This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Girls' basketball coaches around the state agree: Mountain View's Michelle Harrison is the real deal.
Even if they have never seen her play, all they need to do is look at her signed letter of intent to play at Stanford, and they know Harrison one day may be considered among the best female basketball athletes ever to come out of Utah.
But whether or not the 6-foot-2 Harrison can be included on a list that includes names like Natalie Williams, Reagan Scott, Erin Thorn, Julie Krommenhoek and Danielle Cheesman remains to be seen.
"It's only my high school career that's ending," Harrison said. "There's so much more for me to accomplish. It would be great to be next to Natalie Williams or Reagan Scott. It would be an honor."
Coaches certainly agree that while Harrison has had a dominating high school career, she still has tremendous upside.
"When it's all said and done, she might be the best player that's ever come out of the state," said Dave Houle, the recently resigned coach of the Bruins. "She's tall, and her arms are like she's 6-foot-8, plus she's a state champion in the high jump. There's going to be a big burst in her playing, just from now to the end of the year."
Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer certainly is looking forward to having Harrison play for the Cardinal.
"She's only going to get better, with her determination," VanDerveer said. "I was real impressed with her, in terms of her maturity, and the fact that she has very specific goals. I was impressed with her poise, and I think that carries over onto the court."
VanDerveer pointed out that other great players from Utah have never won an NCAA championship, something Harrison has made one of her goals.
"First and foremost is a championship; it would be a great thing to help them win a national championship," Harrison said. "It would be something I could always look back at."
Harrison's poised demeanor comes naturally, considering the amount of confidence she has in her abilities.
"I think I'm capable of a lot, but that's one of the great things; I don't really know how much, but I'm working to find out," Harrison said.
Her confidence comes from her work ethic, a valuable asset instilled in her from a young age.
"I knew I could do it; I was taught at a young age that with hard work you can have success," Harrison said. "I'm really glad and really grateful to be here today. I never thought I would be in this situation, to have a scholarship to a great school."
Just like her work ethic, her love of basketball came from her family.
"By the time I was born, I was living basketball," Harrison said. Largely, she looked up to her older sister Kara Harrison, the coach of her club team Utah Sky and a former Utah Valley State College basketball player.
"When she played, I never thought I could be as good as her, or even close to it," Harrison said. But, she wanted to work at it, to see how close she could come. Never did she think she would surpass her sister.
But before she ships off to Stanford, Harrison has one more thing to accomplish in Utah. Although she has played for two years with Mountain View, she has not won a state championship.
"I would trade everything right now to win state," Harrison said. "That's always been how I've felt; getting individual awards is great, but it's nothing like the feeling you get when you put in a whole year with the team and you win a championship."