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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 27, ISSUE 4 71 she ranked third in the country in total blocks. Whereas the 6-2 Wisdom-Hylton used her length to reject shots — the current Purdue assistant set the pro- gram record for career blocks, with 281 from 2005-09 — Harris uses her athleticism. "Athleticism helps, but she has great timing, great hands and she anticipates really well," said Wis- dom-Hylton, who averaged about four minutes more per game as a rookie in 2005 than Harris' 20.8 this season. "You put all those together, you're in for some good blocks and a good show." Although the blocks themselves started only at the end of seventh grade, the instincts were likely born long be- forehand. Harris grew up playing against her dad, uncles, and cousins, having to deal frequently with older, taller, stronger and perhaps quicker opponents. And when she played organized basketball, it was in a boys' league — a few girls played as well — at SportZone Indy. Then, she'd hear shouts from her dad, LaJuan, in the stands to be more physical, not to back down — he would always yell, "He's not that much taller, go ahead and hit (the ball)" — and it toughened her up. And during the summer before her eighth-grade year, right as she was developing a knack for blocking shots, she hit a growth spurt, gaining about three inches in only a few months. And after, she felt like she could really compete. "I've never really been short, but I was at one point compared to all my family members," Harris said. "Once I had the growth spurt, it was like, 'OK, now I already know I have to play aggressively with them, but now I'm up there. I'm as tall as one of them and almost the same height as the rest.' It made it easier." Certainly did as an eighth-grader at Lynhurst, when she was a menace inside to anyone who came near the paint. It was almost unfair, a tall, athletic, leaper against opponents who weren't able to get off shots. And those in the stands noticed. LaJuan Harris started calling his daughter "Block Party," with family friend and AAU coach Casey Shirrels often responding "Everybody's invited." Ae'Rianna Harris had earned not only a nickname but an entire catchphrase. "They've been arguing over who made it up for the longest time," she said. "At first, I didn't know what he meant, but then it clicked for me and I was like, 'OK, yeah, I like that name.'" Now, Harris has brought the Block Party to 900 John R. Wooden Drive, site of Mackey Arena. Center Nora Kiesler, even at five inches taller than Harris, has felt the brunt of the freshman's ability. "You notice it right off the bat, any time you play with or against her," Kiesler said. "We knew coming in that she was a shot blocker and then in the first couple work- outs we could tell that she really had this thing down." But at Purdue, Harris has honed her craft, learning when it's best to attempt a rejection. Being on the weak side, then coming over to help, is an effective tactic be- cause it limits the chance of picking up a foul. And Harris has taken to scouting reports and film, studying the approach of opponents to give her a better chance at success. "Early on, she would just go and swing at everything and didn't have a lot of control and understanding," Wis- dom-Hylton said. "Now that we've put in defensive funda- mental principles and where she's supposed to be, she's able to get there quicker. Pure athleticism, can't teach that. Can't teach height. And she's very coachable, she wants to learn and understand the game better, and that helps too." But Harris' impact as a Boilermaker in Year 1 has come in more than only blocked shots. With a five-rebound per- game average, she's likely to finish in the top-10 in total boards for a Purdue freshman. And she's become a viable offensive player, as well, something that might not have been anticipated before she arrived. Part of it is injury-re- lated; the Boilermakers are without center Bree Horrocks, who played in the first two games this season before being shut down due to a knee injury. And Kiesler missed six games in the middle of the season because of a concus- sion. It's upped Harris' minutes, forcing her to play through early-season mistakes. Not that there were many. Harris came to Purdue more offensively skilled than she had been early in her high school career. But her transfer to Lawrence North for her final two years proved valuable because Coach Christopher Griffin set out to retool her offensive game. Together, they adjusted the mechanics of her jump shot, changing it into a more fluid, traditional motion. That, combined with her workouts with Wisdom-Hylton