LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State head men's basketball coach Paul Weir announced the addition of A.J. Harris, a freshman transfer from Ohio State. Harris will sit out the 2016-17 due to the NCAA transfer rule.
 
"A.J. may be one of the more heralded guards we have ever signed here," Weir said. "For him to choose New Mexico State says a lot about our program and his belief in where we are headed. His profile fits exactly where our model is headed on several levels. He will push Ian [Baker] every single day to serve us this year and then next year potentially be a tremendous replacement."
 
Harris, a 5-9 guard, was a four-star recruit coming out of high school according to ESPN, Rivals and 24/7Sports. He was also ranked No. 14 in his position, 16th in his region and fourth in the state of Ohio according to ESPN – as well the No. 80 recruit in the nation.
 
The Dayton, Ohio, product scored a season-high 11 points at Purdue on 3-of-4 shooting and went 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Harris made his first-career start the following game against Penn State at home, scoring four points with four assists and two boards in 20 minutes of action.
 
Harris pulled down a season-high five rebounds against Illinois in the Big Ten opener and dished out a season-high seven assists at Rutgers. He recorded multiple assists in eight of the 18 conference games.
 
Harris was also a stout prep player for Dunbar High School, averaging 19.3 points, 5.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals in 18 games as a senior. He also reached the 20-point mark 10 times during his senior campaign.  He was also a 2015 McDonald's All-America nominee at the end of his senior year.
 
As a junior, he averaged 14.5 points, 6.1 assists and 2.9 steals while leading DHS to a 23-4 overall record – including an Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II playoff appearance. Harris garnered Division II Second-Team All-Ohio and First-Team All-Southwest District Selection by the Associated Press.
 
In his first year with the Wolverines, Harris helped lead Dunbar High School to an undefeated season and state championship.