Harris, Strong Join Men's Basketball Program
May 10, 2023 | Men's Basketball
Eagles add veteran guard and highly touted newcomer to 2023-24 roster
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Claudell Harris Jr. and Elijah Strong have committed to Boston College to continue their academic and athletic careers as members of the men's basketball program.
"We are extremely excited that these two outstanding young men will be joining our BC family," said Clement and Elizabeth Izzi Family Head Men's Basketball Coach Earl Grant. "They believe in our vision for the program and we believe they are great fits for our culture."
Harris and Strong join a four-player class of newcomers that includes Fred Payne and Jayden Hastings, who committed to Boston College during the fall 2022 signing period.
Claudell Harris Jr. - Guard - 6-3 - Hahnville, La. / Hahnville
A transfer from Charleston Southern, Harris was a 2022-23 All-Big South Second Team performer. He averaged 17.5 points per game - second-best in the Big South - while also finishing among the league leaders in field goal percentage (.473) and free throw percentage (.796) during the regular season.
Harris scored in double figures in 28 of 30 games for the Buccaneers - including two consecutive 30-point performances. On Jan. 11, he poured in a career-high 34 points, making 13-of-18 shots from the floor (6-9 3FG) to go with seven rebounds and four assists in a win over High Point. The following game, he led all scorers with 31 points at Radford on Jan. 14.
This past season, Harris - nicknamed MJ - scored at least 20 points on 14 occasions and also connected on three or more 3-pointers in 14 of CSU's 30 contests. Harris spent two seasons at Charleston Southern and was named to the 2021-22 Big South All-Freshman Team, averaging 10.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 31 games played (14 starts).
In 61 career games, Harris has scored 840 points (13.8 ppg) and has connected on 111 3-point field goals. He will have two seasons of eligibility with the Eagles.
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Earl Grant on Claudell Harris Jr.:Â "We are excited to have MJ Harris join our program. He brings great length, athleticism and a scoring knack to our program," Grant said. "He is wired to score and does it at all three levels. He has great speed and is good at creating his own shot. We look forward to getting him to campus this summer as he starts his BC journey."
Harris on Boston College: "There were a lot of schools calling, a lot of schools contacting me, but I took the BC visit first because I built the best relationship with the coaching staff - Coach Grant, especially. And honestly, it just felt right. I trust them. I trust what they've got going on. And I love the culture. And so I feel like I made the right decision."Â
Elijah Strong - 6-8 - 240 - Charlotte, N.C. / Myers Park
A three-star prospect by 247sports.com, Strong helped lead Myers Park to the 2023 NCHSAA 4A Championship, downing Richmond Senior, 74-60, while scoring 22 points and corralling seven boards en route to being named the Most Outstanding Player.
Strong was a key contributor for the 28-4 Mustangs, which finished the season ranked No. 21 in the MaxPreps national Top 25 poll. A versatile post player, Strong he averaged 15.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, connecting on nearly 64% from the floor as a senior. Â
He was selected to play in the 2023 Carolinas Classic - which features the top players from North and South Carolina - and tallied 14 points. He was named to 2022-23 All-Observer first team, as selected by the Charlotte Observer.
As a junior, Strong averaged 17.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, earning conference Player of the Year accolades.  He originally committed to Wofford during the fall signing period in 2022.
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Earl Grant on Elijah Strong: "We are thrilled to add Elijah to our program. He brings a lot of versatility to our front line with his skill set. He has a great feel for finishing in the low post with both hands," said Grant. "His feel for passing and his ability to shoot will allow him to play inside and out. He is a very passionate player and his energy is contagious. We are excited for him to start his journey in Boston this summer and beyond."
Strong on Boston College: I saw myself being in a Boston College jersey and I feel like Coach Grant made it clear he would love to have me. I meshed with the guys on my visit - I was like, 'I could see myself being around these people, pretty much every day of my life.'"
Boston College season tickets for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Full season packages start as low as $99 for adults, $50 for children, and are available at all price levels, including the lower bowl. For more information on tickets, please contact the Boston College Athletics box office at (617) 552-GOBC or visit BCEagles.com.
