Check Out Maxine Harris’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maxine Harris.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I fell in love with basketball when I was really little. I remember watching people dribble the ball, and to me, it almost looked like a magic trick. I couldn’t figure out how they made the ball move like that, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I wanted to learn how to do it too!

So I started dribbling, and I just kept practicing. My dad actually took the rim off our backyard basketball hoop because he wanted me to learn how to handle the ball before I started worrying about shooting. It’s funny looking back at it now because most kids just want to shoot baskets, and I didn’t even have a basket to shoot at! But I think that’s where my love for ball handling really started.

As I got older, I started loving the competitive side of basketball too. I’ve played against boys, older kids, and players who were bigger and stronger than me. Those experiences taught me to be creative, think quickly, and never be afraid of a challenge. I learned that basketball isn’t always about being the biggest or strongest person on the court. Sometimes it’s about finding another way.

Today, I play both point guard and shooting guard on the wing for LACU Hoops, part of the inaugural girls travel basketball league through LA Parks and Recreation. I’m coached by McKinsey Hadley, who is also the girls varsity head coach at Serra High School. I’m really proud to be part of his team and grateful to have a coach who believes in us and pushes us to get better.

I love being able to play different positions because they challenge me in different ways. As a point guard, I enjoy controlling the pace of the game, creating opportunities for my teammates, and finding ways around defenders. When I’m playing on the wing, I get to focus more on scoring, moving without the ball, and finding open shots. No matter what position I’m playing, I take a lot of pride in my defense because there’s just something fun about trying to stop someone who thinks they’re going to score!

Another really important person in my basketball journey is my mentor, LaSandra Dixon, who is now an assistant coach for Mist in Unrivaled. She’s been my mentor since I was in third grade, and she’s honestly taught me so much more than basketball. She’s pushed me mentally, challenged the way I think, helped build my confidence, and taught me the importance of having good character. She doesn’t just want me to be a great basketball player. She wants me to be a great person, too. I owe her so much, and I’m really thankful that she’s been part of my journey for so long.

Along the way, I’ve been blessed to receive recognition for my defense and hustle, attend basketball camps, train with amazing coaches, and meet people who inspire me. One of my favorite memories was helping my school basketball team make it back to the playoffs after years of not being there. That meant a lot because it wasn’t just something I accomplished by myself. We did it together as a team.

I’m only 13, and I know I still have so much to learn. I don’t know exactly where basketball will take me, but I have big dreams and I’m excited for my future. I’m thankful to God for the opportunities I’ve had and for all the people He’s placed in my life who continue to guide me.

It’s crazy to think that my basketball journey started with a little girl who was fascinated by the way a basketball could move. Back then, it looked like magic. Today, I’m fascinated by the challenges and pressure of the game, the split-second decisions, and the mindset it takes to keep pushing myself to be better.

What started out as curiosity has turned into my passion, but that feeling of excitement has never changed. And the best part is, I feel like my journey is only beginning.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. I think one of the hardest things about basketball is that sometimes your biggest challenges aren’t against another team. Sometimes they’re in your own head.

I’m really competitive, and I can be pretty hard on myself. When I have a bad game or make mistakes, sometimes I get frustrated because I know what I’m capable of. I’ve had to learn that not every game is going to be my best game, and that doesn’t mean I’m not getting better.

I’ve also had moments when I didn’t feel like people believed in me or saw what I was capable of. That was hard, but those experiences helped me work harder. I have to keep working, trust myself, and remember why I love playing.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was coming back from a serious injury. During a game, I took a really hard hit that injured my front teeth. I had to wear a splint in my mouth for almost three months, was on a liquid diet, and eventually had to get braces again.

But the hardest part wasn’t actually the physical injury. It was what happened when I returned to basketball.

Before getting hurt, I loved attacking the basket and wasn’t afraid of contact. After the injury, I found myself hesitating. Even when I saw an opening, something in my head would tell me to pull back. I was afraid of getting hurt again, and suddenly something that used to feel so natural didn’t anymore.

I had to work on driving and finishing at the basket almost like I was learning it for the first time. It was frustrating because I knew I could do it, but getting my confidence back was a whole different challenge.

Little by little, I started trusting myself again. I had to remind myself that being brave doesn’t mean you’re never scared. Sometimes it means doing something even when you are.

That experience taught me something really important. You can practice your handles, your shooting, and your footwork, but you also have to train your mind. Basketball has taught me how to face challenges, deal with disappointment, and keep going even when things aren’t easy.

I’m still learning not to be so hard on myself and to understand that one bad game doesn’t define me. I think that’s part of growing as both a player and a person.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that confidence isn’t something you just have forever. Sometimes it fades, and you have to work to get it back. And when you do, you realize you’re stronger than before.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Something else I’m really proud of has nothing to do with scoring points or winning games. It’s a community service project I started calling, The Maxine Harris Project.

I wanted to find a way to use something I love, basketball, to help other kids. Sometimes I get a lot of basketball shoes, and I grow out of them so quickly that they’re still practically new! So I came up with the idea of selling my gently used basketball shoes online and using the money to help young people in transitional foster care living programs through Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services.

At first, I wanted to volunteer there, but I wasn’t old enough since I’m not an adult. So I contacted them, and they helped me figure out another way I could still help.

They created Amazon wish lists, and I used the money I raised to buy things like fun games, nail polish, gift cards, and other everyday necessities.

One of my favorite things about the project is that it gives something a second chance to make someone happy. Someone gets a pair of practically new basketball shoes for maybe half the store price, and the money from that purchase helps another kid get something they need or have been wishing for. I like to think of it as blessing someone twice.

I’ve also learned how important it is to help my community when something unexpected happens. After the Altadena wildfires, my school basketball team organized a fundraiser that raised $300 in just three hours! We used that money to buy almost 300 pounds of pet food for Pasadena Humane. It was really cool to see how something we did together could help so many animals in need.

I’m proud of the recognition I’ve received in basketball, but I’m just as proud of the difference I can make outside of it. I think that’s one of the real purposes of having a passion, being able to use your gifts to help others.

Basketball has given me a platform, even if it’s a small one right now, and I want to use it for something good. I know I can’t help everyone, but I’ve learned that even little things can make a big difference in someone’s life.

I want to be remembered not just for the kind of basketball player I become, but for the kind of person I am and how I treat others. Because at the end of the day, I think who you are off the court matters just as much as who you are on it.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to always have faith and never give up, even when things don’t go my way. My coach always says, “Find a way,” and my mentor taught me to “Keep Going Legend.” Those words have really stuck with me because they remind me to keep pushing through challenges, but also to remember that my character and the way I treat people matter just as much as my accomplishments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maxineharrisofficial.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxineharris2031?mdxt=MWdtbW5mb2Z3cm9uMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxine-harris-63a894340?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
• Twitter: https://x.com/maxineharris31?s=11&t=e_TlzB2zW1x9NGkPJB4RrA
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@maxineharrisofficial?si=I-lYUzsI1ddfWgH9

Image Credits
Glossy Photo Finish (Photo #167 only)