VANCOUVER, Wash. (KATU) — Alex Harris grew up playing club and school soccer in Vancouver before making his collegiate move to Cornell University. After two outstanding seasons in New York, Harris was drafted fourth in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids.Harris attended Columbia River High School where he cemented his name in history books by winning the Washington State Gatorade Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches Washington State Player of the Year -- twice. He was also named the United Soccer Coaches All-American and USA TODAY All-American two times. Other accolades include All Region MVP, 2023 National High School Player of the Year and has a soccer state championship with Columbia River."I started playing when I was like four or five, but I'd say I played a bunch of sports when I was a kid," said Harris. "I really started taking [soccer] seriously, like sophomore, junior year of high school."Harris played only two seasons at Cornell University. In 2023, as a freshman, he was selected as the "Unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year" and the "ECAC Rookie of The Year" and set the school freshman goals and points record, 28 points on 12 goals and 4 assists. His second season was even better, adding more accolades and scored 43 points on 19 goals and 5 assists. He would go on to sign a Generation Adidas contract, leading to his draft, according to Cornell University's athletics webpage. "It was an insane feeling, just like figuring out that I was gonna be a pro soccer player, something that I had dreamed about as a kid and just seeing, you know, coming from Vancouver, going through Cornell, all those coaches and teammates and everything that went into that just, you know, it was a cool feeling," reflected Harris on being selected by the Colorado Rapids.KATU's Guillermo Motta talked to Harris' mother who commented on his son's passion for the sport from an early age."He always has just loved to go, go, go and play soccer, and the soccer ball used to travel everywhere with him," said Julie Harris, mother of Alex. "We'd go on vacation and the soccer ball was at his feet. We'd go just about anywhere, and the soccer ball was with us."Colorado traded up to fourth to select Harris, in exchange for their eighth pick and cash compensation to Sporting Kansas City. Julie Harris said she is excited to support his MLS journey."It's a lot closer to travel to Denver and Commerce City to watch the Colorado Rapids than it is to travel to Ithaca, New York to watch Cornell," said Julie Harris. "So I hope to have the opportunity maybe once or twice a month during the season to get out there and see him or we plan to attend the local games as well, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, B.C."Harris is signed to the Rapid's first team. Colorado and Harris will visit the Portland Timbers at Providence on May 28.

Vancouver teen is one step closer to reaching his soccer dreams

“It’s a lot closer to travel to Denver and Commerce City to watch the Colorado Rapids than it is to travel to Ithaca, New York to watch Cornell,” said Julie Harris. “So I hope to have the opportunity maybe once or twice a month during the season to get out there and see him or […]

“It’s a lot closer to travel to Denver and Commerce City to watch the Colorado Rapids than it is to travel to Ithaca, New York to watch Cornell,” said Julie Harris. “So I hope to have the opportunity maybe once or twice a month during the season to get out there and see him or we plan to attend the local games as well, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, B.C.”Harris played only two seasons at Cornell University. In 2023, as a freshman, he was selected as the “Unanimous Ivy League Rookie of the Year” and the “ECAC Rookie of The Year” and set the school freshman goals and points record, 28 points on 12 goals and 4 assists. His second season was even better, adding more accolades and scored 43 points on 19 goals and 5 assists. He would go on to sign a Generation Adidas contract, leading to his draft, according to Cornell University’s athletics webpage. Harris attended Columbia River High School where he cemented his name in history books by winning the Washington State Gatorade Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches Washington State Player of the Year — twice. He was also named the United Soccer Coaches All-American and USA TODAY All-American two times. Other accolades include All Region MVP, 2023 National High School Player of the Year and has a soccer state championship with Columbia River.”I started playing when I was like four or five, but I’d say I played a bunch of sports when I was a kid,” said Harris. “I really started taking [soccer] seriously, like sophomore, junior year of high school.”KATU’s Guillermo Motta talked to Harris’ mother who commented on his son’s passion for the sport from an early age.Colorado traded up to fourth to select Harris, in exchange for their eighth pick and cash compensation to Sporting Kansas City. Julie Harris said she is excited to support his MLS journey.”It was an insane feeling, just like figuring out that I was gonna be a pro soccer player, something that I had dreamed about as a kid and just seeing, you know, coming from Vancouver, going through Cornell, all those coaches and teammates and everything that went into that just, you know, it was a cool feeling,” reflected Harris on being selected by the Colorado Rapids.Harris is signed to the Rapid’s first team. Colorado and Harris will visit the Portland Timbers at Providence on May 28.”He always has just loved to go, go, go and play soccer, and the soccer ball used to travel everywhere with him,” said Julie Harris, mother of Alex. “We’d go on vacation and the soccer ball was at his feet. We’d go just about anywhere, and the soccer ball was with us.”VANCOUVER, Wash. (KATU) — Alex Harris grew up playing club and school soccer in Vancouver before making his collegiate move to Cornell University. After two outstanding seasons in New York, Harris was drafted fourth in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids.