STILL WORTH WATCHING : Five Years Later, These Athletes Are Fulfilling Their Early Promise : Ike Harmon

Five years ago, Harmon was a 5-foot-10, rail-thin basketball prodigy at Spurgeon Intermediate School in Santa Ana. He could run, shoot, dribble with either hand, and embarrass those who tried to defend him.

Five years later, he has become even better. Harmon, a 6-foot-7 senior at Santa Ana Valley, has been the Falcons’ most consistent performer this season, averaging 20.8 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Part of his success stems from his talent. But another part comes from learning that talent alone doesn’t flourish without hard work.

“My Grandma Maggie said whatever I do, be the best at it,” Harmon said.

It’s the same advice Santa Ana Valley Coach Kevin Stipp fed Harmon last season. Although he averaged 16.3 points and was a second-team all-county selection last season, the only things Harmon seemed to excel at were running down the court, dunking, and throwing tantrums when he felt he was fouled and didn’t get a call.

“At the end of last year we talked to him about scoring and rebounding more, and playing better defense,” Stipp said. “He was good on offense but did not always try hard on defense. In the summer and fall, he was in school at 7 in the morning, working on his game, trying to get better. He took a genuine interest in improving himself.

“This year he’s been a gem.”

Indeed, Harmon has more than held his own against some of the county’s big men, including Villa Park’s Eric Chenowith and Tustin’s David Lalazarian. He’s often too quick for taller players and too strong on the inside for shorter players, even though his frame has still not filled out.

College choices will depend on how well Harmon does on his SAT and ACT exams. He wouldn’t mind joining his older brother, Thomas, who taught him the game. Thomas is trying to make the squad as a walk-on at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va.

“I’ll go wherever I can play,” Ike Harmon said. “But I still have to get better. A lot better.”