Saint Paul, MN – Before Harding High School’s boys basketball team made history, before they punched their ticket to the state tournament for the first time ever, they built something even more important—a brotherhood.
“This team is a brotherhood,” said senior point guard Julius Terrell. “We pick each other up, on and off the court. We love each other. That’s a big reason why we’ve made it this far.”
Although the team did not advance after their Tuesday game against Mankato East, the legacy that these players built continues.
At the Williams Arena the game went in favor of Mankato East with 76 and Harding bringing in 33 but nothing can break the bond that these players built.
That bond has carried the Knights through every challenge this season, pushing them past doubts, struggles, and tough competition to earn their place in the state tournament. Tomorrow at 10 a.m., they’ll step onto the court at Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota, ready to fight for something even bigger than a win.
For Terrell, the journey to this moment hasn’t been easy. After transferring to Harding in his junior year from Community of Peace Academy, he had to prove himself. This season, he faced early setbacks, finding himself on the bench and questioning his confidence.
“At the start of the season, me and Coach Steve were a little rocky,” Terrell admitted. “I wasn’t starting, and I wasn’t mentally ready. But I took that as motivation to get better, to earn my spot back, and to play at the level I know I can.” That perseverance didn’t go unnoticed by head coach Steve Solaja, a former Harding player himself who understands what it takes to overcome adversity.
“For me, it’s his effort,” Solaja said. “We always joke that at 37, I can still run faster than him, but he’ll give you 150% every single time. There was a point earlier in the season where I thought he was done—he didn’t play a single minute in one game. But instead of giving up, he kept coming back. Then he had a breakout game, dropped 34 points, and from that moment, he just took off. His confidence came back, and now he’s playing some of his best basketball.”
That resilience isn’t just Terrell’s story—it’s Harding’s story. The team has overcome every obstacle together, holding each other accountable and embracing a mindset that has carried them to this historic moment.
“We’ve been very locked in,” Terrell said. “At first, we had some missing pieces, but Coach made changes. Now, we’re here as a team, as a family.”
And that family will get back together again for a game Wednesday 2 p.m. at Concordia University Gangelhoff Center to cement their place in this years State Tournament.
Comments