Harvey Committed to Long-Term Hawks Success

Monday, August 23, 2021

NBL21 MVP runner-up Tyler Harvey is changing the narrative at the Illawarra Hawks.

A club that has been haunted by superstars leaving at the top of their game, including Gary Ervin, Rotnei Clarke, Kevin Lisch, Nick Kay and Mitch Norton, Harvey is ready to break the trend.

The 28-year-old inked a new three-year deal with the Hawks in July, and he is committed to building a culture of success and sustainability in Illawarra.

It is a goal shared by coach Brian Goorjian and after the Hawks’ dream run to the Semi-Finals last season, Harvey is prepared to go further once the new season begins on November 18.

"I really didn't know until after (I signed) and people told me about that tradition (of stars leaving)," Harvey said, via the Illawarra Mercury.

"You can tell people thought I'd go there for a year and bounce out. I want to change that narrative around Illawarra and Wollongong and I want to bring winning back there.

"I always try to stay present and not think too far ahead, but I enjoyed every part of my experience there, especially when we were winning. I mean, that playoff atmosphere was amazing.

"It felt like the right place for me and I'm glad to be back. I want to leave there knowing, whenever I'm done, that I made an impact and people know it's a winning organisation.

"I don't want to be one and done and just go there to leave the next year. I want to win there, that's my goal and I know it's Goorj's goal too. We really want to win and bring even more excitement to the city."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3? more years for Tyler Harvey with the <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@illawarrahawks</a> ?<br><br>The All-NBL First Teamer will be back in the 'Gong for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> and beyond.<br><br>Details here: <a href="https://t.co/NiyTEuIUWV">https://t.co/NiyTEuIUWV</a> <a href="https://t.co/wVpUVUkdzb">pic.twitter.com/wVpUVUkdzb</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1413358668184096774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Illawarra has made a splash in free agency, recruiting Travis Trice, Antonius Cleveland, Harry Froling and Australian Boomers Olympic bronze medallist Duop Reath to strengthen their roster alongside the incumbent core of Harvey, Sam Froling, Akoldah Gak, Dan Grida, Emmett Naar, AJ Ogilvy and Isaac White.

Goorjian believes it is a squad that has championship potential, and he is determined to ensure it isn’t a one-hit-wonder.

"I've been around the NBL a long time and the Hawks have had good seasons before," Goorjian said, via the Illawarra Mercury.

"They've won a championship, but whenever they've had a player that's First Team All-League or can go, and the league sees they can go, (they) just pluck them.

"It's the Kings the next year, New Zealand, one of the power clubs. To be honest, Wollongong's been horrible (in retention).

"The club was top four, Kay's gone, Mitch Norton, they're in Perth the next year and it's starting all over again.

"That's what we're trying to build with the Hawks, we're not second tier.

"To sign (Harvey) back is big and the second guy that was very, very important to me was Duop Reath - a national team player. It's the elite of the NBL and we've signed one. Those two singings for me (show) we're not here to make up the numbers.

"We're here to be a championship franchise where every year you're bringing something to the table."

Despite a strong roster on paper, Harvey isn’t buying into the hype and external noise surrounding the Hawks.

He knows when the NBL22 season tips off on November 18, Illawarra has a lot of work ahead of them to win a championship.

"It's not going to be easy, it wasn't easy for us last year. I don't look at it as pressure, it's a journey, it's a process,” Harvey said, via the Illawarra Mercury.

"No championship run is going to be easy, we'd be foolish to think it will be. It's exciting, it's a process but I feel we got a good jumpstart on that process last year."