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The last game this past Sunday October 17th at IS8 was a face off between division leaders Variety All Stars and the Metro Hawks. The surprise was the play at the very tip off of the game. Maurice Harkless, the touted 6’8 forward from NYC rushed to the basket for a sweeping towering high flying jam over the outstretched hands of two well positioned defenders. There was some rather subdued announcing the previous game by Pete Edwards the long time commissioner of the tournament. . However with this dunk there were several repeated exclamations of wonder from Pete including the reference that this would be a you tube video highlight. He then continued on to some of his patented vibrant announcing that had been missing earlier on. The dunk showed a combination of the ability to high rise with one hand in traffic and a lightening like quickness to the basket as well as reaching towering heights nearing the top of the backboard as far as reach. As the game progressed Maurice Harkless went to the jumper which he is also noted for but wasn’t finding the range in this game. However he showed precision timing and accuracy on some ahead of the field passes tossed both on the break and with outlet passes off defensive rebounds and an excellent handle in traffic. Obviously he has pinpoint passing ability. The game itself was quite competitive as the hard driving and sweet shooting Metro Hawks had a slight lead late in the game. But there was another key play by Harkless that was also telling of the possibility of more legendary stuff on the court in the future. In the last 3 minutes of the game, Harkless took a pass at the side of the key, spun to the basket and had an incredible finger roll where his arms seemed to extend further than you would ever see on the court. Within this play and the dunk at the opening bell, you could say that Harkless has the wings of a condor. Which brings to mind Wilt Chamberlain, who from old basketball clips and what you can read, had an incredible finger roll touch to the basket which contributed towards his still historical 50 point per game average for an NBA season. This is not to say Harkless is the next Wilt Chamberlain but the potential for manifesting that type of shot and dunk is there in terms of his offensive repertoire. Variety All Stars etched out a close victory in the last 2 minutes and now the tournament moves to the playoffs starting this coming weekend. Also playing for the Variety All Stars is highly touted New Jersey junior guard Tariq Carey. He smoked the nets with some perfect swish deep jumpers and had a Derek Jeter like coolness on the court.
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