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NBA Draft: Who is Tyler Harvey?

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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Tyler Harvey, Eastern Washington Eagles, Robert Johnson, Indiana Hoosiers
Nov 24, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Eastern Washington Eagles guard Tyler Harvey (1) shoots the ball over Indiana Hoosiers guard Robert Johnson (4) in the second half of the game at Assembly Hall. Eastern Washington Eagles beats Indiana Hoosiers by the score of 88-86. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic spent their second round pick on the NCAA’s leading scorer in Tyler Harvey. Can this shooting lefty translate to the NBA level?

The numbers are simply eye popping.

When you lead the NCAA and its 100-plus teams in scoring, leading a small conference school through the gauntlet of the conference tournament and into the NCAA Tournament, you should get notice. When you do that as someone who was a walk on and did not earn a scholarship until your first full year playing at Eastern Washington, it should be a reason to take notice.

So how do you go from that to 23.1 points per game, leading the nation in scoring, and back-to-back years scoring 20-plus points per game?

It takes some talent and offensive ingenuity to accomplish all of that. It also takes complete dedication and a willingness to take advantage of opportunities too. That is likely what caught the Magic more than the raw scoring numbers.

Harvey though has the scoring gravitas that demands you respect him at least a little bit. The previous leading scorers in the nation were Doug McDermott (2014), Erick Green (McDermott and Nate Wolters were in the top 5 in 2013), Reggie Hamilton (Damian Lillard was second and McDermott third in 2012), Jimmer Fredette (2011, with Marshon Brooks second) and Aubrey Coleman (2010).

The list is hit or miss. Just because you score a lot at the college level does not mean you will be a great NBA player. Obviously Harvey slipped to the second round and his presence on a small-conference team did not help. It gave him the ability to showcase all of his skills and flourish on the offensive end at least.

A guy that can put the ball in the basket at the rate Harvey did in college, no matter where it was, deserves a chance. Stephen Curry had the same questions about his ability to defend and get his shot up at the NBA level, and that obviously worked out well.

Harvey is not Curry. He is not a point guard in the same way. His only potentially NBA skill is his scoring ability. But if you can shoot and if you can put the ball in the basket, you can find a way to make it in the league.

The question is can he play with that chip on his shoulder once again and prove everyone who doubted him wrong again?

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