Like numerous young men growing up in Indiana, CJ Harrington’s narrative centered around the sport of basketball — a game he began in his childhood within his hometown of Indianapolis.
Indeed, basketball symbolized everything for Harrington, AB ’17, throughout the majority of his formative Hoosier years. He fondly recalls, for instance, how he played a pivotal role in guiding his high school, Park Tudor, to not only two Indiana state championships but also his school’s inaugural county league title. For anyone familiar with basketball in Indiana, state titles are significant, but prevailing in the Marion County tournament, which features schools from the Indianapolis area regardless of student enrollment size, is a monumental achievement.
As a forward in both high school and college, Harrington considered himself a supportive player, good but not exceptional. “I was never the top player by any means,” he states. “Yet, I consistently gave my all to assist my team.” When the time came to think about colleges, basketball was always a factor in his decision-making.
A high school friend had attended a WashU showcase camp one summer, prompting Harrington to join. He instantly fell in love with the Danforth Campus. “I thought the university, the basketball squad, the coaches, the legacy of the program — all of it was remarkable,” Harrington says. “WashU felt like the ideal match, giving me access to exceptional academics while potentially continuing basketball.”
However, for Harrington, who entered as an Ervin Scholar, basketball would come to an unexpected halt. He faced dismissal from Coach Mark Edwards during his freshman year — an experience that left him both crushed and inspired. He fought his way back onto the team by his sophomore year. “My most cherished basketball moment is actually making the team,” he joked in a feature on the BearSports website. He missed the majority of his junior year due to a knee injury but persevered once more, ultimately becoming the captain during his senior season.
“WashU basketball turned out to be fantastic, being part of the team and supporting my teammates as much as I could,” Harrington states. “But I also discovered what I was committed to doing for myself, what I needed to do to fulfill my aspirations.” He accomplished that while pursuing a double major in political science in Arts & Sciences and leadership as well as strategic management at Olin Business School.
The other endeavors he engaged in taught him even more than basketball did, he remarks, particularly his involvement with the Ervin Scholar community. With aspirations for law school, he became the founder and editor of the School of Law’s Undergraduate Law Review. Additionally, he took on the role of president of Thurtene Honorary, drawing on that experience today. “Thurtene felt much like directing a company,” Harrington reflects. “It was probably fortunate that my knee gave out junior year. I developed immensely as a leader with Thurtene.”
Harrington made the transition from WashU to Stanford, where he earned a J.D. in 2020. He embarked on a career in “Big Law,” serving at some of the country’s most esteemed law firms and carving out a niche in mergers and acquisitions, eventually pivoting to sports. His work, including facilitating the sales of professional sports teams like the Washington Commanders, the Denver Broncos, and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (the world’s most renowned women’s soccer franchise), earned him a spot on the Forbes “30 Under 30 Sports” list in January 2025, joining the ranks of NBA star Jayson Tatum and WNBA’s Caitlin Clark.
Now, he has wagered on himself once more. This spring, he departed from his law firm to forge a new chapter, aiming to establish an entertainment company from the ground up. He continues to draw inspiration from his WashU journey — particularly Thurtene, where he served as president in the spring of 2016.
“I genuinely began to contemplate what I could contribute to this world,” he explains. “How do I wish to feel about my work each day? The Thurtene experience resonated with me, allowing me to organize this significant event with a meaningful mission. In our case, our community partner was Ready Readers, a group that brings immense joy to children.”
‘I believe in heroes. I simply want to provide people with someone to admire.’
CJ Harrington
The three-day carnival in that spring marked one of the last occasions it was held on the east end of campus, and Harrington poured his heart and soul into ensuring its success. “I grew tremendously as a leader, not only because it represented an opportunity to organize one of the university’s largest public-facing events but also because it fostered community within the city of St. Louis,” Harrington notes. “I formed some of my closest friendships. I want that feeling to carry through the rest of my career.”
His aim is to create a company whose mission revolves around crafting stories — through documentaries, music, live events, books, and scripts — that will remind society of the heroes it might have overlooked. He draws inspiration from his own icons, such as NBA legend Oscar Robertson, who once signed a 4th-grade book report Harrington wrote about him as a “Famous Hoosier”; and his grandfather, the Rev. Dr. Arthur Johnson Jr., a community leader and esteemed pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Indianapolis.
“He emerged from indentured servitude in Mississippi,” Harrington shares about his grandfather. “Eventually, he became a notable pastor in Indianapolis, ultimately receiving the keys to the city.” Harrington’s grandfather passed away when he was merely three months old, yet he still cherishes his grandfather’s collections of sermon notes.
It was that motivation, he expresses, that profoundly influenced him to contemplate the direction of his career and take a bold path during uncertain times. “This is undoubtedly an unprecedented era,” he reflects, “and not everyone is afforded the opportunity to choose their path in such times. I genuinely believe in supporting others and striving to create a difference, and this seems to be the correct approach.”
“I believe in heroes,” he expresses. “I just want to provide individuals with someone to admire.”
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