For the latest news and updates regarding Boston College men's basketball, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram using the @BCMBB handle.
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"We are extremely excited that these two outstanding young men will be joining our BC family," said Clement and Elizabeth Izzi Family Head Men's Basketball Coach Earl Grant. "They believe in our vision for the program and we believe they are great fits for our culture."
Harris and Strong join a four-player class of newcomers that includes Fred Payne and Jayden Hastings, who committed to Boston College during the fall 2022 signing period.
Claudell Harris Jr. - Guard - 6-3 - Hahnville, La. / Hahnville
A transfer from Charleston Southern, Harris was a 2022-23 All-Big South Second Team performer. He averaged 17.5 points per game - second-best in the Big South - while also finishing among the league leaders in field goal percentage (.473) and free throw percentage (.796) during the regular season.
Harris scored in double figures in 28 of 30 games for the Buccaneers - including two consecutive 30-point performances. On Jan. 11, he poured in a career-high 34 points, making 13-of-18 shots from the floor (6-9 3FG) to go with seven rebounds and four assists in a win over High Point. The following game, he led all scorers with 31 points at Radford on Jan. 14.
This past season, Harris - nicknamed MJ - scored at least 20 points on 14 occasions and also connected on three or more 3-pointers in 14 of CSU's 30 contests. Harris spent two seasons at Charleston Southern and was named to the 2021-22 Big South All-Freshman Team, averaging 10.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 31 games played (14 starts).
In 61 career games, Harris has scored 840 points (13.8 ppg) and has connected on 111 3-point field goals. He will have two seasons of eligibility with the Eagles.
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Earl Grant on Claudell Harris Jr.:Â "We are excited to have MJ Harris join our program. He brings great length, athleticism and a scoring knack to our program," Grant said. "He is wired to score and does it at all three levels. He has great speed and is good at creating his own shot. We look forward to getting him to campus this summer as he starts his BC journey."
Harris on Boston College: "There were a lot of schools calling, a lot of schools contacting me, but I took the BC visit first because I built the best relationship with the coaching staff - Coach Grant, especially. And honestly, it just felt right. I trust them. I trust what they've got going on. And I love the culture. And so I feel like I made the right decision."Â
Elijah Strong - 6-8 - 240 - Charlotte, N.C. / Myers Park
A three-star prospect by 247sports.com, Strong helped lead Myers Park to the 2023 NCHSAA 4A Championship, downing Richmond Senior, 74-60, while scoring 22 points and corralling seven boards en route to being named the Most Outstanding Player.
Strong was a key contributor for the 28-4 Mustangs, which finished the season ranked No. 21 in the MaxPreps national Top 25 poll. A versatile post player, Strong he averaged 15.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, connecting on nearly 64% from the floor as a senior. Â
He was selected to play in the 2023 Carolinas Classic - which features the top players from North and South Carolina - and tallied 14 points. He was named to 2022-23 All-Observer first team, as selected by the Charlotte Observer.
As a junior, Strong averaged 17.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, earning conference Player of the Year accolades.  He originally committed to Wofford during the fall signing period in 2022.
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Earl Grant on Elijah Strong: "We are thrilled to add Elijah to our program. He brings a lot of versatility to our front line with his skill set. He has a great feel for finishing in the low post with both hands," said Grant. "His feel for passing and his ability to shoot will allow him to play inside and out. He is a very passionate player and his energy is contagious. We are excited for him to start his journey in Boston this summer and beyond."
Strong on Boston College: I saw myself being in a Boston College jersey and I feel like Coach Grant made it clear he would love to have me. I meshed with the guys on my visit - I was like, 'I could see myself being around these people, pretty much every day of my life.'"
Boston College season tickets for the upcoming 2023-24 season. Full season packages start as low as $99 for adults, $50 for children, and are available at all price levels, including the lower bowl. For more information on tickets, please contact the Boston College Athletics box office at (617) 552-GOBC or visit BCEagles.com.
For the latest news and updates regarding Boston College men's basketball, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram using the @BCMBB handle.
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