ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Bryce Harris
Bryce during New Heights Media Day as a teen (left); Bryce on court earlier this season for Howard (right).
When Bryce was first introduced to the program, he had already been making a name for himself on the court, but it was the reputation of New Heights—and the players associated with it—that drew him in. Hearing about the experiences of student-athletes before him like current pro hoopers Lester Quiñones and Precious Achiuwa, Bryce was eager to see what the program could offer. After attending New Heights’ Week Away summer camp, he told us, he was sold.
What started as a modest role on the team quickly evolved into something more, as injuries opened the door for Bryce to step up. Even while playing above his age group, he embraced the challenge and began carving out his place within the program. “I had a smaller role at first,” Bryce says. “But over time it grew as opportunities opened up for me to play more.”
Though his time with New Heights wasn’t as long as some other student-athletes, the impact was lasting. Bryce describes his experience as nothing short of positive, pointing to the relationships he built with coaches and staff as a defining aspect of his time in the program. Under the guidance of New Heights coaches Rodney Frazier and Adam Berkowitz, he not only sharpened his skills on the court but also felt a genuine sense of support and encouragement (“Coach Frazier and Coach Berko always held it down for me,” Bryce shared).
Even with his busy schedule, Bryce remains connected to the New Heights community. He’s kept in touch with fellow alumni like AJ Lopez and Julian Champagnie, and values the strong network that the program has built over the years. And that sense of connection extends beyond basketball: the environment of New Heights—one rooted in both high-quality basketball and authentic care for the individual—left a lasting impression. Even now, Bryce reflects on New Heights as a place where he was consistently shown love and respect, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to its athletes beyond the basketball court.
One of the most important lessons Bryce learned at New Heights? The importance of staying ready. Joining the team midseason meant he had to quickly adjust and be prepared whenever his number was called, a mindset he took with him to Howard University, where the demands of the game only intensified. His freshman year brought early playing time, but also revealed areas where he needed to mature—particularly in taking care of his body and adjusting to the pace of college basketball. His sophomore year proved to be the most challenging and transformative period of his life. In the same year that he lost his father, Bryce and his team made history by winning Howard’s first MEAC championship. Fast forward to today, Howard’s men’s basketball team has won the MEAC championship multiple times, and most recently achieved the program’s first NCAA March Madness men’s tournament win with Bryce leading the charge as a senior and Captain of the team, including clutch baskets to seal the game.
Bryce and fellow Howard alumni Vice President Kamala Harris.
But that’s not all Bryce has accomplished in his time at university. While balancing personal loss with athletic success, he also became more involved on campus, joining a fraternity and stepping into leadership roles. Bryce became deeply involved in social justice initiatives through the former, mentoring younger students and advocating for important causes like Black maternal health, as well as participating in mental health awareness efforts and fundraising for sickle cell research. He even had an opportunity to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris (pictured above) and hear about her background and time at Howard. These experiences reflect a core value emphasized by New Heights: giving back.
“Your decisions can affect other people. How much can you gain from something if your neighbor can’t benefit from your actions?” Bryce shared with us when asked why he feels it's important to give back to his community. “There’s no limited amount of success. You should be able to spread happiness and joy for everyone. And ultimately, it’ll come back to you, too.”
For current New Heights student-athletes, Bryce offers advice grounded in perseverance and perspective. He emphasizes that growth is a daily process, filled with both wins and setbacks. “Real victory,” Bryce says, “is continuing to pursue your goals every day, no matter the circumstances. There will always be good days and bad days, but the reward lies in staying committed and eventually seeing the fruits of your labor.” It’s a mindset that has carried him from a young student-athlete looking for an opportunity to an accomplished collegiate captain on the brink of achieving his dreams, and New Heights is happy to continue playing a part in Bryce’s story.