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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — D.J. Harvey recently “cut” his list to 16 schools, a fact which he admits he gets teased about.
“Of course, everybody. They were asking me to name all 16 [schools] on ESPN,” he said with a smile after going for 13 points and 10 rebounds in DeMatha Catholic’s 72-69 win over Chaminade College Prep (MO) in which Jayson Tatum put up 40 points in the loss. “I plan to cut it to single-digits before AAU starts.”
Among the schools on his list are Duke, Notre Dame, Maryland, Arizona, North Carolina, Louisville and N.C. State.
“I’ve visited more than 75 percent of the 16 I listed, but I really want to visit Oklahoma,” he said. “And then also Alabama.”
On Oklahoma, he said he likes “the way they play. The way they get Buddy Hield involved, I love that offense. And the way the guards go.”
As for Alabama, Harvey said, “Coach Avery [Johnson] there, I feel like he can me get ready for my ultimate goal which is getting in the league.”
Harvey said he has especially stong relationships with the coaching staffs at two schools.
“Arizona and Duke right now, they always communicate, always reach out,” he said. “And also Texas and Villanova.”
With Duke, Harvey said he communicates with associate head coach Jeff Capel but has also asked Coach K for advice when he’s slumping.
“Just don’t think, just shoot,” Coach K told him.
Harvey also visited Duke.
“The campus was beautiful and the facilities are the best I’ve seen, and the players welcomed me with open arms,” Harvey said.
As for his role there, he said, “Coach K wants me to be a scorer and bring leadership and feels like I would play well with some of the playes.”
Asked who was working the hardest, Harvey said: “Arizona, Duke, N.C. State, Texas, Villanova, Oklahoma and South Carolina.”
Everyone on his list has offered except North Carolina but he said their interest is “heavy.”
“I expect an offer soon,” he said. “I visited them when I was in North Carolina. Coach [Roy] Williams is always saying he needs to see more motor on the defensive side, not just scoring. If I get that down, I’m pretty sure they’ll offer.”
He plans to cut his list to “single-digits” before the Nike EYBL season.
Then maybe some of the teasing will stop.
