Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Anisja Harris fell in love with basketball during her time in 8th grade. Despite playing an array of sports growing up, there was something special about the game that quickly heightened her passion for the sport. This was only the beginning. During her time at Lincoln High School, Anisja continued to deepen her knowledge of the game and strengthen her skills on the court. She was on a mission. After graduating high school, Anisja embarked on the next chapter in her career and began playing collegiate basketball at Wright State University over the next two seasons—developing her game further and reaffirming her interest in playing professionally after college—before transferring to Florida A&M University (FAMU). It has been up from there. From her personal performance on the floor to her leadership on and off the court, Anisja has only reached new heights. And, she’s not stopping anytime soon. Currently in her third year playing college basketball, Anisja is thrilled to continue elevating her basketball IQ and preparing for the next level in her career—whether that’s a professional career in the WNBA or overseas. She is…ALL IN!
Let's dive into your journey early on! How was that transition from high school to college like for you? What were some challenges that you faced early on?
I would definitely say the pace and the tempo of the game. The girls are a lot stronger, so I had to do a lot of work in the offseason to get ready and prepare conditioning-wise for the game—it is a lot faster so that took a toll on me. The physicality of the game was different (as well). It is a lot more physical in college, and teams play a lot better team defense in college than in high school.
Reflecting back on your first year in college, how did you work to overcome some of those challenges?
My teammates helped me a lot—especially the upperclassmen. I was really close with the upperclassmen my first two years in college. I actually started at Wright State, and then I transferred to FAMU last year. We sat that season out, but my teammates and my coaches made me really comfortable. Then, just training and getting used to playing against them is what got me to adapt to everything that was going on (at the college level).
"I think with my all around game. I'm more than just a shooter. Once I got to college at Wright State, during my first two years, I was more so just expected to make shots and make threes. Now that I'm relied on to be a scorer, the degree level is really what I have been focusing on—getting more aggressive to the basket, mid-ranges, being able to extend my game out to three, being a better defender, coming up with some more steals, and getting my teammates involved."
- Anisja on how her game has elevated throughout her collegiate career.
Diving more into your time at Wright State, could you share more with us about your experiences there?