NBA Draft Eyes Tobias Harris

From Dix Hills to Knoxville and now – The Association.

That’s the remarkable journey basketball star Tobias Harris, 18, has taken in the span a year. Harris was wrapping up a memorable career at this time last June. And after a strong freshman season at Tennessee facing SEC talent, he’ll get the chance to make the leap to the pros and an exciting future.

The next phase of Harris’ life begins Wednesday night. The 6-foot, 8-inch forward is expected to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft (ESPN-TV, 7:30 p.m.). The draft is being held at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Harris has been a hot commodity. The New York Knicks, who pick 17th, brought him in for a pre-draft workout. And ESPN rates him as the draft’s 14th best prospect.

Yet because of his age, Harris’ game is still a work in progress.

Harris averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds at Tennessee. Father Torrel Harris once spoke of a two-year plan for his talented son. But once Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl was fired after a one-and-done NCAA Tournament performance, the uncertainty surrounding the Vols made the that much clearer.

Tobias Harris led Hills West to its first Suffolk championship in 2008. He transferred to Long Island Lutheran as a junior, where he guided the Crusaders to a state Federation Class A title in 2009. Harris transferred back to Hills West not long after and capped his career with a Long Island Class AA championship in 2010.

Harris earned McDonald’s All-American honors. Now he can become the first Long Islander to be drafted in the first round since Cold Spring Harbor’s Wally Szczerbiak was taken 6th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft.