On Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, Cheltenham seniors Zahree Harrison and Jaelen McGlone were recognized for signing letters of intent to play basketball at the Division I level. Check back for photos of the signing event.
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“For us, this is the first time since our start that we’ve had two guys in the same class sign to a Division I school, so for us, it’s an amazing feat,” coach Patrick Fleury said. “It’s something we want to celebrate, and it’s a testament to the work that they’ve put in. To finally come in and be the first duo to have no college debt - which to me is very special because it’s a team kind of accomplishment. Everybody’s dream is to play in the NBA, and now that they’re both going Division I, they’re literally one or two steps away from that dream. It will be amazing to see both of them realize that dream.
“I always said about both of them, and this is cliché but it’s true – they’re better people than they are athletes. For me, seeing both of them grow up from ninth grade to 12th - obviously, they’re very different from when I saw them in ninth grade. Just in age, they were much more impressionable when they were younger. Now, as young men, they have a real idea just what their value is to their families and those people around them who depend on them. I’ve seen them mature, and you could see the semblance of what type men they will be in their lives.
“As players, talented is pretty much what I could say. They’re both guards – (Zahree) is more of a point guard - the natural, quintessential type of guard you have at point guard, and J is like a combo guard where he can do some of the things, but just because of the nature of positions and how they play, he is able to guard a lot of the positions. They work extremely hard. A lot of their weaknesses have become their strengths over a period of time.
“This year along with their class of 2020, we’re going to depend on them to lead and facilitate the success. The seniors lead the team. Obviously, I’m a part of it, but with 6-7 of them this year, they’ll be the guys we’ll look to to lead our team. For me as a coach, this is my second year, and it’s been a blessing to just be around them through good and bad. The tough times have allowed us to grow.
“Beyond basketball and the successes of it, for me, this is kind of an emotional time because this is the first class, whether jayvee or varsity, I’ve seen all the way through – from the time they went to Cedarbrook, winning their division title all the way to now leading the way as two members of a special class to have early signings.”
Zahree Harrison – Saint Francis University (Basketball)
Major: Communications
Final list of colleges: Saint Francis, Mississippi State Valley, Hampton University, Colgate, Lafayette, Boston University
Reasons for choosing St. Francis: “I chose St. Francis because, when I went on my visit, I liked the vibe the coach gave me. He was very honest, and he believed in me from the beginning, so I thought that was the best choice. On my visit, I felt at home, and the teammates really embraced me, so I felt that’s where I should be.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “I feel like it became a reality my ninth grade year. My main goal when I first started playing at a young age – every kid wants to play in the NBA, but first, there are steps you have to take to get there. I have a list of goals I set out for myself at a young age. One of them was to be a jayvee or varsity basketball player. Then I got to do that, and college – it was Division I. I didn’t want to do anything else, so I worked myself up to get to that point, and it’s finally here.”
Coach Patrick Fleury says: “I remember seeing Zahree when he was like 11 years old with his dad doing a track workout in the summer. He was always pretty much locked in, and he always knew what he wanted to do. At that young age, it’s hard to know how you’re going to do it unless you have a support system, and his dad and family have been that to him, transitioning all the way to high school where now we see the culmination of the hard work and years of dedication for both of them.
“Zahree can be serious and he’s more even keeled. You can catch him in a serious moment, and he’ll be very into whatever task it might be. Whether it be a game or whatever, his intensity will be up. He has that playful side as well.
About Zahree:
Favorite food: Chicken & Shrimp Alfredo
Favorite movie: He Got Game
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite music: No Cap
Jaelen McGlone – Rider University (Basketball)
Major: Sports Marketing
Final list of colleges: Rider, Sienna, Mount St. Mary’s, La Salle
Reasons for choosing Rider: “Rider was close to home, and they were the first ones to call me. All the other schools texted me, but they 
called me and had a conversation with my parents. When I went up there, it just felt good. I knew most of the people on their team – I played with most of them.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in basketball at the collegiate level? “It was kind of tough. I didn’t play that much in ninth or 10th grade. It was last year that I played the most. I didn’t really have that much confidence until 10th grade going into 11th. Then I got it from 11th going into 12th.
“I was playing at one of the live periods for high school at Jefferson University, and Rider saw me play and called me after the game.”
Coach Patrick Fleury says: “Jaelen’s process was a little bit different than Zahree’s. Jaelen was here in ninth grade and was swinging back and forth from varsity to jayvee, so he’s always been one of those kids where you could always see there was more to him than was being shown. In the last two years, he’s come into his own. It’s a testament to what he’s done, and that’s why he’s going to school for free.
“Jaelen is the more playful guy. If you’re having a bad day, he’s a person you want to see first. If you’re in a serious moment, he’s probably the last person you’d want to see, but it’s all good-natured. It’s not a malicious thing at all. He’s just a very playful person. In terms of the setting or room, he’s the kid that makes people laugh.
About Jaelen:
Favorite food: Chicken
Favorite movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds
Favorite music: Gunna
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