Ever since he can remember, Jayden Harrington has been around the game of basketball. It’s in his family, and it’s taken him all over the world.
Jayden is the son of Adam Harrington, who was a high school star at Pioneer Valley Regional in Massachusetts – where he scored 2,347 career points and was named the 1998 Gatorade Player of the Year – before going on to play at NC State and Auburn. He had a brief stint in the NBA before playing in several different countries and eventually becoming a coach – including seven seasons in the NBA between the Thunder and Nets – and trainer.
Jayden has been along for the ride, and he’s become a promising prospect in his own right. Now entering his third and final season at New Hampton, the 6-foot-5 guard has established himself as one of the best shooters in NEPSAC – he shot 38.4 percent from deep last season – and he’s looking ahead to a big winter in 2025-26. With four main contributors from last season’s squad departed, Harrington will have a significant role in the Huskies’ success this season.
Ahead of the new season, we caught up with Jayden for a wide-ranging Q&A. The conversation touches on his relationship with his dad, his goals for the upcoming season at New Hampton, an update on his recruitment and his unique experience of getting to train with NBA star Jimmy Butler.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What do you remember about your upbringing and playing basketball as a kid?
“Obviously it’s been in my family my whole life. Dad played, mom played, so I really just grew up around the game. Obviously I grew up overseas following dad around while he played overseas, so I lived in like seven different countries, came back to the States, then we lived in Oklahoma, dad coached there, so obviously being around some of the best players ever. Obviously I’ve been looking up as I’ve grown up and loved the game more and figured out this is what I want to do. I’ve been able to be around dad in the summer with his guys, so just being able to see the best of the best and learn the levels and how good you actually need to be to be able to play at that next level.”
Do you have any memories of playing when you were younger? What were your first memories?
“Obviously you play Little League and everything, but really just my town team (in Glen Ridge, N.J.). I played AAU when I was younger, but really my town team. I was able to realize I actually wanted to do this, this is the sport I love. And really just being able to play with my friends, win championships with my friends (and) my brother running out on the court.”
Has shooting always been your biggest strength?
“One thing that dad always preaches is that in the NBA, you’re either Shai or you’re great at two things, so one thing obviously I’ve been working on is my shooting, and just being able to create. I feel like I have a pretty high IQ and being able to make the right plays, and then obviously working on my body and being able to guard. You have to guard if you want to play.”
What do your shooting routines or practices look like?
“In the summer, really just reps. Reps and all types of footwork. That’s what dad preaches, all different types of footwork, different catches, because you really never shoot the same shot twice, so just being able to replicate different footwork and things like that. Then before games, just form shots. Making sure it feels good and then it’s just confidence, knowing I’ve shot this shot thousands of times and spent hours in the gym.”
All the experiences you’ve had with your dad, what has that meant to you?
“Obviously there’s some pressure that comes with it. Dad was Gatorade Player of the Year, college, everything. But it’s been amazing. He never puts any pressure on me. He says if I were to quit basketball tomorrow that he would still love me the same. So just being able to have him by my side — if I need him as a parent, if I need him as a coach, he’ll always be straight with me. I always get the text after about what I can do better, all that. So it’s been awesome having him.
You were training with Jimmy Butler this summer. How did that come about?
“I was lucky enough to go on his little China tour with dad, so I got to see all the China culture. That was my first time out of the country besides when I was a little kid. It’s crazy, just the love for basketball, so it made me really appreciate the game so much more. And obviously getting to work out with him, he’s a dog. You play the 1s, build that dog mentality, so it was awesome.”
What was it like to work with him?
“It’s crazy like, one thing I always say is that when you think of Jimmy, you don’t think of him as a shooter, you know what I mean? He does everything else great. He’s not a Steph (Curry) kind of shooter, but he doesn’t miss. NBA players, they do not miss. So just being able to lock in so much more in workouts, that’s one thing. You can’t take a rep off, otherwise he’s on your ass. So just being able to focus, every rep matters the same as every other time. That’s one thing I took from it.
Is there anything else you took from that experience?
“Just having fun with it. Balance it. Being able to get your work in and then just being there for family. He has a crazy story. Just being able to appreciate the little things, like family that’s there for you all the time. Even if it’s just an ‘I love you’ text to mom, just make sure they know. They know that you love them, you appreciate them that they’re always there for you.”
Have you been able to build a relationship with him at all?
