Family and community ties run deep for DeShawn Harris-Smith; Maryland awaits his resolute leadership

After coach Kevin Willard’s successful inaugural season at the helm of the Maryland men’s basketball program, the Terps have reinforcements coming to College Park to help bolster their rotation. One of those pieces is the No. 1 player in the state of Virginia in the Class of 2023, wing DeShawn Harris-Smith. 

Harris-Smith was named Virginia’s Gatorade Player of the Year while leading Paul VI Catholic High School to the conference regular season title. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound lefty carries the resume and traits to make him a star player at Maryland. 

Off the court, Harris-Smith carries a strong sense of family and community values, equating to an unbreakable support system behind him. 

For Harris-Smith, his statement of purpose is clear: Family. He’s grateful for the sacrifices his mother made for him to succeed as a player and appreciates the support his family shows at his basketball games. 

“I feel like my why is my family so I can be able to take care of them and make sure they don’t have to work again and be set for the rest of their lives,” Harris-Smith said. 

Harris-Smith couldn’t imagine a scenario where his mother and the rest of his family weren’t cheering him on at his basketball games. That’s one of the main reasons why he decided to remain close to home and attend school in College Park. 

Playing at the Xfinity Center at the start of next November, Harris-Smith’s supporters will be in attendance, continuing to motivate the young man. On the court, he’s constantly reminded of the people behind him, pushing him to keep going.

“After a game, I can’t look my mom in the eye and be able to tell her I didn’t give it my all cause she sacrifices way too much,” Harris-Smith said. “Every game I see her and my family up in the stands, I know they all sacrifice time and money so it’s definitely a huge motivator for me.”

Harris-Smith simply wants to make his family proud. Whether it’s putting on a show at his basketball games or spending his free time getting shots up in the gym, everything he does has a purpose. 

His family has been behind him for support throughout his journey to becoming a star. The everlasting bond he has with his family goes both ways. 

“Sometimes he amazes me, like he’ll do certain things and I’ll be like oh wow was that luck or did he really do that,” DeShawn’s mother, Ericka Harris, said. “I just sit back like I’m a fan and just be proud.”

The Paul VI Family

Family is not just a part of Harris-Smith’s life at home. It extends to his social life at Paul VI, creating a community of like-minded people. His values align flawlessly with the culture at Paul VI, fitting in with fellow Panthers with the same goals and aspirations. 

Paul VI’s basketball program embodies the motto “share the game.” 

“That means it’s not just about you, it’s about everybody,” Panthers coach Glenn Farello said. 

The motto sets the standard for accountability, unselfishness and respect within the basketball program. Panther athletes are expected to have mutual respect and are coached to be better players and even better young men.

Farello remains committed to this standard. He had turned down many great players in the past who wanted to play at Paul VI because he felt they weren’t the right fit.

The group that Farello coached this past season bought into the culture. 

“This year was the best team I’ve ever been a part of not just because of the skillset, just how much we care about each other and how much we want to see each other succeed,” Harris-Smith said. 

The culture is contagious, extending across the entire school. Harris-Smith described the group at Paul VI as open, welcoming and wanting each other to succeed. 

The basketball team often attends other sporting events or even school plays to show support for their classmates. It’s not uncommon for teachers and principals to talk to student-athletes about how they can improve their game. 

But nobody personifies the culture at Paul VI greater than Harris-Smith. As a team captain for the past two years, he bought into the program’s philosophy. He views his peers at school as part of his family. 

Looking out for others brings him joy and his caring personality makes him easy to root for. 

“I think DeShawn has always had a personal value system that has led him to the success that he’s had,” Farello said. 

Paul VI values community service and giving back to others. Through the leadership of Harris-Smith and other teammates, the basketball team has engaged in peer mentoring for students with special needs. The teamwork aspect of basketball has brought everyone together to positively impact the community. 

“Coming to school and seeing all my friends how were all so caring with each other, every day I feel like PVI is trying to make me be a better person,” Harris-Smith said.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Attending Paul VI, Harris-Smith played alongside several athletes that went on to find success at higher stages. His former teammates include Trevor Keels, a reserve for the New York Knicks; Jeremy Roach, the crafty point guard at Duke; and Dug McDaniel, a rising star at Michigan. 

ESPN ranked the 2022-23 Paul VI boys’ basketball team as the seventh-best team in the nation. Being among the top high school clubs, Harris-Smith has also played against elite-level competition. 

“Playing against great competition every day in practice and in the game, that’s what every basketball player would want in high school,” Harris-Smith said. “I feel like PVI gave me the perfect opportunity and perfect platform to put my name out there and be able to get what I want out of basketball.”

The competition has fueled the Panthers and Harris-Smith to a championship mentality. Harris-Smith was a part of 3 VISAA state championship squads in his four years at Paul VI, while also winning a WCAC title in his junior season. 

But Harris-Smith didn’t see this success in basketball from day one, taking time to develop his athletic and versatile play style. He started playing football at a young age but had to transition into basketball.

People often told Harris-Smith and his family when he was nine years old that basketball wasn’t for him. The physicality of football led him to tackle players on the court. 

“His first year of basketball we thought we were just going to have to stick to football,” Harris joked. 

Harris-Smith made a huge leap in his second year of basketball, and later was helped by a growth spurt in middle school and continued to improve his game. Teams began to take notice, such as Elite Youth Basketball League’s Team Takeover, who asked him to try out for their team. Harris-Smith developed into an AAU star and was recruited by some of the best private schools in the D.C. area.

He chose Paul VI and was accompanied by a loaded roster. His prior success didn’t guarantee him playing time, but he continued to work. 

“I think it helped him every day in practice going against Trevor, Jeremy, and Dug,” Harris said. “It was hard the first half of the season, just him not used to starting.”

Harris-Smith’s mother reassured her son at that time and motivated him to embrace the grind. Harris-Smith started taking advantage of his physicality from football and channeled it toward the defensive side; his tenacity and fearlessness made it difficult for Farello to keep him on the bench. 

Harris-Smith was molding into the basketball player that earned him national recognition with each practice. He steadily improved all areas of his game; his jump shot became more fluid, and his court vision and playmaking skills were refined. Most importantly, his confidence and wherewithal grew with his family behind him. 

The four-star recruit was the consensus number one overall player from Virginia in the 2023 class by the time his senior year ended.

“We believe in iron sharpens iron,” Farello said. “His ability to compete at a high level and to be battle tested is evident in just how much he’s improved over the last few years.” 

The Next Level

Harris-Smith’s drive and compassion were on display at the 2023 Allen Iverson Classic, receiving the heart award for his unmatched character at the awards ceremony. 

But it was also his play that stood out amidst some of the nation’s best talents. CBS Sports’ college basketball insider, Jon Rothstein, said in a tweet that Harris-Smith “has a chance to be the most productive freshman in the Big Ten next season.” 

The Fairfax, Va. native’s competitive will and unselfishness allowed him to stick out from other athletes at Paul VI. Harris-Smith will yet again join a roster filled with talent at Maryland. But his mindset remains steady: He just wants to win.

“He understands that it’s a challenge that you’re coming in as a freshman,” Farello said. “He respects that and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.” 

Harris-Smith will carry his physicality on defense and a high motor to match at the next level, which should serve him well in the Big Ten. His offensive IQ ought to allow him to make the correct reads and create winning plays. 

Although close to home, Harris-Smith will have a change of scenery next fall. But three things remain constant: His hungry demeanor, an unbreakable support system behind him and a taste for rocking the black and gold.