By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Last week, Tennessee Tech men's basketball head coach John Pelphrey announced the signing of six individuals for the 2020-21 season. Over the next two weeks, we will take a closer look at each member of the newest class of Golden Eagles.
Joining the purple and gold as a true freshman for the 2020-21 campaign is Austin Harvell, one of three commits at the forward position. Harvell was a star at East Limestone High School in Athens, Ala. each of the past two seasons.
"Tech wanted me to be an important piece to the team since they laid eyes on me," Harvell said about his decision to attend Tech. "They never gave up on me and see something bright in me and my future with them."
Transferring to ELHS for his junior season to play under head coach Fred Steger, Harvell earned Class 5A All-State First Team honors, AL.com Super All-State Honorable Mention honors, Decatur Daily Class 5A-7A Player of the Year honors and a spot on the Class 5A-7A All-Area First Team, despite suffering a knee injury in the early portion of that summer. He also earned an invitation to the Alabama North/South All-Star Game.
"Austin is someone who I first started recruiting when I was at the University of Alabama as an associate head coach," Pelphrey explained. "The thing I respect the most about him is, everyone who has had a chance to watch and get to know Austin, says he is of high character and conducts himself in a first-class manner. We value and trust positive attitudes and behavior. Our 'Code' and 'Leaders First' mentality depends on that type of DNA or 'Core Values of Character.'"
Averaging 16.6 points and 7.9 rebounds on 51.0 percent shooting and a 46.0 percent showing from 3-point range, he led his team to 21 wins and the school's first appearance in the Class 5A Northwest Regional Final since 1997. Harvell also guided his team to its first of two straight Area 16 titles.
"Coach Pel told me what type of playing style they run and I felt I would fit right in," Harvell explained. "I'm pretty versatile, I can play anywhere from a one to a four. So it was just a great fit."
The 6-foot-6 swingman turned in another spectacular showing as a senior, taking ELHS to the Class 5A Northwest Regional Semifinals on a 23-8 record before falling to the eventual state champions. He averaged 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists on his way to Class 5A All-State Second Team accolades, AL.com Super All-State First Team honors and a spot on the Class 5A-7A All-Area First Team. He also represented one of just 12 players in the state to earn an invite to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.
"Coach Pel also speaks highly about leadership and development," Harvell added, "which stood out to me. Personally, I'm looking forward to growing into more of a professional and learning and understanding the game better."
Prior to transferring to ELHS, he played three years on the basketball team at Clements High School for head coach Brian Gafford. As an eighth-grader, he averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds at the guard position. In seven games as a freshman, he posted averages of 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks before a season-ending injury.
His sophomore season, he proved it was no fluke and he was healthy, shooting 44.0 percent from the field, 39.0 percent from beyond the arc and 74.0 percent from the charity stripe while averaging 17.6 points, 9.0 boards, 3.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. He earned News Courier All-County Team honors for his efforts.
Action photo courtesy of Dean Baucom, Athens News-Courier