“For sure. I rep them the Li-Nings (Butler’s shoes) all the time, so yeah, he’s awesome. He’s a big mentor.”
With a lot of the main contributors (Keyshuan Tillery, Mason Blackwood, Nasir Meyer and Ty Tabales) from last season graduated, you’re going to take on a bigger role this season at New Hampton. What changes for you?
“I loved playing with those guys. The best mentors, everything, you learn a lot from them. So now being able to step in to their shoes and show what I’m really capable of is awesome. We have Chad (Cook) coming back, so being able to play with him fully and then obviously the new guys and Ben (Safran) coming back, too. The new guys are amazing. Great group of guys, so I’m really just excited to compete and play, really show what we can do as a team and individually, too, and hopefully go out and win.”
What have you worked on individually that you’re looking to unlock this year?
“As a team, leadership and being a big leader. New guys, a lot of them haven’t played in this league and it’s a little different than other leagues. So just being able to keep the guys together as being one of the returners. And then just using my body. At the next level you have to be big, you have to be able to finish and then just having good free throw splits, getting to my mid-range, I’ve been working on that a lot. Making the right reads, being able to find guys, make it easier for everyone else.”
What are you hoping to accomplish this season as a team?
“I mean, a championship. Always. Obviously we have big shoes to fill. They had us at 11 (in the national prep poll), but I don’t like that at all. We love being the underdogs though. It’s the best. We have a lot to prove obviously, that we’re not just those three guys. It’s a whole program behind it. We’re going to come out there and fight each and every night.”
What has the experience of playing at New Hampton and for Coach Andrew Gale meant to you?
“I’ve played here for three years. If I hated it, I would have left. But no, those three (coaches) are the best. They’ve helped me with so much, on the court, off the court, everything. I see them as my best friends more than I do coaches. Obviously they’re always there for us. Gale knows his stuff. Just being able to learn from them, too. Gale knows the game, (Ky) Feldman knows the game, (Brendan) Winters knows the game. Being able to take the concepts that they know. Gale was just saying he was at two college practices, so he sees what the higher level does, just being able to learn from him, get into systems, things like that and just prepare for the next level.”
You played with Mass Rivals this summer during the July live period. What was that experience like to play with them and play for Vin Pastore?
“It was awesome. Again, a coach I never really had before. It’s just always great experiences. He’s one of the best to ever do it, so just being able to play under him, seeing what he sees, taking his feedback, obviously he’s amazing. Again, learning from the best, so I’m lucky. It was fun playing with those guys over there. I loved it.”
What is your college recruitment looking like right now?
“It’s really all over the place. I’ve talked to Colgate a lot, Wyoming, then Purdue, a bunch of schools. I don’t know enough about each and every school to be able to make a decision, so I’m going to wait a little bit, let the season go out, but I have some spots that I love.”
What would your ideal fit at a school look like?
“I really just want to play. I don’t care where, I don’t care what level, I just want to be able to impact the game and do what I love obviously. And obviously win, no one likes to lose. So win and compete. But yeah, I feel like I’m adaptable and can fit into any system. I just want coaches to know I have something to give to them and then they can help me get better as a player. That’s the only thing I really look for.”
What do you like to do outside of basketball? Any hobbies?
“Really anything. I love any sport. Not too good at any other sport, but I love playing them. And then just hanging with friends and family. I just love kicking it, playing video games here and there. … We have (NBA) 2K in the dorm.”
Who are your favorite NBA players? I’m sure Jimmy is one.
“Yeah, he’s one. I like watching players, like specific players, so I love D-Book (Devin Booker). KD (Kevin Durant), Jimmy and Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). Who doesn’t like Shai?”
Do you listen to music before games? Any go-to songs on your playlist?
“It’s really whatever the guys play. But in my AirPods there’s definitely some Drake or something like that. Usually on the court they play rap music, but I like to slow down to some Drake, just get in the mode.”
What are you most excited about with this season?
“Just the guys. I love the guys. Even if none of them play basketball, they’d still be my best friends. They’re just great kids. Obviously they all want to win. They’re here for a reason to get better obviously. And the fact that they chose this program, and chose to play with all of us. Three returners – me, Ben and Chad – they chose to play with us, so that means a lot to us especially. Really just play with the guys, compete and we have to get Gale a championship, too. We lost back to back, so that’s the goal.”
