNBP until 2020, but returned home during the pandemic (KTVU.com).