Meet Matt Harpring

Matt Harpring is posting career high numbers with the Jazz this season.

Matt Harpring joined the Jazz after spending last season with the Philidelphia 76ers where he enjoyed career highs in scoring, rebounding, and games played. The 6-7 Harpring averaged 11.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and played in 81 games during the 2001-2002 season. Harpring joined the 76ers after an off-season trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers in August of 2001. The Cavaliers were Harpring’s second team after being originally drafter by the Orlando Magic with the 15 pick of the 1998 draft.

Born on April 5, 1976 in Georgia, Matt Harpring attended high school and college in the same state he was born. At Marist High School in Atlanta he starred in football and basketball and while he excelled at each, it was basketball scholarship sent Harpring to Georgia Tech. Yet, it is actually the sport of football that runs in the family. His grandfather Norb played college football at Navy, his father Jack played at Michigan, his uncle Chip at Notre Dame. Brothers John and Brian played at Akron and Northwestern respectively.

But after four years at Georgia Tech it was clear Harpring had made the right choice in basketball. While at the university he became the school’s all-time leader in free throws (508) made and attempted (675). He is the second all-time leader in scoring and rebounds with 2,225 points and 997 rebounds respectively. Harpring joined impressive company becoming only the second Yellowjacket named to the Atlantic Cost Conference (ACC) First-Team for three consecutive seasons, the other player was former Cleveland Cavalier Mark Price.

Now in his first season with the Jazz, Harpring is providing the team with a quailty second scorer to go along with Karl Malone. Through the season Harpring’s scoring average steadily climbed as he learned the offense and became more familiar with his new teamates. Currently, almost mid way through the season, he looks as if he has spent his entire career with the Jazz. It has been a decade since any Jazz player, other than Karl Malone, has averaged over 18ppg. Harpring is averaging a career high 18.5ppg.

Signed on August 15, 2002, Harpring was expected to add perimter shooting to a Jazz team that sorely needed outside help. Last season with the 76ers he shot just over 46% from the field. With the Jazz, Harpring has seen the number rise to 51%. Yet it may be the unexpected stat that, while not surprising to the coaching staff, has impressed fans. Through 40 games this season the forward is averaging 7.2 rebounds per game, trailing only Karl Malone(8.1rpg). Though he actually leads the team in offensive rebounds at 2.85 per game.

Derek Garduno is currently a student at the University of Utah and an intern in the Jazz Public Relations Department.