:Harrison Rieger
{{Short description|American basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Harrison Rieger
| image =
| caption =
| position = Shooting guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 195
| team = Brujos Izalca
| number =
| league = Liga Superior de Baloncesto de El Salvador
| nationality = American
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|5}}
| birth_place =
| high_school = Moorestown
(Moorestown, New Jersey)
| college = Camden CC (2017–2018)
| draft_year =
| draft_round =
| draft_pick =
| draft_team =
| career_start = 2018
| career_end =
| years1 = 2018
| team1 = Chicago Ballers
| years2 = 2019–2020
| team2 = Halcones de Sonzacate
| years3 = 2020–2021
| team3 = Juayua
| years4 = 2021–present
| team4 = Brujos Izalca
| highlights =
| medal_templates =
}}
Harrison Joseph Rieger (born October 5, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Brujos Izalca of the Liga Superior de Baloncesto de El Salvador. He competed for Moorestown High School and Camden County College. In 2018, he joined the Chicago Ballers of the Junior Basketball Association
High school career
Rieger played for Moorestown High School in his hometown of Moorestown, New Jersey, where he was coached by Shawn Anstey. He played alongside his twin brother Hunter, who was more of a track athlete. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Harrison is "a clever player with a good outside shot and knack for getting to the rim."{{cite news |last1=Anastasia |first1=Phil |title=Rieger twins do it all for Moorestown basketball |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/high_school/20170105_Rieger_twins_do_it_all_for_Moorestown_basketball.html |accessdate=June 26, 2018 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 4, 2017}} As a senior, he averaged 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Rieger was named to the First Team All Liberty Division and Second Team All Group as a senior.{{cite web |title=Harrison Rieger |url=http://jbaleague.com/player/harrison-rieger/ |website=Junior Basketball Association |accessdate=June 26, 2018}} He was selected the West's MVP in the Al Carino All-Star Boys Basketball Game.{{cite news |last1=Santoliquito |first1=Joe |title=Ja'Zere Noel of Woodbury leads West to victory in Al Carino All-Star Boys Basketball Game |url=http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-6147557196645771303/jazere-noel-of-woodstown-leads-west-to-victory-in-al-carino-all-star-boys-basketball-game/ |accessdate=June 26, 2018 |work=NJ.com |date=March 26, 2017}} He was an Honorable Mention All-South Jersey selection by the Philadelphia Inquirer.{{cite news |last1=Anastasia |first1=Phil |title=All-South Jersey boys' basketball team |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/high_school/20170318_All-South_Jersey_boys__basketball_team.html |accessdate=June 26, 2018 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 17, 2017}}
College career
In his freshman season of college, Rieger played at Camden County College competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).{{cite web |title=Harrison Rieger |url=http://njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div3/players/harrisonreigerfwm6 |website=National Junior College Athletic Association |accessdate=June 26, 2018}} Rieger scored a career-high 19 points in his second game on November 4, 2017, a 93–84 win against Passaic County Community College.{{cite web |title=Camden County at Passaic County Box Score |url=http://njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div3/boxscores/20171104_ndyz.xml?view=boxscore |website=National Junior College Athletic Association |accessdate=June 26, 2018}} He matched his career-high with 19 points in a 75–61 win against Sussex County Community College on November 18, 2017.{{cite web |title=Sussex County at Camden County Box Score |url=http://njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2017-18/div3/boxscores/20171118_0ptq.xml?view=boxscore |website=National Junior College Athletic Association |accessdate=June 26, 2018}} On the season, Rieger averaged 11.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field.
Professional career
In May 2018 it was announced that Rieger would join the Chicago Ballers of the Junior Basketball Association (JBA). He joined the team after trying out in Philadelphia, intrigued by the promise of the new league. Rieger averaged 19 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in his first season for Chicago.{{cite web |title=Harrison Rieger signs with Halcones de Sonzacate |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/harrison-rieger-signs-with-halcones-de-sonzacate/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=January 2, 2020 |date=February 16, 2019}} In September 2018, Rieger was named to the JBA's USA Select team as one of the top 13 players in the league.{{cite news |last1=Rivas |first1=Christian |title=JBA announces international season opener, 13-man roster |url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/09/12/lavar-ball-news-jba-international-season-liangelo-lamelo-big-baller-brand/ |accessdate=January 2, 2020 |work=Lonzo Wire |date=September 12, 2018}} The team played exhibition matches throughout Europe, which Rieger greatly enjoyed. During a stop in Poland, Rieger dunked over JBA founder LaVar Ball.{{cite news |last1=Rude |first1=Jacob |title=WATCH: JBA USA player dunks over LaVar Ball on international tour |url=https://lonzowire.usatoday.com/2018/10/20/watch-jba-usa-player-dunk-over-lavar-ball-harrison-rieger-big-baller-brand/ |accessdate=January 2, 2020 |work=Lonzo Wire |date=October 20, 2018}}
On February 16, 2019, he signed with Halcones de Sonzacate of the El Salvador league. Rieger was the youngest American in the league and remarked that the league was more physical than he was used to, but he managed to post 16 points and 8 rebounds per game.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=John |title=Harrison Rieger chasing his global hoop dreams |url=https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/sports/20190806/harrison-rieger-chasing-his-global-hoop-dreams |accessdate=January 2, 2020 |work=Burlington County Times |date=August 6, 2019}} He was named to the first-team All-League.{{cite web |title=Latinbasket.com All-El Salvador Liga Superior Clausura Awards 2019 |url=https://www.latinbasket.com/El-Salvador/basketball-Liga-Superior_2019.aspx |website=Latinbasket |accessdate=January 2, 2020}} For his second season, Rieger joined Juayua in El Salvador. He averaged 21.9 points and 14.7 rebounds per game and made 31 three-pointers in 18 games. In early March 2020, he hyperextended his knee in a pickup game, resulting in a partial tear.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=John |title=Injury and coronavirus leave Moorestown's Rieger contemplating next step |url=https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/sports/20200419/injury-and-coronavirus-leave-moorestowns-rieger-contemplating-next-step |accessdate=May 4, 2020 |work=Burlington County Times |date=April 19, 2020}} In 2021, Rieger joined Brujos Izalca of the El Salvador league.{{cite web |title=Liga MB Round 12: Brujos defeat Santa Tecla |url=https://www.latinbasket.com/El-Salvador/news/683395/Liga-MB-Round-12:-Brujos-defeat-Santa-Tecla |website=Latinbasket |access-date=October 26, 2021 |date=May 10, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rieger, Harrison}}
Category:Basketball players from Burlington County, New Jersey
Category:Camden County College alumni
Category:Moorestown High School alumni
Category:Sportspeople from Moorestown, New Jersey
Category:Junior college men's basketball players in the United States
Category:Junior Basketball Association players
Category:American expatriate basketball people in El Salvador