Hidden Gems: Meet Linnae Harper of That Harper Kid NFP

Today we’d like to introduce you to Linnae Harper.

Hi Linnae, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I fell in love with the game of basketball at the age of five. Playing basketball has always been like music to my ears. As a young African American, brown-skinned girl from the Southside of Chicago, I had no choice but to play against boys to get my feet wet. From the age of 5 until junior high, I constantly proved myself to be a tough ordinary girl with dreams of becoming a professional athlete. One of my teammates was Jabari Parker, who helped me grow as a player and teammate among boys. As a woman, confidence is a key ingredient to success and constant growth, well I had to deal with the opinions of young boys – saying that this isn’t a girl’s sport or that I’m too soft. But that opinion changed as I got older. I gained much respect from my basketball community for my grittiness and determination in the game of basketball. I played for one of the top academic and athletic programs in the state of Illinois. Being a state champion and Mcdonald’s All-American gave me the confidence I needed to continue to compete against the best in the nation. I continued my career at the University of Kentucky and finished at The Ohio State University. During my collegiate experience, I was known as one of the best rebounders at my size and height when showing how big my heart was for the game. After much draft consideration, my dreams sank quickly as I went undrafted in 2018. With already having 4 USA Junior Olympic medals, 2x Big Ten Champs, 6th woman of the year, All-SEC Honors, and more, that wasn’t enough to seal the deal. I accepted a training camp offer from the Chicago Sky in 2018 and was the only undrafted rookie to play a full season. Since then I have had the opportunities to play professionally and use my athletic platform to give back to my community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Most of my struggles came from a lack of confidence and opportunity. The journey has always been tough and nothing ever comes easy but the support from God, my family, and my friends helped me continue to push and persevere through any obstacle that might have come my way. Most people would think that being a professional basketball player would be easy once there but it gets harder. Dealing with the questions of my game, the doubters, and the lack of opportunities has made my road to success not as smooth but a stronger and wiser athlete. Even though I continue to face many obstacles I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about That Harper Kid NFP?
My foundation was established in 2019 to educate, empower, and enhance young girls in underserved Chicagoland areas. Our mission has always been to focus on the day-to-day struggles of life that young ladies experience often. We focus on the fundamentals of basketball, life skill development, mentorship, and community engagement. Since 2019 we have impacted over 750 students in the city academically, athletically, and socially. Our organization is unique because our youth are led by former successful athletes that have used their platform to impact the world in various aspects. We meet each young person where they are in life by creating safe havens and authentic environments for each person to thrive in.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years, our goal is to have several community centers across the Chicagoland area and beyond. In addition to that, mentorship programs in elementary and high schools. Our pillars (connect, commit, and complete) will allow all people regardless of age, race, gender, and occupation to succeed and thrive in the same environment. I have also launched my own sports consulting business to help coaches, athletes, and families navigate through the recruiting process and beyond.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thatharperkid.org
• Instagram: Thkfoundation / that_harperkid