At some point this season, Harrison Carrington might make an impactful contribution on the floor for the Colorado men’s basketball team.

Yet the true payoff for all Carrington’s hard work and selflessness occurred months ago.

Prior to the preseason, Carrington became an “ex” walk-on, as head coach Tad Boyle awarded the 6-foot-7 wing the open scholarship still available after the spring-summer recruiting cycle.

“It meant the world to me,” Carrington said. “Coming in as a walk-on, you’re not really expecting to get a scholarship. Coming in every day, just working hard, trying to do what the coaches say. I feel like (Boyle) rewarded me in that sense. I feel like I can bring a lot to the team. I’m just super grateful, super thankful that they rewarded me with a scholarship.”

Carrington’s willingness to bet on himself is nothing new.

A native of the Bay Area in Northern California, Carrington graduated from Sacred Heart Prep in 2021, then traveled across the country to hone his skills at a Massachusetts prep school, Northfield Mount Herman, for one year.

As is the case with most walk-ons, Carrington had ample opportunities to pursue chances that would’ve led to more playing time. But given his blend of size, athleticism and ball-handling skills, Carrington always believed he had a ceiling higher than the offers coming his way. Carrington’s father is a CU alum, and upholding the family tradition while training with the Buffaloes hardly felt like a sacrifice.

“I just believed in myself,” Carrington said. “I feel like I was under-recruited, but I also felt like I needed work. I think coming here and being able to develop here at this level has been the best thing for me. It was really just believing in myself and working every day. Tad really trusted me. He’s not scared to put a walk-on in. If I’m showing up in practice every day, doing what he says and making the team better, he’s told me before he’s not scared to put me in. I just have to be ready if my name’s ever called.”

Carrington redshirted during the 2022-23 season but heard his name called last season more often than what is typical for walk-ons, particularly when an injury-depleted Buffs squad began Pac-12 play. Carrington played double-digit minutes in each of CU’s first three conference games, matching his career-high with four points in a home win against Washington State. Carrington even started the second half at No. 10 Arizona the following week when the manpower issues worsened.

Carrington may have only 14 games played to his credit, but only Julian Hammond III and Javon Ruffin have been in the CU program longer (guard RJ Smith and walk-on Jack Pease also are in their third seasons with the Buffs).

And even those 14 games are more played in a CU uniform than everyone on the roster except Hammond, Ruffin and sophomores Bangot Dak and Assane Diop. Carrington’s first year on scholarship will be on a new-look team, but like the inner confidence that got him to this point, Carrington believes the Buffs will surprise some teams this season.

“Every day we’re definitely getting better,” Carrington said. “I think it’s a matter of everyone being on the same page. That’s the most important part. Playing defense, getting the right shots, great shots. I feel like we have a lot of length on this team, a lot of depth. Just being able to use it with everyone out there, give 110% effort, being selfless and know the next guy is going to be able to step up, we won’t falter in our play.”