Chipper Harris facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 30, 1962 New Kensington, Pennsylvania |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | May 26, 2018 (aged 55) |
| High school | Valley (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Career information | |
| College | Robert Morris (1980–1984) |
| NBA Draft | 1984 / Round: 7 / Pick: 148th overall |
| Selected by the Kansas City Kings | |
| Career history | |
| 1985 | New Jersey Jammers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Chipper Harris (born August 30, 1962 – died May 26, 2018) was an American basketball player. He was best known for his amazing college career at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania. During the 1983–84 season, he was named the co-Player of the Year for the ECAC Metro Conference.
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Who Was Chipper Harris?
Chipper Harris was a talented basketball player. He played as a Point guard or Shooting guard. These positions are key players who handle the ball and score points. He was known for his strong defense and ability to steal the ball from opponents.
High School and College Journey
Chipper Harris grew up in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He played basketball at Valley High School. In 1979, he helped his high school team win the Pennsylvania state championship. This was a big achievement!
After high school, Chipper went to Robert Morris University (RMU) in 1980. He joined the Robert Morris Colonials basketball team.
Turning the Team Around
When Chipper and his teammate Forest Grant joined RMU, the team had a tough start. In their first year, they won only 3 games and lost 17. But Chipper and Forest helped turn things around quickly!
In the next two seasons, they led the Colonials to the NCAA tournament. This is a huge national competition for college basketball teams. It was a big comeback for the team!
Amazing College Achievements
Chipper Harris was a star player at Robert Morris. He was especially good at defense. He was known for his many steals. A steal happens when a defensive player takes the ball from an opponent.
Leading the Nation in Steals
During his junior and senior years, Chipper unofficially led the entire nation in steals. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) didn't officially record this statistic until two years later. But everyone knew he was a master at stealing the ball!
Tournament MVP and Player of the Year
In 1984, Chipper was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the ECAC Metro tournament. This tournament is now called the Northeast Conference tournament.
In his senior year, he was also named first-team all-conference. This means he was one of the best players in the entire conference. He even shared the "co-Player of the Year" award with two other great players.
Robert Morris Record Holder
When Chipper left RMU, he was the school's all-time leader in two important areas:
- Total points scored
- Total steals
His scoring record was broken ten years later, but he still holds a special place in the school's history. He was also one of the first members of the Robert Morris Ring of Honor. This is a special award for outstanding athletes.
After College Basketball
After his successful college career, Chipper Harris was drafted by the Kansas City Kings in the 1984 NBA draft. He was the 148th player picked overall. However, he did not play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He played one season for the New Jersey Jammers in the United States Basketball League (USBL). He also spent some time playing basketball overseas in other countries.
Chipper Harris passed away on May 26, 2018, at the age of 55. He died from complications related to diabetes.
