Rori Harmon: Texas Longhorns Basketball Icon

AUSTIN, Texas -- Following Texas' decisive 42-point victory over Oregon in the second round of the women's NCAA tournament on Sunday night, Longhorns coach Vic Schaefer addressed the nearly 9,000 fans in attendance.

This win marked Texas' 44th consecutive home game victory, setting a new school record. However, Schaefer's remarks were centered on a farewell to Rori Harmon, who played her final game in front of the home crowd.

"For five years I've come to the office and every day I've seen Rori Harmon," Schaefer stated. "There's not enough time out here today to talk about it. You just gotta know how special it's been."

The crowd erupted in applause for the 5-foot-6 point guard, chanting her name as she expressed gratitude, recalling her freshman season when the team played at the old Frank Erwin Center with a mere 2,000 fans in attendance.

This moment almost didn't occur. Harmon, a five-star recruit ranked among the nation's top ten prospects from Cypress Creek in the Houston area, initially considered committing to Baylor, coached by Kim Mulkey, while Schaefer was coaching at Mississippi State. After a conversation with her mother, Shemeya, Harmon decided to pause her decision.

Weeks later, following Schaefer's hiring at Texas on April 5, 2020, Harmon was drawn to the combination of Schaefer and Texas, committing just 19 days later. This decision represented a significant recruiting victory for Schaefer and a shift in the state's basketball dynamics. He encouraged Harmon to build a legacy at Texas, to which she responded, "Let me be the one at the bottom that can help the foundation."

Now, Harmon leaves as a Longhorns icon, having played a crucial role in the program's resurgence while fulfilling the demanding role of point guard in Schaefer's high-pressure system.

"Everything is your fault," said assistant coach Sydney Carter about the responsibilities of the point guard position. "Everything. She's wearing everyone's mistakes as her own."

Schaefer's expectations for Harmon were straightforward: run the offense, and if something goes wrong, it falls on her shoulders. He emphasized the importance of defense, stating, "If you're soft, the defense is soft," and Harmon has proven she is anything but soft.

"She picks your ass up at the city limits and she shows your butt the door when we're done playing," Schaefer remarked.

Harmon has surpassed expectations, breaking two longstanding Texas records to become the school's all-time leader in steals and assists. She has started 152 games, just two shy of the school record, and has played over 600 more career minutes than any other player in the program's history.

Her legacy is undeniable; she is the greatest point guard in Longhorns history and the only player in NCAA history to achieve at least 1,500 points, 900 assists, 600 rebounds, and 350 steals. Additionally, her presence has helped attract other superstars to the program, including Madison Booker, who scored 40 points against Oregon.

"I wanted to play with a good point guard, and that was Rori Harmon," Booker noted after the game.

With their sights set on capturing Texas' first national championship in 40 years, Harmon and her teammates are ready for the challenge ahead.

When Harmon arrived in Austin in 2021, she was young and small, earning the nickname "Fetus" from her teammates. Schaefer had aggressively recruited her, knowing she would meet his high expectations. From day one, he placed the responsibility of the team on her shoulders.

"I was an 18-year-old and all my teammates are like 22, 23, and you want me to be responsible for them?" Harmon recalled. "I just got here. I don't even know what I'm doing, and you want me to check other people?"

Schaefer expected her to embody his coaching philosophy on the court. If a player was out of position, it was Harmon who would be held accountable.

"He ain't going to yell at a Jordan Lee or a Booker because they weren't in their spot to start the offense," Carter explained. "He's going to say, 'Rori, why did you start an offense and they weren't there?' So Rori's got a defender who's up in her shorts, but she's got to be telling people where to go and then got to start the play."

As Harmon began her journey, Schaefer recognized he was demanding much from his freshman, but he offered no leniency. "I told her, 'Hey, if you don't want that responsibility, go play the two, but you ain't a two-guard," Schaefer said. "Late in the year, it got to be kind of funny. She'd look at me and go, 'I know, it's my fault.' That was part of the evolution in our relationship, her understanding that you're in charge, but you got to do it my way, not your way."

Harmon expressed her excitement for the Longhorns' NCAA Tournament journey in her final year. She earned accolades such as Big 12 Freshman of the Year, most outstanding player of the Big 12 tournament, and became the first Texas freshman to receive All-America honors as an honorable mention. In her sophomore year, she set a program record with an average of 7.4 assists and won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award.

By 2023, Harmon was recognized as the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. In a standout game against No. 11 UConn, she recorded 27 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds, securing Texas' first victory over the Huskies. Unfortunately, her season ended with a torn ACL during a shootaround before a matchup against Jackson State.

During her recovery, Harmon became a mentor to Booker, who took over the point guard role, gaining insight into Schaefer's expectations. Harmon noted, "I was able to see how he was treating Madison in that role. I understood, I got it. It's not necessarily that everything is your fault. It's about you taking responsibility and gaining control of your team."

Upon her return, Harmon demonstrated increased basketball IQ and continued to attract elite recruits with her personality. Carter praised her influence, saying, "She stacked them up. She's Thanos. She's got the Infinity Stones."

Booker, now a two-time All-American and this year's SEC tournament MVP, attributes her success to Harmon, stating, "I didn't realize what hard work was until I'd seen Rori Harmon in the gym every day before practice, after practice, getting shots up. People want to play defense because they see her play defense."