“I prefer to shoot at home. That’s were I really learned to play the game. My court at home is part beat down grass, and part dirt with my hoop attached to the barn. It’s my favorite place to spend my time. There are many things about it that make practicing there a hassle but lots of those things make you that much better when you get on a real court. People think they need gym time to improve your game, all you need is a hoop bolted up somewhere, that’s why it’s the best game in the world.”
Harvey Bradford, Sr. Mt. Baker
(Pictured: Harvey Bradford has made numerous provincial teams including this years U-17 squad.)
“My mother has been the most influential person in my life. She taught me basketball at a very young age and she was the one who got me started practicing on my own. I think one of the biggest points that she ever made to me about playing basketball was making all parts of my game equal. That’s the reason I can use both of my hands so well”
Harvey Bradford, Sr. Mt. Baker
(Pictured: Harvey Bradford has represented BC on provincial teams for the past 3 years. He helped guide the Mt. Baker squad to a trip to the Provincials last year at the Agrodome. This year he is currently dropping 31 a night while looking to take his team back to the promised land. Here he shows off his athleticism jumping over one of his teammates in the finals of the dunk contest.)
"COUNTRY BOY" - HARVEY BRADFORD: SENIOR FORWARD MT. BAKER
Have you ever heard of Skookumchuk ? Well if you have then you probably know that it isn’t exactly your hot bed for producing basketball players. However, Harvey Bradford isn’t your typical player. Harvey grew up just outside of Calgary in Skookumchuk BC where he learned how to the play the game in a little bit different then your average player. At his home the basketball hoop is attached to the side of a barn and the surface is padded down grass with a few rocks you have to kick out of the way when you’re playing. Most players wouldn’t be able to play under these circumstances but that is what separates Harvey from the rest of the pack. Harvey Bradford is one of the top players in the province leading the Mt. Baker team while dropping 31 a night. He has represented BC for the last couple years on numerous provincial teams and He’s determined to get his team back to the Agrodome for his senior year.
Harvey picked up the game of basketball at a young age. He developed that love for the game in his back yard shooting on his barn for countless hours. “My mother has been the most influential person in my life. She taught me basketball at a very young age and she was the one who got me started practicing on my own. I think one of the biggest points that she ever made to me about playing basketball was making all parts of my game equal. That’s the reason I can use both of my hands so well” says Harvey the 6’5’’ swingman from Mt. Baker. “I prefer to shoot at home. That’s were I really learned to play the game. My court at home is part beat down grass, and part dirt with my hoop attached to the barn. It’s my favorite place to spend my time. There are many things about it that make practicing there a hassle but lots of those things make you that much better when you get on a real court. People think they need gym time to improve your game, all you need is a hoop bolted up somewhere, that’s why it’s the best game in the world.” Harvey has used what his parents have installed in him at an early age and he has now developed into one of the most versatile player’s in BC.
Harvey made the U-17 team this past summer before he suffered an unfortunate injury that forced him to be sidelined. “Hurting my ankle was about the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I worked so hard all season before that summer, then I made the provincial team and things were looking good. I was just starting to play more like a wanted to with the team, when I came down hard on my left ankle and twisted it real bad. The hardest part about the whole situation was when I had to sit and watch everyone else play while I sat there on the side lines.” Harvey used this adversity to motivate him to comeback stronger and more physical then he has ever been before. “It was a long hard process recovering from an injury. In my head I thought it would only be a month or so, and then it turned into not being able to really use my ankle till the start of the school year. It’s not all about just recovering so you can play again, there’s the mental part of it. I felt nervous to slash like I used to. It was hard to get back to the way I was before the injury. I lost all my confidence and it’s taken me a long time to get it back, but I feeling good again. Now I’m back and hoping to make a run with my team at the BC's this year.”
Playing basketball in an area where there aren’t too many other schools can have its downside. Mt. Baker hasn’t played a home game (except for their tourney) all year. Their schedule isn’t like most high school teams where your game is just a cross town. There closet game is at least a 4.5 hour car ride and recently they drove 18 hours to compete in the BRIT tournament in Saskatoon. They do all this in order to find the best competition to help prepare them for the provincials. “Playing at the Agrodome was a great experience and I hope to get a chance to do again. The team has been playing really well I think we keep improving the way we've been playing we can make top eight at provincials this year.”
Harvey is getting recruited by several CIS schools and hopes to one day represent his country on the national team. Not everyone knows about his home town but everyone that gets to play against him knows that he’s got game. When the provincials come to town make sure you check him out because he can do things that others simply can’t (see above pic).
DRIVE would like to wish Harvey and his Mt. Baker teammates the best of luck this season.
