Man HS senior Jeremiah Harless grabs record 45 rebounds in a game
MAN, W.Va. (BVM) 鈥� Jeremiah Harless had a performance for the ages when he took the court for the Man High School Hillbillies when they played against Parkersburg Catholic on Jan. 8. That day, the 6-foot-5 senior would grab a whopping 45 rebounds while also recording 26 points, seven assists and four blocks for good measure. The 45 rebounds surpassed the previous state record for rebounds in a game, which was 32, and was more rebounds than the other team had points in the 101-42 win.
鈥淚 started off the first quarter really well; I think I had 15 in the first and I could tell that I had the size advantage on the other team and it really hit me that I could finish this game strong,鈥� Harless said. 鈥淚 really didn鈥檛 have any idea I was close to the record or anything but I could tell I was getting multiple rebounds. It was definitely a confidence booster鈥t definitely helped me out and showed me what I could do.鈥�
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— Jeremiah Harless (@HarlessJeremiah)
Following the action, word of Harless鈥檚 performance spread and he got a lot of attention from people across the area.
鈥淚t was definitely an honor to beat the record,鈥� Harless said. 鈥淚 had a lot of support from teams, coaches, family, everyone in town. It was a good feeling to have.鈥�
Being one of the older children of his family, Harless won鈥檛 let the younger generations forget his performance on the court.
鈥淲e have a lot of youth in the family and I鈥檝e been aggravating them about it and with the previous sports players I鈥檝e been rubbing it in their face too as a joke,鈥� Harless said.
Though the game will be one that Harless won鈥檛 soon forget, it鈥檚 not the only memory he hopes to make this season. A year ago, Harless helped the Hillbillies to the first state title in program history when they beat Pendleton County 43-36.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no greater feeling at all,鈥� Harless said. 鈥淚鈥檝e played sports my whole life, I鈥檝e won several big games, but winning that state championship and bringing it back to man, there鈥檚 nothing to compare to that.鈥�
That season was a comeback of the ages for a program that was once at the bottom of not just their class, but perhaps the entire state. In 2016, the Hillbillies program bottomed out, going 0-22 during the season. To not record a win to winning a state championship is something that cannot be discounted for this team as success does tend to have a cumulative effect on the culture of a team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely just trusting the process, trusting our coaches and everything he says,鈥� Harless said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a great coach and if we just continue to follow him and listen to him I think we will be very successful.鈥�
However, that Man squad was completely different from this one. Four of the team鈥檚 five starters are now gone and two key contributors also left. The lone returning starter is senior Caleb Blevins, an all-state player and the son of the team鈥檚 head coach. Harless was only a junior on last year鈥檚 team and a solid bench contributor, but this year he鈥檚 a full-time starter and is looked at for leadership for a squad that is in unknown territory as a defending champion.
鈥淸We鈥檙e] definitely going to continue to work hard and play the ball we know we can play,鈥� Harless said. 鈥淛ust keep clicking on all cylinders and continue to hustle and do all the little things right.鈥�
So far this season, Harless and the rest of the Hillbillies are living up to their billing. Currently, Man sits with an 8-2 record and are ranked as the No. 4 team in the Class A by the Associated Press. Though they are behind teams like James Monroe and St. Joseph, they are only one of two teams in the Class A to receive first place votes along with current No. 1 team Greater Beckley Christian.
For Harless, he wants this season to go beyond just his one standout performance. In his final year at Man, the senior wants to leave a legacy that people will remember long after he鈥檚 gone. While a name in the record book is nice, being a part of the program鈥檚 first two titles is something even sweeter.
鈥淟ike I said, there鈥檚 no better feeling so to do it twice I鈥檓 not even sure how to put that into words,鈥� Harless said. 鈥淚t would be a dream come true most definitely.鈥�
With plenty of games left before playoff time, the Man Hillbillies are in a good position to make a run for a title defense. While it won鈥檛 get any easier, to have a senior presence like Harless who can stuff the stat sheet when needed is perfect for a program looking to go back-to-back. Though Hillbillies fans may never see a performance like Harless鈥檚 45 rebound-game again any time soon, they hope that his name and his team are not forgotten to history as state champions once more.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just going to try to stay on the same page and be as successful as we were last year,鈥� Harless said. 鈥淚 definitely think we can do it, we just have to prove it to the other people. Continue to practice hard and play the basketball that we鈥檙e known to play.鈥�
