Sports

Tobias Harris Drafted by Bobcats, Traded to Bucks

Hills West alum endures drama on draft night, but makes it to NBA.

Nothing can be simple for Tobias Harris. He transferred high schools, he left college early for the NBA and he was traded on draft night.

The Half Hollow Hills West alum, who opted out of the University of Tennessee after his freshman season, was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 19th overall pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, then traded in a three-team deal to Milwaukee.

The Bucks received Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston, Beno Udrih and the draft rights to Harris and sent Corey Maggette to Charlotte and John Salmons and the draft rights to Jimmer Fredette (10th overall) to Sacramento. Finally, the draft rights to Bismack Biyombo (7th overall), who was traded from Sacramento to Charlotte, completed the deal.

Find out what's happening in Half Hollow Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We wanted to improve our team and we wanted to stay in the draft if at all possible,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said in a post-draft conference on the team’s website. “We’re thrilled to be able to pick Tobias Harris.”

“You feel by looking at him and watching him whatever his ceiling is going to be he’s going to reach it,” said Bucks coach Scott Skiles in the same conference. “He can do things with the basketball and make a shot.”

Find out what's happening in Half Hollow Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As a freshman for the Volunteers, the 6-foot-8 Harris averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game en route to Second Team All-SEC honors. He was also selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Harris played high school ball at Long Island Lutheran and Hills West, where he was a McDonald’s All-American and one of the most sought after high school players in the history of Long Island athletics.

He worked out for several NBA teams prior to the draft, including Charlotte.

“He's just an amazing guy,” Hammond said. “He’ll be a great addition to our organization.”

Harris is not the first Hills alum to play professional sports. The others include Melvin Fowler (Buffalo Bills, NFL) and Stephen Bowen (Dallas Cowboys, NFL).

From a local angle, Hofstra University’s Charles Jenkins was also taken in this year’s draft after Golden State selected him in the second round, 44th overall.

There are currently three other Long Island natives playing in the NBA: Danny Green (St. Mary's - Cavaliers), A.J. Price (Amityville - Pacers), and Mike James (Amityville - Timberwolves). Knicks coach Phil Weber is also from Northport.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here