KIDS to WATCH : IKE HARMON

Basketball Santa Ana Age 13

It’s pretty easy to figure out when Isaac (Ike) Harmon is going to the basket. Defending him is another story.

Harmon, a string-bean sixth-grader at Spurgeon Intermediate School in Santa Ana, often sticks his tongue out, a la NBA superstar Michael Jordan, when he makes a move to the basket. He is a ballhandler extraordinaire who often goes through four defenders to get to the hoop.

In a recent game against McFadden Intermediate, Harmon routinely blew past defenders with his deft ballhandling skills, dribbling with either hand and sometimes bouncing the ball between his legs as he maneuvered through traffic.

Harmon’s one member of an athletic family. His older sister, Thelma, was a state finalist in the 300 hurdles at Santa Ana Valley. His older brother, Thomas, is a 6-foot-3 freshman who starts at forward for Century High School. Harmon said Thomas taught him how to play basketball.

“Athletics has given both Ike and his brother a lot of self-esteem,” said Mark Courson, basketball coach at Spurgeon.

“Both Ike and his brother expect a lot from themselves on the court. Sometimes, Ike tries to do too much.”

Harmon’s ballhandling skills defy his age. He dominates a game on this level with his 6-foot height.

“I’ve coached Oscar Wilson and Bobby Joyce, and Ike compares with them at the same stage,” Courson said. “He is the best sixth-grader in our district.”

Harmon is also a good student. Last semester, he earned three A’s, two B’s and a C.

His favorite class? “Cooking,” he said. “I can make a shish kebab that would make your mouth water.”

Harmon averages 16 points playing four six-minute quarters and says he enjoys “scoring points.”

And his favorite player? Naturally, Michael Jordan.