|
We recently learned about basketball player Anita Harris who is actively pursuing her goal of playing in Korea for the Women’s Korean Basketball League (WKBL).
She is currently preparing for the upcoming WKBL draft held on July 24th with high hopes of joining other mixed Korean players such as the Roberson sisters (Kimberly and Michelle) in the league.
HalfKorean.com had a chance to discuss Anita’s background and her pursuit to play professional basketball in Korea.
Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.
What is your mix?
I’m Half Korean and African-American.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Huntsville, Alabama but I was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. I moved to St. Louis to live with my grandmother (dad’s mother) when I was about two years old.
What is your current occupation?
I do property preservation. Many find it odd because there aren’t many women that will do a job like that.
Do you speak Korean?
Not fluently. My mother says we should learn it but I’ve been around people that only speak English all my life. I do plan to speak it more often because I do believe I will be drafted this July.
What was your mixed Korean experience growing up like?
I don’t really have any Korean experiences besides when visiting my mom. We’d eat Korean food, which is my favorite food. Being around the “African American” community I would get teased a lot because I am mixed. Most would call me Chinese and make fun of me because I have slanted eyes.
Have you been to Korea?
If I have been, I was too young to remember. I do plan on going to Korea soon seeing as though I WILL be drafted in the WKBL ethnic draft.
When did you start playing basketball?
I started playing when I was five years old. I would always play in the school yard after school. I was a tomboy. There would be me and another childhood friend and we were the only two girls on the playground. From then on I would always have a ball in my hand.
You’ve been playing semi-pro since 2009. What teams/leagues have you played for?
Yes, after college I started playing semi-pro for the East Point Jaguars in Atlanta, GA from 2009-2011. Then I went back to St. Louis to play for my old high school coach in the WBCBL for the Illinois Shooting Stars in 2012-2013. That year I had a bad injury and completely broke my ankle. So I took a year off to heal hoping I could play again.
Have you parents/family been supportive of your basketball ambitions?
Well, my parents didn’t raise me but my grandmother supported me coming to high school and AAU games, as did my siblings. One of my sisters, April, played her freshman year in high school. Shockingly she was actually good. LOL. She attended every game my freshman thru junior years before she moved to Atlanta. My brother would attend games and in the summer of my freshman year while playing AAU, my oldest sister would take me and my teammates to our games.
What do you think of entering the WKBL Draft and pursuing basketball in Korea?
I have nothing to lose entering the WKBL draft. Either I’m drafted or I’m not. If I didn’t enter I wouldn’t be in this position. I feel entering the draft will better my chances of actually getting a chance to play in Korea. As far as pursuing basketball in Korea, it’ll give me a better chance of gaining citizenship and trying to make the National Team, which is my main goal.
How did you find out about playing in Korea for the WKBL?
I found out the WKBL because I first started off reaching out to agents about signing me. Sending them my resume and putting film together. Then I came across Korea having a WKBL ethnic draft and seeing that this would be my best chance of playing professional overall. First I reached out to Corey (who’s now my agent) about trying to gain citizenship and then it went from there.
Are you entering the WKBL Draft as a “foreigner” or is the WKBL doing something similar to what the KBL did with the “ethnic” draft for mixed Koreans?
I’m entering as a “local.” It’s similar to the KBL and the ethnic draft. I had to send over papers proving my mother is from South Korea so they could process the application.
Have you already been working out for WKBL team either here in the US or Korea?
No, I haven’t had the chance. Lately I’ve been getting as much film together as possible so my agent could send to teams so they can get a look at me. I’ve seen some highlights of the players and I know for a fact I can play with them. No doubt about it!!
With the WKBL Draft coming up later this month, how has the process been so far?
For me it’s more of a waiting process. My agent handles everything far as the draft. The agent has to be able to become WKBL registered. You have the agent application period in order to become registered then the player application period. So all I can do is wait until July to see what happens and get in shape. I actually want to play in the BSNF in Puerto Rico this summer while I’m waiting to play in Korea.
Have you gotten in touch with any of the mixed Koreans currently playing in the WKBL?
Unfortunately, I haven’t. Michelle and I are actually signed to the same agency and to my knowledge she was injured last season, but her older sister Kimberly played for Samsung Life Bichumi.
In general, what would you like to accomplish playing basketball and what are some goals you have?
Well as of now I’m done playing semi-pro. You’re paying to play and when I got injured the team and some players didn’t support me in any way. Playing pro will open doors especially me playing in Korea. My goal is to gain dual citizenship in South Korea and try out for the national team. Then I would love to start a boys and girls club to help the youth. Get them involved more. As of now I’m trying to get in at a YMCA to start coaching.
I have a foundation, Nita Harris Foundation, and I am now planning a charity game featuring pro hoopers and the proceeds will go to breast cancer awareness. My grandmother and aunt died of breast cancer and I have another aunt who’s a survivor. With my foundation I plan on doing things for veterans, kids, etc.
If you do end up playing in Korea for the WKBL, would you consider trying to play for the Korean National Team as your next goal?
Yes! That’s my goal and that’s what I’m setting out I do. All I need is a chance!!
Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?
I was told over and over again that I would never be successful and that I was not going to be competitive and the technique was simply not going to work. All I could do was shrug and say “We’ll just have to see!” Your opinion of me will not become my reality!
Any final words to the mixed Korean community?
Be proud of who you are. Also, majority of us may have grew up getting teased, bullied, etc. because we look different from others. Teach and be an example for the youth because someone has to set the tone teaching the younger ones what’s right and what’s wrong. In America we are the main ones who judge others from the outside in, but want to be treated fairly. It may sound corny, you may not want to be a role model, but the kids are always imitating and looking up to someone. Even if you don’t know it someone is watching your every move saying I want to be just like him/her. You be great and so the younger ones coming up will be greater.
We want to thank Anita for sharing her experiences and we wish her the best of luck in her WKBL pursuit and future endeavors!
You can follow Anita on Twitter @ms_harri5 or check out her profile on her management’s website, 610 Sports Management.
|
