The only interaction Tobias Harris had with Sachem prior to Tuesday was beating the Flaming Arrows in the first round of the Suffolk County Class A boys basketball playoffs with Hills West in 2010.
It only took a tweet from Sachem basketball player Chris Galdamez to get Harris, an NBA player with the Orlando Magic, to come to Sachem North and play hoops in an open gym session during ninth period.
“I told them I’d be here,” said Harris, who spent one year at Tennessee before being drafted by Charlotte in 2011 (and then traded to Milwaukee). “It was good to be here, play and show them a couple things and just have fun.”
Just about everyone left in the building ninth period came down to see Harris dunk, run full court and glide down the hardwood. Afterwards he spent time talking to Sachem’s basketball players about focus.
“I told them to stay focused with whatever they do,” he said, “whether it be basketball, school work, on or off the court, just be the best player and best person you can be in life. There are so many things you can be, and sometimes coming from a professional athlete might hit them harder then if it comes from a teacher or mentor. If I could just help one guy here, then I’ve done my job.”
In Sachem’s illustrious history, it’s the Galdamez tweet that will go down as one of the most clutch social media free throws around. His brother Alex also played in the playoff game for Sachem against Harris and Hills West in 2010.
“He’s a guy from Long Island and he gives a lot of Long Island ballers some motivation,” said Galdamez. “I decided to shoot him a tweet and he answered.”
Sachem hoops coach Tom Mullee sent a message on Twitter to Harris Monday night confirming his arrival. Once the rumor swirled that an NBA player would be coming to Sachem, most players were giddy by the end of the day when the former Mr. New York Basketball arrived in Lake Ronkonkoma.
“Pretty amazing guy, Tobias Harris, to give back to the Long Island basketball community like this,” Mullee said. “Really a pretty special moment in our gym and for the Sachem community at large. It’s really neat that he wanted to give back like that.”
Harris was traded to Orlando from Milwaukee this season and it has done wonders for his game. He averaged just under five points and three rebounds per game with the Bucks in two seasons, but turned in averages of 17 points and 9 rebounds per game by season’s end with the Magic. His journey from Long Island to the NBA was well chronicled by local media, but his actions at Sachem show he’s looking for anything but the limelight.
After his pep talk with the young ball players, Harris broke it down in a huddle … “Sachem,” he chanted in unison with everyone.
“For me to come here and play with these guys has been a good experience,” he said, “and I know it has been for them also.”
PHOTOS: See more images from the Tobias Harris visit at Sachem
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro