Maurice Harkless Remembers 9/11

Maurice Harkless was raised in Queens, just twenty minutes from St. Johns. New York is the place he has always called home. A recent ESPN article talks about the effects that 9/11 had on some of the student athletes around the area, Harkless being one of them. He was in 3rd grade at the time of the attacks. The effects it had on him were clearly very serious, a quote from the ESPN article states.

“I was always nervous around the city. It was the first time I’d even heard of a terrorist attack, and it happened right here. I would try to imagine how it could have happened. I went to see Ground Zero once, and it was impossible to imagine.”

Harkless has before stated in a New York Times article that he chose St. Johns because “he wanted to rebuild his home program.” Also stating “It’s in my city, St. John’s is a good school, and I want to play in my city.” His commitment to his city is clear. And its safe to assume that his pride stems from the events that rattled him so much.

Lavin has done a great job of getting kids to stay home in their city. The events of 9/11 were an attempt to tear this country apart. But as New Yorkers often do, they rallied together and did not let their pride get hurt. Kids like Harkless love their city, and will do their best to honor its name with their play for the team of New York City, St. Johns University.