Lavin backs Harkless' decision to go pro
Moe Harkless #4 and Sir'Dominic Pointer #15 of the St. John's Red Storm celebrate after upsetting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. (Feb. 25, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Kentucky coach John Calipari may own the franchise for "one-and-done" players, but Steve Lavin bid farewell to his first such player at St. John's when freshman forward Moe Harkless announced his departure for the NBA draft Monday in a news conference at Madison Square Garden.
Not that Lavin endorsed the move completely. Joking with Harkless, the Red Storm coach said he was one of those on campus begging the Big East rookie of the year for "One Moe year! One Moe year!"
"I would love to see Moe come back, but I feel equally strong about Moe deserving the right to have this moment and make this choice about pursuing his dream," Lavin said. "It's exhibit 1A in terms of, if you come to St. John's, great things can happen . . . He's the most well-rounded player I've coached at this stage after his freshman year."
The 6-8 Harkless averaged 15.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.6 steals in 36.1 minutes per game for St. John's (13-19). But he said it was a difficult season because Lavin coached only four games and the Red Storm played with five freshman starters and one junior college transfer after several recruits failed to qualify academically or left school.
"I came to St. John's to be able to play under coach Lavin," Harkless said. "Unfortunately, his situation didn't allow me to play under him as much as I wanted to, but we still have a great relationship and he's supportive of me in this decision . . . It was really tough mentally with all of us being young and without our head coach and physically, as well. But I think we did a good job and fought through everything."
Lavin said his NBA contacts project Harkless to go anywhere from No. 13 to No. 25. Lavin told Harkless he would be a candidate for player of the year honors in the Big East and the nation if he stayed and then move up to the lottery, but the Queens native had his mind made up.
"I feel like nothing is ever really guaranteed," he said. "If you have an opportunity, you have to make the most of it. I think now is the time for me to go."
