Matured Mindset has Aided N’Keal Harry in Taking the Next Step

It has been a year full of change for Chandler High School junior wide receiver N’Keal Harry. 

After attending Marcos de Niza for the first two years of his high school career, he transferred to Chandler last spring joining a football team loaded with talent and a great core of offensive players returning. 

The change could have been an adjustment for him on the football field, but it went a lot smoother than he expected.

“I’ve known Chase (Lucas) my whole life,” Harry told Sports360AZ.com. “We actually grew up together. He introduced me to all the players such as Bryce (Perkins), (Justin) Jan and all the other players. We just started clicking right away. Bryce and I developed a great chemistry early on in practice and after a while, it just started to become second nature.”

The mention of those three players just scratches the surface of the amount of talent and athleticism that the Wolves possess this season. Harry along with Jan, Danny Mahan, Kolby Taylor and more make up the deepest and most talented wide receiving core in Arizona. The talent stems to the defensive side of the ball which has made for great competition in practice allowing Harry to take the next step with his game this season.

“Our corners do a great job of pushing us as well as our linebackers,” Harry explained. “We definitely have good competition in practice with the seven-on-seven.”

The 2014 season has also seen Harry take his game to another level because of the size, speed and agility he has added as well. It is the result of work he has taken seriously both on and off the field.

“I’ve had to mature a little bit,” said Harry. “I have had to sacrifice some of the extra time I had to train and run a few extra routes, catch some extra balls after practice and it has really helped me develop my game.”

This week, Harry received his first scholarship offer from the in-state Arizona State Sun Devils. Before the offer, Harry by people who’ve watched him play have compared him to the likes of Sun Devil receiver Jaelen Strong based on his size paired with his leaping ability. 

“I am looking for a school with a good academic program,” added about what he is looking for in a program at the next level. “During my junior year I have done a lot of growing up and really want to take my academics to a new level.”

In addition to the offer from ASU, he says he has received interest from other schools of late which include Oregon, Oklahoma, UCLA and Utah State. He has the physical make-up and ability where that one offer could turn into double digit offers very quickly.