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Las Vegas ‘prodigy’ makes Sports Illustrated cover

Sophomore catcher Bryce Harper likely a top draft pick in two years

Sam Morris

Las Vegas High School baseball player Bryce Harper talks to teammates during their game against Canyon Springs High School Tuesday, May 5, 2009.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Tuesday, June 2, 2009 | 11:17 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, June 2, 2009 | 3:21 p.m.

Bryce Harper

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Green Valley baseball wins Sunrise crown (5-15-2009)
Talent sky-high, feet on ground (5-7-2009)
It's a swing of beauty (2-7-2009)

Hitting highlights

High school sports section

Las Vegas High sophomore catcher Bryce Harper is the ‘most exciting prodigy since Lebron.’

The power-hitting Harper, who batted .626 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs this spring, will be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Thursday with a headline proclaiming the 16-year-old is ‘Baseball’s Chosen One.’ The subhead makes the comparison to NBA star Lebron James.

“It is just amazing. I’m so proud of him for all the work he has done,” said Ron Harper, his father. “I don’t know if anyone in the country deserves it more than him. He just busts his butt for something he loves.”

By the time Harper, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound, smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, walked into his first-period class this morning, word had already spread to teachers and classmates of Harper's soon-to-be national notoriety. Las Vegas baseball coach Sam Thomas e-mailed the cover to staff at the school.

"This is so awesome. There are no words to describe it," Bryce Harper said. "With everyone seeing the magazine, that will put a big target on my back. But I don't care. I love that."

Tom Verducci, the magazine’s baseball writer, was in Las Vegas three weeks ago for the Wildcats’ game against Canyon Springs to conduct the interview.

Initially, the family assumed the story would be buried on the inside of the magazine. They got a call Monday night telling them otherwise.

“We saw (the cover) for the first time yesterday,” Ron Harper said. “He just said, ‘Wow.’ I’ve always told him that you will take a lot of pressure from the space you occupy. Right now, he is going to occupy a lot of space.”

Harper hit seven home runs this month in six Sunrise Regional playoff games, but Las Vegas fell to Green Valley High in the title game. His power at the plate included blasting a 502-foot home run at the Tampa Rays’ Tropicana Field in a national home run derby in January.

Representation from mega-agent Scott Boras’ office has been spotted at most of Harper’s games this spring. He is expected to be a top pick in the 2011 draft.

“I would say Bryce is the best all-round player I have seen,” Thomas said. “It is just how he plays the game and his work ethic.”

Bryce Harper said he will not let the attention change the way he approaches the game.

"There is always something you can improve on," he said. "I go to practice every day believing there is someone out there working harder than me."

He will spend the summer trying to make the 18-and-under national team, which will play in an international tournament Sept. 24 to Oct. 4 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. The first step is competing in the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars June 23 to 28 at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. USA Baseball will take the top 36 players from the event.

"I'm going to have a huge bulls-eye on my back the rest of my life," he said.

He already had minor national interest. Come Thursday, his story will be in the mailbox of the magazine’s 3.1 million subscribers.

“A lot of people are really going to be watching him now,” Ron Harper said.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.

Discussion: 10 comments so far…

By Ds_Gentle_Master

6/2/09 at 12:45 p.m.

Suggest removal

Thanks Bryce. It's always wonderful to see Las Vegas get some positive national spotlight.

Where is this young man playing ball this summer?
Anyone?
By chazbean

6/2/09 at 4:21 p.m.

Suggest removal

Hopefully the RED SOX can draft him with out having that vulture Boras as an agent!
By unclebear

6/2/09 at 5:50 p.m.

Suggest removal

This kid is the real deal. I've been friends with Ron for over thirty years, you couldn't have a better dad for a role model. I hope he stay's healthy and everything else should take care of itself with continued hard work. He's the best high school player I've seen in Vegas in 40+ years of watching high school BB.
By tklv

6/2/09 at 7:46 p.m.

Suggest removal

What a great kid and family. Any person that hates on this kid just does not know Mom, Dad or him. He is the best player from this city since unclebear, I bet he can't hang with you fishing big guy. Way to go BH, keep up the great work and may GOD bless you with health young man.
By 2323sDaddy

6/3/09 at 3:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

16 with an SI cover? Nice!!!

Mee, where are you my son?
By LV4LIFE

6/3/09 at 9:28 a.m.

Suggest removal

I keep hearing that this guy is the "Lebron James" of baseball. Geez, there are so many things wrong with that statement.
By Sinatra711

6/4/09 at 9:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

Good for the kid. It sounds like he has a solid family supporting him. He will need it to handle all of the pressure he is about to get.

The real challenge will be after this initial blast of celebrity is over......how will he handle it?

I hope he stays away from the 'roids and drugs that plague many baseball players. Especially the ones with something to prove.

S711
By BryceFan

6/4/09 at 9:12 a.m.

Suggest removal

red sox? I heard the kid dreams of playing in pinstripes! (quotes regarding playing in pinstripes and at yankees stadium) Its too bad that agents hound kids this young. I hope he stays on the straight and narrow path and becomes what people right now are projecting. I just hope all the hype & pressure doesn't destroy his future. BTW, 6'3" 205 is amazing size for just 16, can't wait to see him at 25. You go Bryce !

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