Kyle Harrison (lacrosse) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kyle Harrison

Harrison, c. 2012
Born	(1983-03-12) March 12, 1983 (age 43) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	205 pounds (93 kg)
Shoots	Right
Position	Midfielder
NCAA team	Johns Hopkins University lacrosse (2005)
MLL draft	1st overall, 2005 New Jersey Pride
MLL teams	New Jersey Pride Los Angeles Riptide Denver Outlaws Ohio Machine
PLL teams	Redwoods L.C.
Pro career	2005–2021
Nickname	K18
Career highlights
PLL: 2x Brendan Looney Leadership Award 2x All Star MLL: 7x All Star MLL Championship (2017) Ohio Machine Team MVP (2014) NCAA: Johns Hopkins University Athletics Hall of Fame (2016) Tewaaraton Award (2005) Lt. Raymond Enners Award (2005) Undefeated Season (16-0) (2005) 2x McLaughlin Award (2005, 2004) 3x Top 5 Tewaaraton Finalist (2005, 2004, 2003) 2nd-Team All-American (2003) Other: National Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2023) USA Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame (2016) Baltimore Hall of Fame (2016) Friends School Hall of Fame (2011)
Medal record Representing  United States Men's lacrosse World Lacrosse Championship Runner-up 2006 London Runner-up 2014 Denver
U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, 2023

Kyle Harrison, born on March 12, 1983, is a famous American lacrosse player who is now retired. He is also an entrepreneur and works as the Director of Player Relations and Diversity Inclusion for the PLL.

Kyle had an amazing seventeen-year career playing professional lacrosse. He even played for the U.S. national team twice! When he played college lacrosse at Johns Hopkins University, he was a midfielder and helped his team win the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. His team had a perfect season that year, winning all 16 games. He also won the top award for college players, the Tewaaraton Men's Player of the Year Award. Many people called him "the face of college lacrosse" during that time.

As a professional player, Kyle was chosen as an All-Star nine times and was a team captain twelve times. He also won a championship in 2017. He helped start a new lacrosse league called the LXM Pro Tour in 2009. Kyle was honored by being inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Athletics Hall of Fame, the USA Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame, and the Baltimore Hall of Fame in 2016. After retiring from playing in 2021, he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2025.

Kyle is known for creating his own special moves, like the "jumpshot" and the "fake-and-split dodge." These moves were inspired by basketball. He is considered one of the greatest and most successful lacrosse players ever. He is admired for his athletic skills, powerful shots, and strong leadership. Kyle is also a great role model, especially for young African-American lacrosse players. In 2020, he helped create the Black Lacrosse Alliance to make the sport more welcoming and diverse for everyone.

Early Life and Lacrosse Beginnings

Kyle Harrison was born to Miles and Wanda Harrison. He grew up in Baltimore, where he started playing lacrosse when he was just three years old! His father, Miles Harrison, also played college lacrosse at Morgan State University. This was special because Morgan State was the first historically Black college to have a lacrosse team in the NCAA.

Kyle wore the number 18, just like his dad did when he played. Even though his father loved lacrosse, Kyle was never forced to play. He chose it because he loved it. Growing up, Kyle's favorite athlete was basketball legend Michael Jordan. He attended the Friends School of Baltimore from a young age until he graduated high school in 2001.

High School Sports Star

Kyle went to high school at the Friends School of Baltimore. He was an amazing athlete, playing soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. In soccer, he helped his team win a championship. In basketball, he won two championships.

But it was in lacrosse where he really shined! He won three championships in a row from 1997 to 1999. He also received many special awards, like All-America honors. Kyle played as a midfielder and was great at winning face-offs. In his last year of high school, he scored 24 goals and made 28 assists. He also picked up over 100 ground balls!

After showing his talent at recruiting camps, Kyle was asked to play for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse team. He and his best friend, Benson Erwin, who he had known since second grade, both went on to play lacrosse at Johns Hopkins. In 2011, Kyle was honored by being inducted into the Friends School Hall of Fame.

College Lacrosse Journey

From 2002 to 2005, Kyle played Division 1 lacrosse for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse team. He played under Coach Dave Pietramala. In 2016, he was inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Kyle earned many awards during his college years. He was named an All-American three times. He also won the McLaughlin Award twice as the nation's best midfielder. In 2005, he received the prestigious Tewaaraton Award as the National Player of the Year.

One of his coaches, Seth Tierney, said that Kyle was incredibly hard to guard. He always made his teammates better and more confident. Kyle's success in college was also important for African-American players in lacrosse. He became a leading figure and inspired many others in the sport.

Amazing College Achievements

• 2002: Freshman Year

Kyle started every game in his first year at Johns Hopkins. He scored 9 goals and made 4 assists. He was also the team's best at face-offs, winning 63.2% of them. He picked up 85 ground balls, which was one of the highest in the nation.

