REIDSVILLE, N.C. — When the news broke in early August that 5-star Tight End, junior Kendre Harrison was leaving Reidsville Senior High School. It felt like the entire athletic landscape of the state of North Carolina was turned upside down.
Harrison had just helped lead the Rams to win two 2A State Titles (football and basketball) in just his sophomore year and was also named the 2024 MaxPreps Male National Athlete of the Year, beating out names like current Duke Freshman Cooper Flagg and many other accomplished and highly harrowed older athletes.
However, after starting his Junior year, Harrions enrolled at Providence Day School down in Charlotte to take on a new challenge. But, after just three weeks, Harrison felt it was time to return home, to be back with his family and friends in the Football Capital of North Carolina.
"I feel like I had some unfinished business at Reidsville I had to take care of so I had to come back, finish off my legacy I'm trying to build. Become a legend in the city, a hometown hero, you know with my best friend (fellow Reidsville 2-sport star, Dionte Neal)" Harrison told us.
In the City of Reidsville, the legend of Kendre Harrison is already larger than his 6'7", 240lb frame.
So, after his first official practice back with the Rams here in 2024, we asked Kendre what else he had left to accomplish at Reidsville Senior High School, and he had this to say.
"That's easy, I want to win Gatorade Player of the Year in both sports, I want to be the first to ever do that. I want to be the first McDonald's All-American here at Reidsville. I want to be the first Under-Armor All-American here, want to be the first everything. When people think about Reidsville. I want them to think about Kendre Harrison" Harrison told us.
Those may seem like lofty goals, but none of them are unobtainable for Harrison. However, the accolades and notoriety are far from the number one reason Harrison knew he had to come back home.
"The number one thing, well I'd probably say was the relationships. I grew up with everyone here; those relationships were the main thing. I just felt like something was missing on those Friday Nights. It didn't feel the same, the relationships I built at PDS are great, the kids are great, and I built a lot of friendships that will last forever there, but running out on the field there. I didn't get the same feeling as I do running out with my team here. So I had to do what makes me happy", Harrison went on to say.
After playing just three games with Providence Day, Harrison is back enrolled at Reidsville Senior High School and has been declared eligible to join the Rams effective immediately.
We asked Harrison, how it felt to be back on the field with his childhood friends, and he had this to say.
"I feel the old me coming back out. The Kendre Harrison that you see throwing kids around. I feel like at PD I was showing these things, but I felt like I wasn't being me on the football field and I feel like this coming Friday you guys will get to see what Kendre Harrison really can do".
The City of Reidsville is ecstatic to have its star back, however, the reaction online has been mixed.
"You know I see people talking on FB and social media, saying this and that. I don't really listen to that, all I can do is go out there. Have fun with my friends on Friday nights and do my thing", Harris said, "Me personally, I don't think there's a place like Reidsville on Friday Nights. I can go anywhere, any state. I feel like there won't be as much love and no one is as loyal to football as they are here in Reidsville".
This Friday, Harrison will make his 2024 debut with the Rams at home, as they take on North Forsyth, and if you want to hear more from Harrison you'll be able to do so in our 4-part docu-series 'Heart of the City: Reidsville Rams', streaming exclusively on WFMY+.
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