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The D-League means exposure for Ivan Harris

Harris took a pay cut for the chance to play ‘every game’ in front of NBA scouts.

Former Buckeye Harris wants to play in NBA

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 1:34 AM Saturday, April 18, 2009

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — It’s 40 minutes before tip-off at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Friday, April 10.

Ivan Harris stands behind the 3-point line on the right wing, waiting for a bounce pass from Erie BayHawks assistant coach Benjamin McDonald.

Harris pushes his left hand forward, catches the ball and gently rolls it into his fingertips. In one motion, Harris brings the ball to his chest, squares his feet, hops and releases the ball.

With perfect arc and rotation, the ball dives through the basket, the iron. The net jumps up like a teenager from her seat at a scary movie.

McDonald catches the ball right out of the net and throws another bounce pass.

Swish.

Again, another bounce pass.

Swish.

Harris, a 6-foot-7 forward, can’t miss.

On this night, the BayHawks face NBA Development League Central Division rival Fort Wayne with a playoff berth on the line. Win and they’re in — it doesn’t get much simpler than that.

Getting exposure

The NBA Development League began in 2001 with eight teams making up a minor-league organization for the NBA. In 2005, the newly named D-League expanded to 15 teams, all of which had affiliation with at least two NBA teams.

The league is full of players with NBA aspirations. It’s proven to be a great stepping stone. Roughly 20 percent of all NBA players have spent time in the D-League. Harris is trying to become one of those players.

Harris played at North and South high schools in Springfield before going to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior season. He started on Ohio State University’s national runner-up team in 2007.

Last season, Harris played for Lappeenranta of the Korisliiga in Finland. After averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game, he decided he wanted more exposure from NBA scouts, taking his chances with the D-League even though he would be playing for less money.

Each player signs a contract with the league and is allocated to a team. The D-League pay scale is broken down into three different levels. A-level players make between $24,000 and $26,000, B-level players make between $18,000 and $20,000 and C-level players make between $12,500 and $14,000.

Harris admits the money isn’t great, but it’s all about experience and exposure.

Every night is like an audition for the NBA. Although Erie is affiliated with both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers, any NBA team is open to sign any player from the D-League at any moment.

“There’s a scout at every game — every game,” Harris said. “You have to always bring your A-game.”

Harris is playing against and with all kinds of players who had outstanding college careers. He’s teammates with former University of North Carolina star Jackie Manuel and the University of Kentucky’s Erik Daniels.

“It’s a lot of guys trying to make it,” Harris said. “You have to play every game like it’s your last. They’re all going at your throat.”

Losing his focus

Four minutes into the game, Harris locks arms in the post with the Mad Ants’ 6-11 center Anthony Kent. He’s got four inches on Harris.

It’s a predicament Harris has faced all season. In Finland, Harris played his natural position, small forward.

But with the undersized BayHawks, Harris is learning to bang with giants in the paint to do “whatever is best for the team.”

“I’ve shut down a lot of guys, holding them off their average,” Harris said.

But against the Mad Ants, the banging leads to foul trouble for Harris. He picks up two quick fouls right before halftime. He’s 1-for-3 from the field with two shots cradling the rim before jumping out of the basket.

The BayHawks trail 61-39 at the half in front of 6,559 fans, the largest crowd of the season for Fort Wayne in its home finale.

The second half doesn’t get much better. Harris picks up back-to-back fouls in an eight-second span with 2:57 to go in the third quarter. He’s relegated to the bench and forced to watch as his teammates overcome a 24-point deficit to take a 92-91 lead with 3:45 remaining. He finally returns with 27.3 seconds to go when the BayHawks need free-throw shooting reinforcements.

The BayHawks hold on to win 105-99 and clinch a playoff berth. Harris finishes the game with two points and three rebounds.

“It was an excellent win,” Harris says after the game. “We needed this win. We have another game against them tomorrow. We have to come out a lot stronger than we did.”

He is, however, disappointed with his play.

“Once I got in foul trouble, I think I just lost focus,” Harris says. “I guess my head wasn’t in the game today. I have to forget about this game. We got the victory, and now we have to worry about tomorrow.”

After the game, BayHawks coach John Treloar breathes a sigh of relief. His team has clinched a playoff berth despite trailing for most of the game. He says losing Harris to foul trouble hampered his squad.

“This is a game that put us in the playoffs,” Treloar says. “Our guys stayed focused and didn’t lose their composure. Ivan got in foul trouble down the stretch and that made it a little tough for us. To come back like that was a good step for us.”

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