Mission’s Niamey Harris a football standout, too

There are two players named Harris on the Metro Player of the Year watch list and who are considered by 247Sports.com to be among the state’s top juniors.

At the top of both lists is Antioch running back Najee Harris, which is no surprise considering he’s already committed to Alabama.

The other — Mission quarterback and strong safety Niamey Harris (no relation) — is a bit of a shock considering where he plays and the fact that football isn’t even his best sport.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder loves basketball and was a first-team All-Academic Athletic Association player as a sophomore when he averaged 14.9 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds for the Bears, who were 27-7 and won two Northern California Division III playoff games.

Harris had 29 points in the San Francisco Section title game, a 92-88 win over Washington that gave Mission its third championship in four years.

“He’s a very talented basketball player, but he obviously stands out on the football field, too,” Mission football coach Joe Albano said.

The AAA isn’t among the region’s most competitive leagues, but there’s no questioning Harris’ athleticism and productivity.

Despite missing the fourth quarter with a concussion, Harris ran for three touchdowns and threw for two in Mission’s most competitive AAA game, a 42-26 win over Lincoln on Oct. 2.

Though he’s not a natural quarterback, Harris “looks good dropping back,” Albano said.

[...] he can throw it 70 yards.

Harris was the AAA’s Defensive Back of the Year last season, when he also played linebacker and defensive end.