Beaumont United High School senior guard Kasen Harrison loves the challenge of bringing the Timberwolves back from the brink.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Harrison, who recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play for nearby Lamar University next season, engineered three comeback victories for the young, up-and-coming program, establishing himself as one of the team’s first memorable stars. More importantly, he helped the Timberwolves turn what was supposed to be a learning, transitional year into an impressive 27-8 2018-2019 campaign complete with a district championship and a lengthy playoff run.
Head coach David Green described the four-year letterman – Harrison played for the now-defunct Beaumont Central program as a freshman and sophomore prior to Hurricane Harvey prompting the merger of the school with Beaumont Ozen – as “a true point guard who not only gets everybody else involved, but he can also score.
“He brings leadership to where the kids believe in him,” Green told Texas Scorecard. “They know that good things are going to happen. He makes everybody better when he’s on the floor.”
According to the second-year Timberwolves coach, Harrison possesses good decision-making skills that enable his teammates to hit shots, and is a stout defender who does not shy away from guarding the opposition’s top player.
In United’s debut season last year, Harrison’s stellar feats as a floor general – he averaged 15 points and five assists per contest – earned him district MVP honors. He was instrumental in the Timberwolves’ come-from-behind wins over his coach’s former team, district rival Galena Park North Shore, and Humble Atascocita, with the latter victory having occurred in the playoffs.
United began Harrison’s second and final season in the maroon and gold with a hard-fought 66-65 win over Dickinson High. Just as he did before, Harrison rescued the Timberwolves from the jaws of defeat against a top-notch program.
It is the senior’s never-say-die attitude that inspires his brothers on the hardwood, a combination of ex-Central and Ozen players.
“[His teammates] love him,” Green said. “We have that guy with that kind of ability and who wants to win. He’s a winner. He wants to win at all costs. He’s going to give it everything he’s got. He’s very supportive of his team, always trying to motivate them and give them confidence that they could get it done as well.”
The coach calls Harrison’s official commitment to Lamar “a great opportunity,” adding that his family will have many chances to watch him weave his backcourt magic for the hometown Cardinals.
“It’s a great move for him,” Green said. “I know the coach there. He’s going to push him hard to be the best he can be on the floor and in the classroom.”
Harrison is likely to see action as a true freshman, according to Green.