• 2003: Sophomore Year

He was one of the top five finalists for the Tewaaraton Award. He also earned Second Team All-American honors. Kyle had a streak of scoring points in 20 games in a row. He was still great at face-offs, winning 62.6% of them.

• 2004: Junior Year

Kyle won the McLaughlin Award as the best midfielder in the country. He was again a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award. He scored a career-high 26 goals and 7 assists, totaling 33 points. He was named a First Team All-American.

• 2005: Senior Year

This was Kyle's most incredible year! He led his team as co-captain to a perfect 16-0 season. They won the 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. Kyle also won the Tewaaraton Award, becoming the first minority player to receive it. He won the McLaughlin Award for a second time. He scored 24 goals and 20 assists, for 44 points. He even played alongside future star Paul Rabil that year.

Johns Hopkins Hall of Fame

In 2016, Kyle Harrison was inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Athletics Hall of Fame. He is the only Johns Hopkins player to ever win the Tewaaraton Award. During his college career, he scored a total of 81 goals and 45 assists, for 126 points. He also ranks third in school history for face-off win percentage.

Professional Lacrosse Career (2005-2021)

Kyle Harrison was a 7-time All-Star in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL).

Early MLL Years (2005-2009)

• New Jersey Pride (2005-2007)

Kyle was the very first player chosen in the 2005 MLL draft. He played as a midfielder for the New Jersey Pride. He was selected for the MLL All-Star Game in both 2005 and 2006. He also played for the U.S. Men's National Team in the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship.

• Los Angeles Riptide (2008)

After the 2007 season, Kyle moved to the Los Angeles Riptide. He played in the 2008 MLL All-Star Game and helped his team reach the playoffs.

• Denver Outlaws (2009)

In 2009, Kyle played for the Denver Outlaws.

LXM Pro Tour (2010-2014)

In late 2009, Kyle Harrison helped start a new professional lacrosse league called the LXM Pro Tour. He co-founded it with other former college and professional players. This league was popular with many college players. In 2014, the LXM Pro Tour and the MLL announced they would work together.

Return to MLL (2014-2018)

• Ohio Machine (2014-2018)

In 2014, Kyle was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the Ohio Machine. He led the Ohio Machine to win the championship in 2017.

Premier Lacrosse League (2019-2021)

• Redwoods Lacrosse Club (2019-2021)

From 2019 to 2021, Kyle was a captain for the Redwoods Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League. He received the PLL Brendan Looney Leadership Award in 2019 and 2021. He was also chosen as a PLL All-Star in 2019 and 2021.

Retirement from Playing (2021)

Before the 2021 season began, Kyle Harrison announced that it would be his last. He officially retired from playing professional lacrosse that year.

International Competition

Representing the USA

• 2006 World Lacrosse Championship

Kyle was a midfielder for the U.S. national team in 2006. The team made it to the final game but lost to Canada.

• 2014 World Lacrosse Championship

Kyle played as a defensive midfielder for the U.S. national team again in 2014. Once more, the team reached the final round but was defeated by Canada.

Legacy and Hall of Fame

Kyle Harrison's impact on lacrosse is widely recognized. In 2023, he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In 2025, he was also inducted into the Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Kyle Harrison has two children, Brooke and Smith, with his wife Meredith.

Sponsorships and Partnerships

Kyle Harrison has had several important partnerships throughout his career.

• STX

He has a long-standing contract with STX for his K18 equipment line. This partnership began in 2005 and is the longest-running contract in lacrosse history! Many college teams use his official gear.

• Nike

Right after college, Kyle also had a sponsorship with Nike for sportswear and lacrosse apparel.

• Beats by Dre

In 2013, Beats Electronics created special custom headphones for a few famous people, including Kyle Harrison. His headphones had his K18 logo, his team's undefeated 16-0 record from 2005, and other personal touches.

Statistics

PLL Stats

GP–Games played; G–Goals; 2PG–2-point goals; A–Assists; Pts–Points; Sh–Shots; GB–Ground balls; Pen–Penalties; PIM–Penalty minutes; FOW–Faceoffs won; FOA–Faceoffs attempted

MLL Stats

NCAA Stats

High School Stats

Awards and Honors

PLL:

• 2x Brendan Looney Leadership Award
• 2x All Star

MLL:

• 7x All Star
• 2017 MLL Championship
• 2014 Ohio Machine Team MVP

NCAA:

• 2016 Johns Hopkins University Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2005 Tewaaraton Award
• 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
• 2005 Undefeated Season (16-0)
• 2x McLaughlin Award (2005, 2004)
• 3x Top 5 Tewaaraton Finalist (2004, 2003)
• 2003 2nd-Team All-American

Other:

• Baltimore Hall of Fame Induction (2016)