BASKETBALL: Harris keeps his head in the game

By Jonah Bronstein
Niagara Gazette

June 26, 2009 10:44 pm

— Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris may be teammates again soon.
Harris said Friday that the Minnesota Timberwolves are one of three NBA teams that have invited him to join their summer league roster. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls have also made contact with his agent, Harris said.
Minnesota, which used the sixth overall pick in Thursday’s draft on Flynn, will play in the 21-team NBA Summer League beginning July 11 in Las Vegas.
“I’ve got an opportunity to play with Jonny Flynn again — that would be insane,” Harris said prior to a two-and-a-half-hour workout at Niagara Falls High School where he and Flynn teamed up to win a state championship in 2005, before reuniting at Syracuse University.
“Somebody told me before the draft, ‘What if Jonny goes in the first round, and you go in the second round to the same team?’ I said that would definitely be crazy for this city, and ourselves.”
Harris was in good spirits Friday after not being one of the 60 players drafted into the NBA the night before.
“Honestly, before the draft, I was prepared for the worst and hoping for the best. I didn’t even watch the draft with my family because I’m thinking in my mind, if (going undrafted) does happen, I don’t want to see them get upset.
“I can take it. I’ve been through way worse things than not being drafted.”
Harris said Leon Rose, the Creative Artists Association basketball agent who represents him and Flynn, called after the draft and told him, “It’s not over. Stay focused and keep your phone ready.”
“A lot of people don’t understand how the draft is,” Harris said. “They think if you get drafted in the second round, it’s guaranteed you’ll play in the league. They don’t know it’s (picks No.) 1 through 30 guaranteed. And 31 through 60 still have to make the team.
“I’m in that same situation. I have to go and make the team. This just makes the chip on my shoulder a little bit bigger.”
Harris traveled to Cleveland today for a three-day tryout camp, and hopes to find a summer league team soon after.
Thursday night was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for Harris. The disappointment of not hearing his name called in the second round came after the thrill of watching one of his closest friends drafted early.
“As a fan and a friend of Jonny Flynn, that was amazing,” Harris said. “That’s my little brother, man. I’m so proud of him. I know all the hard work he put in, right in this gym.”
Harris said Friday was the first time he had played basketball at Niagara Falls High School since an all-star game shortly after the 2005 season.
E-mail reporter Jonah Bronstein at jonah.bronstein@niagara-gazette.com

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