NEWARK — Moe Harkless grew up a Knicks fan in Queens, but now he will be rooting for another Atlantic Division team.
The former St. John’s star was taken by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 15 in the NBA Draft and will play four times a year against the Knicks, including twice at Madison Square Garden, St. John’s second home. He will also visit Brooklyn twice a year to play the Nets at the Barclays Center.
“Now I can’t be a fan of the Knicks obviously, so every game [against them] is going to be the same,” Harkless, 19, said with a smile at The Prudential Center.
The 6-foot-9 forward is the highest drafted player from St. John’s since Malik Sealy was selected at No. 14 in 1992 and the first St. John’s player drafted since Omar Cook was chosen in the second round in 2001.
“Moe is the most well-rounded and complete player I’ve coached relative to this juncture or stage of his playing career,” said St. John’s coach Steve Lavin, who was in attendance.
“His intellect, size, skill set and athleticism set him apart from others. Not surprisingly, Moe impressed NBA brass in his recent workouts and interviews. We are happy for Moe and his family. Given the rich heritage of St. John’s basketball, it is a noteworthy distinction to be chosen at No. 15, the highest drafted Johnny in 20 years.
“Philadelphia is one of the young up-and-coming franchises in the NBA,” added Lavin. “Moe’s particular talents will fit nicely with the uptempo and flexible system employed by coach Doug Collins.”
Harkless was not among the 14 players invited to the Green Room, but came to Newark with his mother, Rosa, his brother, Tyler, and his mentor, Nate Blue.
“Actually I got a little nervous once they started putting the cameras on me,” he said. “That’s the closest to nervous I’ve been.”
The Big East Rookie of the Year, Harkless worked out for the Golden State Warriors on Sunday and the Sacramento Kings on Monday, but is pleased to be playing close to his home in New York.
“That’s really cool to me because I’ve pretty much been close to home my whole life, going to St. John’s and being from New York and having my family close and being able to come out to games is definitely a great feeling,” he said.
Philadelphia lost in seven games to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and Harkless said he’s excited to join a young team that features Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala.
“I know they are a really young team and that they play really fast,” Harkless said. “I think that’s the type of game that I like to play and I think I fit in well.”
Despite thinking he might end up out West, Harkless said his workout with the Sixers went well.
“They told me they really liked me and that there was a really high chance that they would pick me,” he said. “So it was definitely a great feeling, and I kind of had a gut feeling.”
Harkless played out of position at power forward for Lavin and assistant Mike Dunlap, now the Charlotte Bobcats head coach.
Still, he averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds, impressing scouts with his quickness, length and ability to score the ball.
“I think, in the NBA, he’s got to get stronger and tougher,” longtime New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski told HOOPSWORLD. “I think he has tremendous upside. Down the road he can be a really, really good NBA player. I think it’s going to be a bit of an adjustment physically, in terms of how hard he’s got to play and how he can’t take plays off. He’s got to play every possession. I think that’s going to be a bit of an adjustment for him.”
He added: “In the NBA, when he plays against 3-men, with his athleticism, and his quickness, initially he may struggle some. But eventually I think he’ll be a terrific player and he’s a really, really good kid.”
Harkless previously told SNY.tv he planned to move his mother out of Jamaica, Queens and into a nicer home.
Now he may have to find her one in the City of Brotherly Love. And she’ll have to root for the Sixers, not the Knicks.
“She’s excited about just being here,” he said. “The team doesn’t matter; she was really emotional and she’s probably out there still crying.
“I’m definitely glad I could make her happy and make my dreams come true.”
Photo: Daily News
