Donnell Harvey & leaving early for the NBA

[Mark Piotrowski <markp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>I know some on the list are hoping the Blount deal brings Donnell Harvey
>with it. I remember he was pretty impressive during Florida's run to the
>national title game when he was a freshman, but he's one of those undersized
>power forwards with absolutely no chance of playing small forward (no ball
>skills). Anyway, this story from a couple of days ago discusses Harvey's
>continuing struggles.-Mark

Mark,

Being from Gainesville I'm got to see Harvey's play alot during that 
national title game run and season.  And I agree with the story that 
Harvey is the poster-child for what leaving school early will do to a 
player's career (along with Kwame Brown -- who also signed to come to 
U of Florida -- but who went straight to the NBA).

I remember thinking during his 1 season at UF, that by his Junior 
season -- with Billy Donovan & the UF staff teaching him -- Harvey 
would be an all-american, lottery selection, and the greatest player 
in UF history.  You could see that he had the raw talent, but that it 
was just that -- raw.  He needed someone to coach him on how to get 
position on the blocks, how to use his strength to minimize his lack 
of height for a PF, how to play strong D.

But then he declared -- somewhat unexpectedly -- for the draft and 
got picked by the Knicks, was shipped to the Mavs, where he never 
played.  So for 2 years he was basically a scrub in the NBA.  I'm 
sure that he got some teaching, but everyone says the NBA practices 
aren't about teaching fundamentals, they are about preparing for the 
next opponent (Which is why I'd like to see the NBA create a real 
minor-league system -- but that's a post for another time).

Imagine if for those 2 years he was learning everyday, going through 
the pressure of the NCAA tournament (never mind what it might have 
meant for UF's chances those 2 years!).  I guess its that promise 
that I saw at UF -- as well as the spike in his production this year 
-- that keeps me hoping the C's will get him before he busts out -- 
you know buy low, sell high.  And by bust out I guess I hope at this 
point he'll become a Dale Davis/Horace Grant/Charles Oakley type, not 
a star, but a very good pro.

I argue this with my friend here in town all the time.  And while we 
agree that it has hurt his game to have left early, he brings up a 
good point which is always left out of articles like this.  Harvey 
grew up (by accounts in the Gainesville papers) pretty poor.  I think 
he saw the potential to be picked in the 1st round and jumped at the 
3-4 year guaranteed $2-3 million contract.

You could argue -- "well those 2 years and your development during 
that time would mean millions more".  But my guess is that for a kid 
like Harvey, who saw his family have to struggle and live without, 
the chance to tell his Mom and family they don't ever have to worry 
about money again is too great a chance to wait 2 years for (I think 
I remember -- but am too lazy right now to go back and look -- that 
he has a little sister who might have been sick or something.)  When 
you grow up with very little, the difference between $3 and 30 
million is meaningless.  (actually come to think of it, I think that 
for just about anyone the practical difference between $3 and 
30million is or should be meaningless -- i think its sad that some 
people can have $30 million and there be families like Harvey's 
(pre-NBA) struggling to make ends meet -- but thats a subject for yet 
another post.)

just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.

-- mark piotrowski
gainesville, fl