Athlete of the week: Conor Harkins ’21

November 30, 2017

The Men’s Basketball team started off this season hot, with a high-scoring 111-89 win over Hood College. Freshman Guard Conor Harkins from Greenwich, Conn. made a big arrival on to the collegiate basketball scene in his first career game, sinking nine three-point shots and scoring 27 points to lead the Garnet in scoring. The Garnet are now 4-0 and ranked 12th nationally, and will play their conference home opener tonight against Muhlenberg College in Tarble Pavilion.

Jack Corkery: What is your intended major, and what made you choose it?

Conor Harkins: I’m not entirely sure yet, but I am leaning towards majoring in economics. I have always been interested in the areas of business and finance and feel that an economics major would best capture that together.

Sample advertisement

JC: How did you decide to attend Swarthmore College?

CH: There were a lot of factors that went into making me choose Swarthmore. The biggest thing that I saw in Swarthmore were the endless opportunities. Between the top-notch academics and a talented basketball team, Swarthmore seemed like the perfect fit for me. Additionally, on my visits here all of the players and coaches and even other students I met were all nice and fun to hang out with. It was also a great location, being just over two hours away from where I live so not too far but far enough that I didn’t feel like I was still at home.

JC: How has the adjustment to college life been athletically and academically?

CH: At first it was a big adjustment trying to find the right balance and way to manage my time. I think what helped me and I’m sure the rest of the freshmen a lot was the fact that our first semester here is pass/fail. This made the workload seem a little less stressful, and allowed for me to figure out how to schedule my time between sports, academics, and sleep. As for basketball, it is similar to how I thought it was going to be work-wise. It is obviously more serious and takes up more time than high school sports, but it is something I love and am passionate about so it doesn’t seem like a hassle to me. By this point I would say I am pretty settled in and have gotten used to college life, but the biggest difference was just trying to figure out how to effectively use my time.

JC: What was it like sinking 9 threes and scoring 27 points in your first collegiate game?

CH: Going into the game I was definitely a little nervous, but I was also really excited. Scoring 27 points in that first game still feels surreal to me, but it felt great just to simply help the team get a win in the first game of the year. To hit nine threes in my first collegiate game is definitely something I’ll remember for a very long time, and it was a pretty special moment to have both of my parents there for it as well.

JC: Do you have any personal or team goals for the remainder of the season?

CH: Our team goal is to simply be the best we can be everyday. We talked about at the beginning of the year being a top team in the Centennial Conference and even the nation, but Coach Landry does a great job of keeping all of us focused on the next practice or next game, rather than a season-long goal.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

College to make plans to build new dining hall, update Sharples

Next Story

Student disability services gains new directors

Latest from Sports

Athlete of the Week: Danny Castle ’27

​Swarthmore sophomore Danny Castle ’27, hailing from Highland Park, IL, has rapidly emerged as a standout in the Garnet men’s swimming program. Specializing in freestyle and backstroke events, Castle has already etched his name in the college’s record books. At the 2024

The 2025 NWSL Season Kicks Off

Women’s soccer is back and better than ever! On Friday, March 14, the first whistle blew to kick off the opening weekend of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season. Orlando Pride, the returning league champions, made a bold statement at

Spring Training Stories

As a true sports fan might turn their attention to the craziness of March Madness, another sport is beginning to ramp up: baseball. The Major League Baseball’s (MLB) preseason, also known as Spring Training, has been in full swing for a few

Swarthmore MOPO Wants You on the Ice

It’s difficult to claim that ice hockey is one of the more accessible sports to play. The cost of basic gear, including skates, pads, a helmet, and a stick, adds up fast. Renting rink space is a recurring expense. Traveling to games
Previous Story

College to make plans to build new dining hall, update Sharples

Next Story

Student disability services gains new directors

The Phoenix

Don't Miss