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Demetrius Harris goes from the court to the Chiefs practice squad

Milwaukee Wisconsin Basketball

Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker, rear, an Milwaukee’s Demetrius Harris reach for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

AP

In recent years athletes who’ve enjoyed success on the basketball court have made the transition to the National Football League, with the tight end position being home to three of the game’s best. Tony Gonzalez (Cal) and Antonio Gates (Kent State) will wind up in Canton when they decide to hang up the cleats, and Jimmy Graham (Miami) has established himself as one of the best tight ends in pro football.

However despite the success of those three, making the move with limited (or no) high-level football experience is a tough process. Such was the case for Demetrius Harris, who after playing four seasons of college basketball (two Mineral Area CC and two at Milwaukee) was invited to work out for the Kansas City Chiefs in early April.

After earning a training camp spot as an undrafted free agent Harris has taken the next step in his career despite the long odds, earning a spot on the team’s practice squad.

Chiefs G.M. John Dorsey saw the 6-foot-7, 230-pound Harris play basketball at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and thought he had the perfect athletic makeup to be an NFL tight end, and so after Harris finished his college basketball season, the Chiefs signed Harris as an undrafted free agent. Harris didn’t play college football at all, so he has a lot of learning to do, but the Chiefs like his long-term potential.

Harris played football in high school, earning all-state honors in Arkansas as a senior, and he had a scholarship offer to play the sport at Arkansas State before low test scores nixed that possibility. After spending four years away from the game, having the chance to work with the Chiefs coaching staff will be a positive for Harris.

Will Harris eventually become a player capable of contributing not just during the week but on Sundays? We shall see.

Follow @raphiellej