Men's Basketball

Southern Vermont's Harrington Signs Professional Contract Overseas

Published with permission from the Bennington Banner - By Matt Tuthill, Associate Sports Editor

BENNINGTON, Vt. - Nick Harrington says he wants to play in the NBA.

For a kid from Division III, he may as well say he wants to win the Lottery.

The thing is, when Harrington tells you about his long-term plans, eyes determined and sincere, it's easy to believe him. Maybe it's because he's already made so much of what would seem to be very little, taking the D-III basketball experience to a place few of his teammates at Southern Vermont College could have dreamed of, shattering school records and gaining national recognition along the way.

But for all the milestones the senior reached during the 2007-08 season, he outdid himself on Monday. Surrounded by his coach and school administrators, the 6-foot-7 power forward sat down at the dining room table of President Karen Gross' home, and signed a contract to play professional basketball in Germany.

Harrington smiled as the small crowd gathered applauded him and offered a toast.

It was another giant step toward his ultimate dream, and unprecedented for an athlete from SVC, which last year enrolled just 411 students.

The road to professional hoops began soon after Harrington's senior season ended. Having been named player of the week seven times by the American Association of Division III Independents and having popped up in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" section for his uncanny rebounding prowess, Harrington received multiple letters of interest from various European teams, with the lion's share coming from Germany. He then employed a German agent to circulate a highlight tape and gauge the sincerity of his would-be suitors.

As the weeks and months went by, both Harrington and SVC head coach Mike McDonough grew anxious, as the seven-and-a-half month German basketball season was fast approaching. In the end, the Cottbus White Devils put their offer on the table, and Harrington accepted on Monday, the day the White Devils began their 44-game regular season schedule.

"It's been a dream for a long time," said a beaming McDonough. "Nothing's been easy for him, and that's really an interesting part of his story because that's what rebounding is all about. It's not necessarily about how skilled you are. It's about how hard you work."

"Growing up, I didn't have a lot," Harrington said. "So when I wanted to do something, I worked hard at it."

Harrington's contract carries monetary compensation of 700 Euros a month (roughly $1,027 U.S.), plus paid room and board for the duration of the season. Because the majority of his time will be spent training, practicing and playing, Harrington said he'll be able to save most of the money. Any remaining spare time he gets will be devoured studying for his Sports Marketing course; Harrington is exactly one credit shy of earning an undergraduate degree from SVC, and passing the final class will put him on target to graduate in December.

The highly-structured nature of professional sports shouldn't catch him by surprise, either. During his sophomore year in 2004, Harrington took a semester off to put himself through an arduous 80-hour work week at two full-time jobs to collect tuition money. Monday through Friday, he worked a 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift making Corvette fenders at Vermont Composites then rushed across town to man a 3 to 11 p.m. shift testing batteries at the Energizer plant. When he got home, he'd have to head straight to bed so he could catch just enough sleep to do it all over again. Weekends brought no rest, either, as he used his only free hours to get in the gym and keep his basketball skills sharp.

His positive experiences at the college made it all worth it, he said, and Monday's contract signing was just one more affirmation.

"It'll definitely be different," Harrington said. "I love it here. Everybody loves me here. But now I'm going to another country where they can get to know me and love me like people did here."

Regarding his NBA aspirations, Harrington said he understands the skepticism the notion is likely to be met with, but that he won't adjust his plans for anyone.

"They can take it for what they want, but my heart and dedication is going to the NBA," he said. "That's all I want to do. I'm determined to make it."