THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607280243
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 54 lines
Brett Harper hears the comparisons. Some people make references to Allen Iverson. Others call him Jalen Rose.
``I don't really compare myself to anyone,'' Harper said after his DJ's squad lost 106-102 to A&G Auto in the Hampton Roads Pro-Am Summer League Saturday at Lake Taylor High. He finished with 20 points and five assists.
``I am just as exciting and have the same determination as Iverson. I am just not as fast.''
Or as highly regarded at this point.
Both Michigan's Rose and Georgetown's Iverson earned All-America honors and were first-round NBA draft picks. Harper though, did not begin his career at a major college like the other two guards. Nor does he intend to finish his career at a Big East, Big Ten or ACC school as some imagined.
Harper, the 1995 Peninsula District Player of the Year from Hampton's Kecoughtan High, played at Hagerstown Junior College in Maryland last year. He averaged 13 points and five assists for a team that led the nation in scoring (110 points a game) and advanced to the regionals of the JUCO tournament. That, however, was not good enough.
``Junior college really wasn't for me,'' said Harper, who did not academically qualify for Division I programs out of high school. ``It really wasn't a team. Everybody's competing for scholarships and there were a lot of high school attitudes.''
His attitude has him looking ahead too - hoping to eventually play guard at Old Dominion.
``I've sent them my transcript and grades and I am supposed to find out Monday or Tuesday,'' Harper said of being accepted.
If he does enroll at ODU this fall, Harper will have to sit out a season and not receive a scholarship because he did not complete two years in junior college. But he will still have three years of Division I eligibility.
Regardless of who and where he plays, expect Harper to drive and then finish the play with a finger roll or reverse layup.
``I can take anyone to the basket,'' he said. ``I don't feel anyone can stop me.''
In Hagerstown, Harper was called ``Baby Iverson'' because of the Hampton connection. Elsewhere, he's been called Rose.
``I've gone to Florida, Washington and New York to play basketball and people say, `there goes Jalen Rose,''' said the 6-foot-3 guard. ``Or `Are you Jalen Rose's brother?' ''
While Harper is six inches shorter than Rose - who was traded to the Indiana Pacers in the off-season - the two players sport similar short hairstyles and have the same low, dreamy eyes.
On the court, Harper wears the black shoes, black socks and sagging shorts made popular by Rose and fellow-Fab Fivers at Michigan. Also, Harper wears jersey number 10 - Rose's number.
``It has no special meaning. I used to wear that in rec league,'' Harper said. ``My true number is 32.'' by CNB