[SIZE="2"]Cleveland Catholic Central Highschool[/SIZE]
To understand the Harris family it is essential that one understands the father David. Like his son David was 6'8”, he was 41 but looked older, David himself was recruited by college scouts, but after falling in with the wrong crowd and getting arrested numerous times for drug possession with intent to sell. Although the court system was lenient on David the interest from colleges dried up. Chronic knee injuries finally destroyed any hope of David playing professionally. After a few years of drug use and small stints in jail David got a job as a maintenance man working under his uncle. David became more religious and met his wife Brenda at the local Baptist church. Brenda had a daughter Malika from a previous relationship.
[SIZE="2"]Church where Barry's parents met.[/SIZE]
Brenda Jones was born into poverty, yet despite this she did well in school, all the way up to her junior year in high school, taking honors classes and was well on her way to college. At 16 Branda became pregnant and had a daughter named Malika. Although she did graduate from high school, her college plans were not realized due to being a single mom. Malika lived with her mother and worked full time as a secretary for her local church, where she met David.
David Harris was a strict father, not wanting any of the three children he was raising to fall into the same traps he fell into as a youth. His first born son Devon, was gifted athletically from an early age, he was focused and determined. This was contrary to Malika who was rebellious and barely even lived at home by the age of 15. Barry the youngest was always well liked but never focused on anything, although he was tall and played Basketball in the rec league he seemed to like to play Pokemon more. Any talent Barry did have in basketball or any sport was overlooked because so much energy was put into Devon, Barry liked it this way as he was given a longer leash than Devon and was able to concentrate on video games and friends more.
Above everything Devon Harris loved playing basketball, when he wasn't at the gym he was playing in the street across town, he had become a local phenomenon known throughout the area for being poised and mature for his age and above all else phenomenal at all aspects of basketball. This is why it came as a blow not just to the Harris family, but to the whole community when an errant bullet from a nearby gang related shooting struck Devon in the lower back. It was clear after a few weeks of recovery that the doctor was right. Devon would never be able to play basketball again, at least not on a competitive level.
Of all the people who were effected the most from the shooting it was Barry Harris that changed the most. Barry always was comfortable skating under the radar. In his 12 year old mind he would simply ride his brother's NBA bound coat tails and never have to work much himself. Now he saw that dream and the dream of two generations get wiped away. David Harris was depressed and was barely able to get back to his job before losing it. Brenda Harris spent most of her time trying her best to be positive and move forward, Malika came back and became more close with her family because of the situation. Meanwhile most people assumed that Devon was involved with that activity that eventually led to the bullet that struck him, this made Devon and his whole family angry.
Barry who seemed to have at least some of his brother's natural talent became more focused on everything. Barry quietly while his brother and his two parents focused on Devon's injury joined the honor-roll in his school and became more focused on basketball himself. Barry didn't have any scouts knocking at his door, so he didn't know how he was going to lift his family up, but he was determined to do it in some way.
Barry was 6'2” in his freshman year of high school and due to his relation to his brother he was immediately gifted a spot on the varsity team. Barry did practice harder than anyone, his father and now wheel chair bound brother helped him as much as they could. One thing Barry had that was actually better than his brother was a dead eye jump shot. Although Barry was athletic he never had the explosiveness or jumping ability of his brother. At 6'2” Barry couldn't even dunk.
Barry's freshman year in high school was a good one in terms of basketball and academically, yet it did not justify college or NBA scouting. Still due to his lineage some scouts showed up. Whenever Barry knew a scout was present he seemed to perform poorly, clearly the pressure of success and his family situation put a huge amount of pressure on him.
One day when Barry was shooting and his brother was passing him the ball from his position in his wheelchair he had a conversation. Devon explained that even though he couldn't play basketball, he had moved on he was enrolled at the local community college and he wanted to work on the business side of basketball. Devon said he was more motivated than ever before in things other than basketball, he said he was happy and that he moved on. This surprised Barry, his brother who had been shot had actually moved on, before himself and his father.
Barry kept on growing and by the middle of his sophomore season Barry was 6'4”, he could dunk and he had a great season leading his team to the state championships. Barry's father took notice and Barry started to get strict instructions to practice basketball above all else. David Harris made it clear academics were secondary, basketball was Barry's first priority. Barry practiced with his father daily and learned more from his father than his high school coach.
The next two seasons were a blur. College scouts put Barry on the top of their recruiting list. Barry was a dead-eye shooter, with many other secondary skills, from post moves to solid defense. Barry showed he had a high basketball IQ and that he was a mature person and a hard worker. Scouts said that they saw a lot of his brother in him.
Barry decided to get to Louisville after being promised a large role and a full scholarship on the team. The college was also close enough to drive to so that his family could visit, but far enough to keep a distance from his family.
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[SIZE="2"]The University of Louisville.[/SIZE]
In Barry's first year at Louisville the team made the final four, Barry played a 6th man type role and supported a very talented team, two of his teammates would end up being drafted in the first round this year. Barry scored 11.4 points per game on 53% shooting, his 3pt shooting was 43%. Barry was well on his way to becoming a top prospect. Many scouts were watching Barry very closely in his sophomore year when he was slated to be the team's number one scorer.
Barry only ended up playing 14 games during his sophomore campaign due to a torn ACL. Before his injury Barry was scoring 19.5 points per game on 47% shooting from the field and 40% from 3pt range.
Barry spent most of his summer at home between his sophomore and junior seasons. Barry saw his mother diagnosed with Lupus an autoimmune disorder and not be able to work. Under only his father's salary the family had a hard time paying the mortgage. Despite the fact that his mother urged him to finish all four years of college, Barry knew that he would have to declare for the draft after next year. Devon had graduated from Cleveland State with a degree in Business Economics.
Barry tried to do everything his Junior year, he took his most difficult classes so that he could someday easily return to get his degree if needed(also to placate his mother so she would feel better about leaving college). Barry was the leading scorer on a team that went to the elite 8, yet suffered a disappointing loss to Gonzaga.
Barry scored 21.5 points per game on 49% shooting from the field and 41% from 3pt range. Barry also gathered 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists. As the season went on Barry's draft stock shot up, at the beginning of the year he was slated to go as low as 12th to as high as 21 in mock drafts. Now he was slated to go anywhere from 4th to 7th in the draft.
When draft night came it was Indiana who had the no. 1 pick. As expected the Center Noel White was drafted no. 1. White had the most upside of any player by far, possessing elite athleticism and size in the post. The Celtics drafted Keith Mitchell a high scoring wing who could had a reputation for being a truly great isolation scorer.
Cordell Samnick was drafted 3rd, which seemed like a reach, but the Bucks needed a point guard. Samnick had led Alabama State to the college championship. Samnick was surrounded with other good players, but he stood out for his passing and slashing abilities.
Barry sat with his father and mother knowing that soon he would be picked. He didn't think that the 76ers would draft him since he barely spoke with them, he did speak extensively with the Orlando Magic organization and felt there was a good chance he would go to them at 5.
When Barry's name was called by the Philadelphia 76ers at no. 4 Barry smiled, but he could see larger smiles around for his family. It was all a blur as Barry was blinded by photography flashes as he held up the jersey for the 76ers. Reporters overwhelmed Barry and his family for days on end after that night. Barry's story with his brother getting shot and his mother having Lupus, made Barry's life into an entertaining feel-good story. Barry was beyond that however, it was now time to begin his NBA career.
