Jaelyn Richard-Harris: Goes From Basketball Sneakers to Fashion and Lifestyle Sneakers

Jaelyn Richard-Harris, born and raised in Houston, Texas, knew since she was a young girl that she wanted to play basketball in the big league. She knew that LSU was the place to do just that. “I am most proud of just getting to play in a big league like the SEC,” said Richard Harris. “Coming to LSU and being the shortest person in the league, it was special getting to play with the best of the best.” During her time on the women’s basketball team from 2016-2020, the guard played in 116 games, starting 63 times. The three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection finished her career averaging 4.1 points a contest, which included 5.1 points as a junior and 4.9 as a senior. She scored a career-high 14 points twice, the first in a win over Florida during her senior season and then a week later, she did it again in a victory over Missouri.

She continued to prove that heart is bigger than height. Since the eighth grade, she thought she was going to Texas A&M. That changed once she came on a visit to LSU, where she committed that same day. The genuine love she felt from everyone on her visit impacted her decision to come to Baton Rouge and play for the Tigers, and she wouldn’t change a thing. “My experience at LSU was amazing,” she said. She continued to say that she loved the aspect that every year was different and brought different opportunities. From her time on the team to her involvement in SAAC, she understood the importance of building relationships. “When you’re building those relationships, those relationships that’ll last a lifetime, they can benefit you in the long run,” said Richard Harris. LSU was a family.

And then:

The Houston native never wanted to play professional basketball. She wanted to go a different route. A shoes and fashion connoisseur, she wanted to pursue a career that allowed her the opportunity to work with both. After obtaining her degree in Kinesiology from LSU in May 2020, she went back home for a year where she worked as a performance coach at Athlete Training and Health. At the beginning of 2021 came a new opportunity that she could not pass up. Former LSU baseball player Anthony Ranaudo reached out to her to come work for his new store, Cards and Culture, where she would have the opportunity to work in both shoes and fashion as a store manager.

And now:

Richard-Harris found her new home at Cards and Culture in Baton Rouge, where she gets to work with everything she loves: sneakers, art and fashion. She gives Ranaudo all the credit for the opportunity. “After meeting him in person and just getting to listen to him speak was a huge part of why I came back to Baton Rouge. Anthony hand-picked me and genuinely wanted me to come work for him and I couldn't pass that up,” she said. The former LSU women’s basketball player took a different route and followed her passions. “Just because the opportunity may feel like it’s big enough, don’t settle if your heart's not in it,” she said. “Go after what you want because it’s out there. Believe in the process and work hard.” In the future, Richard-Harris wants to do something of her own with fashion.

 To learn more about Jaelyn Richard-Harris and her career off the court, follow her on Instagram at supajay_.