He played his college basketball for Notre Dame. He played his heart out in South Bend and became one of the best players in the Big East and Fighting Irish basketball history.
So when he was drafted by the Celtics last month, it was a perfect fit — going from one Irish to another.
To Doc Rivers’ delight, the undersized power forward has been playing huge for the C’s during the summer league in Orlando, Fla. The 6-foot-8, 251-pound Harangody poured in 18 points and grabbed eight boards in Friday’s loss to the Nets. And in his four previous games, he averaged nearly 17 points and seven rebounds per game.
Harangody dropped 23 on the Oklahoma City Thunder in his professional debut on Monday.
For someone who has been following the Notre Dame product, those numbers shouldn’t be any surprise. Harangody has constantly been underestimated. In fact, eight Big East players were drafted ahead of him. But after he is overlooked, he frequently outperforms players many consider to be more talented than him. He’s done it for the last four years.
Once named conference player of the year, he is one of only 11 Big East players to earn all-conference honors three times. His 21.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game during those three years are nothing to sneeze at.
Kendrick Perkins’ blown-out knee combined with Rasheed Wallace’s retirement have led many to question the depth of the Celtics’ big men. Harangody, with what he has shown so far, could be asked to step in right away for some production off the pine. Don’t expect 20 and 10 right away, or 17 and seven for that matter, but anything Harangody can give will certainly be a plus.
Now with the addition of Jermaine O’Neal as a viable center, the combo of Harangody and Glen Davis coming off the bench could be an energetic and fun tandem to watch.
Davis, of course, is a second-round draft product himself, picked No. 35 overall by the Seattle SuperSonics, before a quick move to Boston. The C’s selected Harangody with the 52nd pick.
To what can we attribute Harangody’s early success? His work ethic? His soft touch around the rim? His rebounding ability?
All of those things, for sure. But don’t count out the luck of the Irish.
