“When I’m hot, I’m very hot”
Lockett shows out in exciting Bob Jones basketball action
MADISON – The Grammy Award winning 1971 song “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” by Jerry Reed in ways sets the tone for Bob Jones senior basketball player Harrison Lockett. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound starting guard, who earned his place among the lineup for the Patriots midway through his junior season a year ago, continues to assess his play on the court and knows he can light up the scoreboard for the Class 7A squad.
“When I’m hot, I’m very hot,” said Lockett, soon after his play in the Christmas time Rocket City Classic where he scored 40 points in three outings as Bob Jones was 1-2 in its games in the 43rd annual 16-team tournament held at Huntsville High. “I can score, but I’m a better defensive player as when I first came onto the varsity squad I found out my talent was equal to most of my teammates, so I really took pride on defense hoping that would bring me more playing time on the court. I feel I’m a well-rounded player.”
Lockett, whose younger brother, Reese, a backup player for Bob Jones as a junior, is being recruited by a bevy of colleges including the Naval Academy, Troy and Montevallo. He plans on playing at the next level and is looking to study, earn his degree and become a physical therapist or dwell into the field of psychology. The 17-year old has an ocean-size of thoughts and dreams for his future with those aspirations actually facing a dramatic change while in the sixth grade.
Being the best athlete in his neighborhood, Lockett would lead a group of his friends playing basketball on the goal in his backyard and later in his driveway, and played recreational basketball in the Madison youth leagues where, as an eight-year old, his team, the Cavaliers, won the league championship, but his real talent was in football where he exceled in neighborhood games in a field located behind his family’s home in Madison. He was playing youth football when his prowess in football came to an abrupt end.
“I was a wide receiver and caught a pass and began to run, but just about the time I was going to be tackled, my right knee popped and I was in pain. I tore my ACL and soon afterwards underwent surgery,” said Lockett.
The injury ended his football playing days and he soon began to concentrate on basketball, and by the time he made it to his freshman year, Lockett realized he was good at the indoor sport and took his new lead sport more seriously hitting the weight room and the court for extensive workouts to perfect his raw skills as a basketball player. His current play as a senior can easily paint his self-portrait of what makes up a complete basketball player with his team in mind.
As Lockett steps onto the court, he quickly showcases his willingness to be unselfish in his own talents as he dishes off to his teammates without hesitation. He’s a leader on the court, always directing his fellow Patriots, but always the first to admit his own mistakes. “I can always pass to my teammates so I can create some excellent opportunities for them as I feel it’s the right thing to do, and I take pride in my defense. I exert a lot of energy both physically and mentally on the court. I feel I’m a well-rounded player,” said Lockett.
So far into the 2025-2026 season, Lockett is averaging 13 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game. The Patriots are currently struggling to pick up numerous victories, but the meat of the team’s schedule is just coming about and to have Lockett coming into his own by being a leader, the Patriots could just “get hot,” at the correct time for Lockett’s last hurrah in high school basketball.
