On May 1st the NBA’s Board of Governors voted to postpone the Draft Lottery and Draft Combine in Chicago due to an abundance of caution regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The Board has not announced whether the NBA Draft will take place as scheduled on June 25th or if will be pushed back to a later date, but at least there is a precedent after the NFL held its own virtual draft in April. In addition to all of the seniors who have wrapped up their college careers, the deadline for underclassmen/international players to declare themselves eligible for the draft was in late-April and more than 200 of them (163 college undergrads/42 international players) filed as early-entry candidates. We will spend the upcoming months interviewing as many members of the 2020 draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Montana State prospect Harald Frey about being captain of the Norwegian national team and what it would mean to him to get drafted.
You were born in Norway: how did you 1st get into basketball, and what made you choose Montana State? I got into basketball through my parents. They were both basketball players and my first coaches. They created a team with the guys I went to school with when I was about 8 years old and I have loved basketball ever since. I did not really know a lot about the state of Montana or Montana State before I came here. They brought me out on a visit and right away I felt how much the community embraced/loved their Bobcat athletic teams. I really liked the team and could see myself fitting in really well in the community. I committed 1 week after my visit and have been happy with the decision!
In 2017 you scored 13 PPG and were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I was lucky enough to come into a situation where the starting point guard (Marcus Colbert) was graduating so I knew that there was a huge void that needed to be filled after him. I knew I would at least have a chance to play since no one coming back had a lot of playing time at the point guard position. My teammates and coaching staff helped me out a lot in adjusting to the culture, brand of basketball, and everything else. I also think that playing in the Men’s league back home since I was 15 years old helped. I got to compete against the best players in the country and some really good American players who were playing abroad. I believe that prepared me well to come in and contribute.
You finished that season by scoring 19 PTS in a 4-PT 3-OT loss to Southern Utah in the conference tourney (Randy Onwuasor had 43 PTS/6 STL in 53 minutes): where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career, and how exhausted were you after playing 48 minutes before fouling out? That was for sure one of the tougher losses I have experienced. We were playing really good basketball leading up to the conference tournament and thought we had a good tournament run in us. Unfortunately, we could not make the necessary plays down the stretch to pull out the win. It was definitively exhausting since the game lasted as long as it did. I did not really feel the fatigue that much until after the game: when you are in the moment of such an important game you are so invested/focused on the game and task at hand.
In the 2018 All-European Championship for Small Countries title game you lost to Malta: what was it like to face the 3rd-tallest active basketball player in the world (7’6” MVP Samuel Deguara, who finished with 24 PTS/14 REB)? It was a fun experience playing in San Marino. It was the first time that Norway had a Senior Men’s National team playing in years and it was also my debut on the team, which was a big moment and an honor for me. We ended up losing the championship game against a good team but it was still a good first step back onto the competitive scene for Norway and I am excited to see where we can go in the future! Playing against such a big/good player was a cool experience. He is a really good player and impacted the game right away when he was on the court.
Last summer as team captain for the Norwegian national team you were the team’s leading scorer at the 2019 Summer Universiade: what is the key to being a good leader? I think it is important to create relationships with all of your teammates so there is mutual respect and you have to know how to talk to certain people in certain ways. Not everyone can be talked to in the same manner: some you have to yell at while others you have to speak with in private. Knowing your teammates is essential in order to lead properly in my mind. It is also important to take care of your own responsibilities: leading by example makes it easier to gain the trust of the ones around you.
Last November you scored 14 PTS and banked in a buzzer-beater from past half court to clinch a 1-PT win at UNC-Greensboro: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? That shot is definitively up there as 1 of the favorite moments in my career so far. We played a really good team in UNCG at their place and I do not think a lot of people gave us any shot at winning the game. We played well the whole game, which gave us a chance at the end. Their PG made a terrific play in the final seconds to give them the lead. I saw there were about 3 1/2 seconds left on the clock so I figured I would only have around 3 dribbles. I wanted to get up the court and get a clear shot at the rim and then just give it a chance. It felt good leaving my hand and after that I just remember the excitement with my teammates. It was an amazing night that I will not soon forget.
You finished the year by leading the conference with 87.4 FT%: what is the secret to making FTs? I think it starts with repetition: putting in a lot of work on your free throws and getting reps in every day. You will not get good at shooting free throws without spending time working on it. Second, I think there is a huge mental aspect to shooting free throws. Having confidence and the ability to block out distractions is key.
Last March you were named to the All-Big Sky 1st-Team: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was exciting and I think it shows that the work I have put in over the years is paying off. I would not have been able to do it without my teammates helping me knock down shots and get the looks I needed to be successful. I wish we had a conference tournament because the award does not really mean anything in my mind compared to the conference championship and winning games, which is what I had my mind set for.
You set school records for games played/started with 127 and finished your career in the top-3 in school history with 1890 career PTS/514 career AST: do you think that anyone will ever break your records, and what is the secret to being a good PG? I have never really focused on records but am proud of what I was able to accomplish during my time at MSU. Records are made to be broken so I certainly hope there will be some talented players to come along at Montana State who can build on what my teammates and I started and take the program to new heights! Being a good point guard is a little like being a good leader: it starts with knowing your teammates and figuring out how to get the best out of them in order to win. You have to find the balance between scoring points yourself and finding your teammates. Sometimes it might be required that you score more, while other times you just need to facilitate. It all comes down to understanding the game and figuring out what your team needs.
What is the post-college plan, and what would it mean to you to get drafted? I have signed with an agency (Dynamics Global Management) and am excited about pursuing a career as a professional basketball player. It is something that has been a dream of mine since I was a little boy. With the the whole COVID-19 pandemic going on there is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to professional basketball, as well as the rest of the world. For the time being I am just trying to work out, get better, and stay ready for a chance. As far as being drafted, it would of course be a huge honor but it is not something I put too much thought into. I know what I can do as a basketball player and am confident in my abilities. If I do not get drafted I will just keep working and pursue the dream I have of playing at the highest level possible. I am super-excited about what the future holds, and hopefully we can get past this whole situation in a safe manner soon and get back to work!