Playoffs 2000:Pacers young trio a cornerstone of the future

Pacers young trio a cornerstone of the future
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender came right out of high school. Jeff Foster looks like he should still be there.

With many other Indiana players approaching basketball mid-life, if not the twilight of their careers, these three may be the stars of the next generation of Pacers, who are challenging the Los Angeles Lakers in this year's NBA Finals.

"We think these three young players are going to explode in the NBA, maybe next year," Pacers president Donnie Walsh said. "To be brought along the way they're being brought along, where you have veterans showing them what it takes to win in the league, has been valuable."

Harrington is the veteran of the three. He was the Pacers' first-round pick in 1998 out of St. Patrick's High School in Elizabeth, N.J., but played only sparingly as a rookie. The 6-foot-9 forward got off to a quick start this year and averaged 6.6 points in 50 games. But he was on the injured list three times with back problems and was left off the Pacers' playoff roster.

"Of course it's frustrating, but the thing that keeps me sane is to know that this year I was hurt and that's the reason I'm not a part of this," Harrington said. "But I definitely know I'm ready and next year, hopefully, I can stay healthy and definitely will be in the playoffs and be a contributing factor."

Foster, the oldest of the young Pacers at 23, was picked out of Southwest Texas State by Golden State in the first round last year and came to Indiana in a draft-day trade for guard Vonteego Cummings.

The 6-11 Foster played in only 19 games -- with season highs of 11 points and 13 rebounds in the final regular-season game -- and also was left off the playoff roster.

It may be hard to keep him on the sideline next year, though.

"Jeff Foster is a very good rebounder, an excellent athlete," said assistant coach Rick Carlisle, who works daily with Foster, Harrington and Bender. "He can step out and shoot the ball. He worked extremely hard this year and it showed in that last game, because he's really ready to play. He's got a chance to be an impact player in this league."

The 6-foot-11 Bender was drafted out of Picayune (Miss.) Memorial High School a year ago -- the fifth pick in the first round -- by Toronto, then traded to Indiana for veteran forward Antonio Davis.

Broad-shouldered and babyfaced, Bender missed the first 17 games with a broken wrist and made his debut with 10 points in 13 minutes against Cleveland in December, becoming the first player to come out of high school and score in double figures in his first NBA game.

He appeared in 24 games, with one start, and averaged 2.7 points for the season.

"I've come a long way, I think, physical-wise and just knowing the game," said Bender, who is on the 12-man playoff roster. "This is my first year and my first time being here (in the Finals). I'm really excited just watching. If I get in, I'm going to play as hard as I can, 120 percent all the time."

Of the three youngsters, Bender may be the one with the brightest future.

"He has probably by far the most upside of any of the three of those guys in terms of ability and skill," Carlisle said. "He can post up. ... He's got a great knack for creating looks at the basket because he can elevate over just about anybody and he can shoot with great range."

Foster, Bender and Harrington, along with Austin Croshere, Jalen Rose and Travis Best, figure to be Pacers mainstays long after thirty-somethings Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Dale Davis, Rik Smits, Sam Perkins and Chris Mullin have departed.

"That was the idea, to have a transition with the team without just breaking everything up," Walsh said. "It was important to get started in that direction, because at one time you could have everybody retire and you'd have no players.

"We tried to get some players in our system that we thought had a chance to be stars, and we think some of these guys do."

That's what the youngsters are counting on.

"We talk about it all the time and we have a set amount of years where we hope that we can be back here," Harrington said. "But I'm not going to say when. That's between us. ... But even if we have the same here next year, I'm going to play. I'm that confident, and I know that I'm ready."

He'll get no argument from Carlisle.

"These guys are all going to be ready to step up. I think it's going to be hard to keep them from playing minutes next year," he said. "It's a great position to be in as a franchise to have the older, veteran guys that can still really play and a group of younger guys with this type of talent, this type of interest and love for the game. It's unique."