Moe Harkless has never been a contingency plan.
The 19-year-old Queens native has been the first option for as long as he can remember. His overwhelming talent provided endless opportunities, but the Magic rookie has averaged just over 10 minutes per game this month.
About an hour before last night’s game against the Nets at Barclays Center, Harkless learned Arron Afflalo wouldn’t play due to a calf strain. Opportunity, once a given, arose unexpectedly. And the rookie grabbed on to it like it might never come again.
Making his first start since Dec. 29, the former St. John’s star went off for a career-high 16 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 on 3-pointers, in the Magic’s 97-77 loss last night.
“It’s tough. You go from being the go-to guy to being someone who’s trying to find their way,” said Harkless, who averaged 3.8 points coming into the game. “I just got to keep working and when opportunity comes I got to take advantage of it.”
Harkless, who was held scoreless in his return to the City on Nov. 11 against the Nets and had scored only 14 points over the past four games, had only one other double-digit scoring effort (10) this season. He played a career-high 34:05, after never seeing more than 24 minutes of action in his professional career, and he used the rare opportunity to display the talent perplexingly underused on a losing team, one with little to lose.
“He’s doing some really good things,” said Magic coach Jacques Vaughn. “He used his minutes very wisely tonight and he was very productive for us.”
Harkless, who starred at St. John’s for only one season and was named the Big East Rookie of the Year, also had four rebounds, two assists and three steals.
From the start, the 6-foot-8 forward was aggressive, but under control, looking for his shot, but not forcing his shot.
He was active on defense, and displayed the athleticism and touch that made him the 15th overall pick in the most recent draft.
“The great thing is, throughout the course of this season we’ve seen him progress on both ends of the floor,” said Vaughn. “He looks more comfortable.
“You have to give him the credit for wanting to be better and working every single day to get better.”
Harkless was thrilled to be back in New York and couldn’t wait to see his former teammates today, when he attends the Red Storm’s practice.
Last night, he enjoyed seeing family and friends at the game, but tomorrow, the rookie will experience an odd sensation when he returns to a place he once called home
“I can’t wait,” said Harkless, who will play at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks tomorrow night. “I don’t know how it’s going to feel, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”