Naperville North junior Will Harvey has always been a center.
He got roped into playing the position due to his size.
“Growing up, I was the tall kid, so I played 5,” Harvey said. “It’s just something that I’ve kept developing into.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to grow to like 6-6. But I’m here right now, so I’m going to do what I can for this team.”
The 6-foot-3 Harvey stopped growing last year, he thinks. But his athleticism, which continues to blossom, and an impressive array of other intangibles have made him a vital asset for the relatively undersized Huskies.
Harvey had his best game Friday night against crosstown rival Naperville Central. The varsity rookie contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, setting career highs in both categories, along with two steals and an assist to lead the host Huskies to a 74-63 DuPage Valley Conference victory.
“Will is a great young man, an incredibly hard worker,” Naperville North coach Gene Nolan said. “He knows who he is, which is a tough defender who can score when it’s needed, and it was tonight.
“Will has just been terrific for us.”
Harvey was terrific from the get-go on Friday. He scored the first four points for the Huskies (5-2, 1-1) and had nine points in the first quarter.
That production was necessary because the Redhawks (3-5, 0-2) still led 20-19 after one quarter as both offenses were cooking in front of a large crowd.
Harvey was particularly effective on the glass. He had six offensive rebounds.
“They weren’t as big as some of the teams we’ve gone against,” Harvey said. “We’ve played a lot of big dudes, and every game gives me more experience.
“You’ve got to play really tough against guys who are big, so that really teaches me how to play tough.”
Harvey puts an emphasis on positioning and boxing out.
“You get underneath them and just keep driving them out, always crash the boards and play with a relentless abandon,” Harvey said. “Coach Nolan says keep going and never step off the gas.”
That’s never a problem for Harvey, who is always on the go. He was the starting left tackle for Naperville North’s football team this past season, blocking for quarterback Jacob Bell, and he competes in the shot put and discuss in the spring.
Sophomore guard Jack Zitko, who had 13 points against Naperville Central, thinks Harvey’s football experience benefits him on the court.
“Football is a tough sport, obviously, so he has the mindset of ‘I’m just going to go out there and hit that person,’” Zitko said. “He’s big and physical, not tall, but he just bangs around.
“His mindset is, ‘I’m going to go get this rebound. I don’t really care what happens.’ If he fouls, he’s like, ‘I’m on to the next one.’”
That’s a necessary attitude for a team consisting nearly entirely of varsity newcomers.
“We’re a young team,” Harvey said. “We’re still getting used to playing with each other, and we keep evolving.
“We know we’re a little bit undersized, but we play with a chip on our shoulders. We play tough, and we know how to play together, so it’s just awesome playing hard for my guys.”
Harvey’s forte is defense, but his offensive production set the tone against Naperville Central.
“Will’s scoring and rebounding early helped open up the floor a little bit for our other players, so it was not just what he was doing,” Nolan said. “It was also the multiplier effect for our others players.
“Will was scoring inside, and we had some kids score outside.”
Indeed, all five Naperville North starters scored in double figures. Junior forward Miles Okyne led the way with 16 points, while Naperville Central senior forward Daniel Nussbaum came off the bench to score 13 of his 16 points in the second half.
The Huskies put the game away down the stretch with an 8-0 run, which Harvey capped with a steal and layup with 1:06 remaining.
“It was so much fun,” he said. “When you play your archrivals, it’s hyped up.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
