The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH her collegiate experience completed, Britenique Harrison is now focusing on her future as a professional basketball player.

The 23-year-old, nicknamed ‘Brit or Big Baby,’ graduated from Benedict College with a degree in accounting on Saturday night. She came out of her class as Magna Cum Laude, one of the highest honours given to students during graduation.

Harrison was the most outstanding student in the school of business. The dean of each school (school of business, school of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), school of humanities and social sciences) picks the top student from their school based on a portfolio the students create during the semester based on their achievements and academic accomplishments, as well as service in the community.

“I won the award at our graduation baccalaureate service on December 6 out of the five schools we have,” Harrison said. “They picked the top student to win the most outstanding senior award for the entire graduating class. We were all acknowledged at graduation. I didn’t win overall, but I still won for my department.”

In addition to her academics, Harrison also had a great athletic tenure.

“Last year we lost in the championship game after we won the championship the first year I was there,” Harrison said. “I didn’t play this year because my eligibility was done. I served as a student assistant as I continued my studies. It was a great experience for me.”

And although she was a fixture on the St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine when they won titles in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools, Harrison said it was a totally different feeling being on a collegiate championship team as she played a pivotal role in the middle for the Tigers.

“It was really exciting to win the conference championship,” said the six-foot, four-inch centre, who made the All-Conference team.

As for her studies, Harrison said she was careful to make sure that she “managed my time.”

With the collegiate experience behind her, Harrison said she’s just waiting on the call from her agent as to where she will end up playing on the European circuit.

“I was supposed to go in January, but I haven’t been working out like I should have, so I think I will wait until October,” Harrison said. “I just need some time to work, so I will be playing here with the (Bommer G) Lady Operators (in the New Providence Women’s Basketball Association).

“But I’m looking forward to going to Europe and playing for at least two years to get the experience and the exposure. Then I will concentrate on my career as an accountant. I just want to know that I gave basketball a shot at the professional level. So I will wait to see what my agent comes up with.”

If she has her wish, Harrison said she would prefer to either go to Spain or Italy. “My agent had a team that needed me in October and November, but I was trying to finish off school, so I couldn’t accept it then,” she said. “I went to school to get my degree and play basketball, but my priority was to get my degree. Basketball will also be there, so I’m happy with the decision that I made.”

And if she is home when the Bahamas Basketball Federation takes its women’s national team to Mexico during the summer, Harrison said she would definitely like to suit up and make her contribution.

Harrison is the daughter of Monique and Ethelbert Harrison. Her brother Ethelbert Jr is currently attending Niagara College in Canada where he is studying electrical/electronic manufacturing. But unfortunately, he is not following his big sister’s footsteps playing basketball due to an injury that he sustained during his final year at St Augustine’s College.