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Tyler Harvey’s long climb has begun with Erie Bayhawks

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 19, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Eastern Washington Eagles guard Tyler Harvey (1) shoots the basketball against Georgetown Hoyas guard Jabril Trawick (55) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Eastern Washington Eagles guard Tyler Harvey (1) shoots the basketball against Georgetown Hoyas guard Jabril Trawick (55) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Erie Bayhawks opened their season and Orlando Magic second-round pick Tyler Harvey is still trying to find his footing as a professional.

The Orlando Magic selected Tyler Harvey with the 51st pick in the NBA Draft. Unlike most American second round draft picks, Harvey was not a part of the Magic’s training camp. The Magic opted not to sign him, retaining his rights for next season.

And so the NCAA’s leading scorer for the 2015 season was sent to the Erie Bayhawks to play under Bill Peterson and the Magic’s development staff in the D-League. It would appear the Magic arranged this with the chance to make the Magic’s training camp roster next fall.

Harvey’s journey is a unique one. Not getting the call up directly to the NBA is just another bump in the road.

As told in a recent video from STACK Media, Harvey said the Magic wanted him to develop this year under Peterson and the Bayhawks’ system with the opportunity to make the main roster next season.

"“I just want to go out there and perform my best night in and night out,” Harvey says in the video. “My big thing on me was I was too small, can’t play at the next level, too skinny, not athletic enough is one that I always got. I took it all to heart. I’m kind of glad they said those kind of things because it makes me want to work harder.”"

Peterson said Harvey already has one NBA skill — his ability to shoot and score the basketball.

In four games entering Friday’s schedule, Harvey is averaging 10.3 points per game on a 41.3 percent effective field goal percentage. Harvey has had some struggled scoring consistently and efficiently.

Of course, Harvey has had to figure things out and prove doubters wrong at every stage of his basketball life.

He went unrecruited out of high school and was not even going to play in college until his dad happened to be sitting next to then-Whitworth coach Jim Hayford. Hayford said he would give Harvey a shot when he took the job at Eastern Washington. Harvey had to walk on.

By the time Harvey left Eastern Washington, he was averaging 23.1 points per game, the top mark in the nation. He was a huge offensive weapon, a high-volume scorer who was dominating opponents.

The question was whether it would translate to the pros.

After acquiring Shabazz Napier, the Magic smartly found a way to keep Harvey’s rights while still having him work on and learn the Magic’s system. Harvey and Napier very much duplicate each other’s skills. Harvey will still need plenty of seasoning.

The Magic have lots of other players they are surely keeping an eye on at the D-League level.

Devyn Marble was sent down to Erie while the Magic are on the West Coast trip. Marble played his first game Thursday, scoring 17 points on 6-for-14 shooting, adding eight rebounds and five assists.

Training camp invitees Melvin Ejim, Jordan Sibert and Nnanna Egwu are also thriving early on this season. Ejim leads the team in scoring with 17.8 points per game and grabs 9.8 rebounds per game with a solid 46.9 percent shooting. Egwu averages 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Sibert is posting 14.0 points per game on 39.6 percent shooting.

Next: The Magic are building some serious momentum

The Magic are seeing some good things coming from the Bayhawks players they want to watch. In all likelihood these players will get invites to the Magic’s Summer League and possibly another shot at training camp (if not a call up to a NBA team at some point this season).