Prospect Spotlight: Mehkel Harvey (2018)
Mehkel Harvey doesn’t venture into the world of showcase camps much and that’s probably why he continues to be relatively unknown outside of his Huntington Beach home.
The 6-foot-9, 200 pounder is fairly reserved and soft spoken and understands that most of events of that kind are dominated by guards.
But after a strong performance Wednesday night at the Pangos Premier 80 event at Westminster High, the Ocean View high school power forward was happy he chose to participate.
“It’s was a really good experience,” Harvey told Prep Hoops. “Dinos (Trigons) knows how to run a camp and the competition was good.”
Harvey knew coming in that, in order to be recognized by college coaches in that setting, he had to do the little things that separates big men.
“I made sure that the coaches saw my off the ball stuff,” he said. “Setting screens, rolling to the basket hard, and making sure I showed my point guard I was open so he could get me the ball.”
All of those traits translated into Harvey’s two games Wednesday night as he showcased his soft hands, good touch around the basket and out to 3-point range and his elite timing on shot blocking and shot contests.
The rising senior averaged a double-double last season in helping the Seahawks to a 22-7 record, totaling 14.7 points, 11 rebounds and a staggering 5.4 blocks per game.
Harvey is privy to the fact that his defensive capabilities are already at a high level and focused in on his offensive package during the spring.
“This spring I worked on two-man game, rebounding, getting my body right and my 3-point shot,” Harvey said. “I get around 100 3-point shots a day and have been trying to get my shot right.”
Harvey, who has a 7-1 wingspan and doesn’t turn 17 until August, said he’s garnering interest from a couple of Division I programs and some Division II’s, as well.
“There’s some interest in me from Pepperdine and UC Santa Barbara,” he noted. “Oregon State has been looking at me a little bit and Cal State Dominguez Hills.”