MOE’S TOWN
Harkless goes 15th to Philly
MAURICE (MOE) Harkless grew up in Queens as a Knicks supporter. He’s not a fan of theirs any longer.
The Philadelphia 76ers chose the St. John’s star with the 15th pick of the NBA A draft Thursday night at the Prudential Center. As commissioner David Stern annnounced his selection — and, yes, he called him “Maurice,” the player’s preference — Harkless rose to his feet and was embraced by his mother, Rosa, and 7-year-old brother Tyler. Red Storm coach Steve Lavin, sitting a couple seats down, stood and applauded.
“Now, I can’t be a fan of the Knicks,” Harkless said.
Of the Sixers, he added: “They are a really young team and that they play really fast. I think that’s the type of game that I like to play, and I think I’ll fit in well. They had a good run in the playoffs this year. I think I’ll ’ll be able to help that.”
The 19-year-old Harkless is St. John’s first NBA draft pick since Omar Cook in 2001 and the highest Johnnie pick in 20 years, since the late Malik Sealy was taken at No. 14 in 1992 by the Indiana Pacers.
In his one season with the Johnnies, he averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds and nd was named the Big East’s Newcomer of the he Year.
“Talking to the organization, they told me they really liked me and that there was as a really high chance that they would pick ck me,” Harkless said. “It was definitely a great at feeling, and I kind of had a gut feeling.”
Said Lavin: “Philadelphia is one of the young up and coming franchises in the NBA,” Lavin said. “Moe’s particular talents will fit nicely with the up-tempo and flexible system employed by coach Doug Collins.
“Moe is the most well-rounded and complete player I’ve coached relative to this juncture or stage of a playing career. His intellect, size, skill set and athleticism set him apart from others. Not surprisingly, Moe impressed NBA brass in his recent workouts and interviews.”
The 6-8 Harkless had to play power forward for a St. John’s team that was lacking height. He is likely to see time on the wings, too, with Philadelphia. The Sixers this season started Andre Iguodala at small forward, Elton Brand at power forward and Evan Turner at shooting guard. Harkless should see playing time in his first year off the bench.
He said that he received a text message from his agent, Happy Walters, shortly after the 11t h pick that said, “Philly. Maybe Houston.”
Said Harkless: “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.”
Harkless adviser Nate Blue said, “What most teams told us was that they liked how smart he is. He’s tall but he has a guard’s game. . . . He should play more facing the basket in the NBA.”