Harris Brings Magic To New York

Former Half Hollow Hills West basketball star Tobias Harris was back in New York on Wednesday, making his first trip to Madison Square Garden as a member of the Orlando Magic.

The Dix Hills native was part of a blockbuster trade in late February that sent him along with his then Milwaukee Bucks-teammates Doron Lamb and Beno Udrih to Orlando for J.J. Redick, Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith.

Wednesday’s game, a 106-94 Knicks win over Orlando, provided Harris with his first significant playing time at the building dubbed “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” He scored 14 points and played 31 minutes for the Magic on Wednesday, a far cry from his Feb. 1 appearance with Milwaukee when he played 92 seconds.

"I definitely was upset after that game,” Harris told Newsday. “But I knew things would get better for me as a player.''

Since joining Orlando, Harris is averaging 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in 31.1 minutes.

"If you talk to people who know him, they've always said he has the ability to score the basketball and play at a high level,'' Magic coach Jacques Vaughn told Newsday. "What do you do when your opportunity presents itself? He's done a good job of seizing the moment and taking advantage of it.''