By: Kevin Moses
Ryder Harbaugh
Twitter: @harbaugh_ryder
Height: 5’11, 150
Class of 2025
School: Legacy Christian High School, KYÂ
Harbaugh is one of the purest point guards out there. With an incredible IQ is a pass-first facilitator, always looking for the open man and best shot. Ryder will always look to impact the game in any way that is needed to get that win. An effective scorer in his rite. Ryder is crafty and can score on all three levels. He uses his speed and IQ off the bounce to create havoc from the point guard position. He is electric when attacking the rim. Ryder can make some dazzling passes even on the move with fuel and ignites this team. His speed serves him well on the defensive side of the ball, as he is so scrappy and can turn defense into offense quickly. Ryder plays with a chip on his shoulder defensively and takes it personally when someone scores on him. determined to get the stop or the steal when they come again. That attitude has earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors for his first two years at this school. Ryder usually will defend the best player on the other team.
In the AAU session while playing for the KY Supreme, he was a consistent standout; you simply couldn’t ignore that energy, hustle, and scrappy defense. Ryder averaged 6 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals with a 10-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. It was good enough to get selected for the Pangos All-EuroCamp in Italy. Ryder’s biggest improvements were strength and conditioning. He increased his bench press by almost 100lbs in the summer. That changed his craft from that training so much so Ryder was named to the National Strength and Conditioning Association as an All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the year 2022-2023. Another improvement is learning a system and play style that fits his style of play from a new coach who knows a winning formula that the entire team loves. None of them care much about padding their stats but making the right plays to get the win. Ryder’s goals entering the season were simple, he wanted to do something to get better every day, and help his team win the state championship. To this point, he is averaging 6 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals while being the primary point guard and team’s top defender with a 5-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
What coaches should know is Ryder’s passion and drive to excel on defense and be the perfect facilitator making the right game-winning plays is what sets Ryder apart. His unselfish approach focuses on impacting the game through team concept and laying it all on the line with his team is huge. Ryder is going to bring an extremely high motor and incredible IQ. Being a dual sport athlete, track and cross country, fuels that energy and gives him the confidence needed to excel. Due to his XC conditioning, it was normal for Ryder to run 5-7 miles before basketball practice. Already with D2-D3 interest for basketball and D1 interest for Track and XC Ryder knows his future is shaping up nicely but his main focus is on his academics and that will play a huge factor in the college he chooses. In the classroom, Ryan excels incredibly well. As a 1st Team ANational High School Coaches Association Academic All-American. Regardless of division level will consider any level that will help him meet his goals and aspirations to succeed and have the best opportunities in life through both athletics and academics. .Ryan believes you should value and appreciate any offers you are blessed enough to receive. Clearly, this well-rounded kid understands he is setting the stage for his entire future even beyond his days of playing sports, and success in life is surely coming his way in both arenas.