Skouson Harker
Encyclopedia
Skouson Harker is a Canadian
former professional basketball
player of the FIBA European Leagues. Harker is from Raymond
, Alberta
, Canada
. Harker was recently named the Head Coach of the Edmonton Energy of the International Basketball League
.
4A (unlimited enrollment) Provincial Silver Medals (1993–1995), including a controversial 1995 4A final game versus Lester B. Pearson High School
, in which one referee counted the winning basket, and the other waived it off. CTV Calgary and Sports @ 11 Highlights concluded the ball was on the backboard before the buzzer sounded. The correct call would have gave the Comets their first provincial crown since Richard Bohne led the Comets to the 1989 title.
Raymond
, population 3,674, has a long history of excellence in athletics and a reputation of winning versus Alberta's largest schools from Calgary
and Edmonton
. This reputation includes producing tough, hard nosed players, like Harker.
. The Pac-10 featured 25 future NBA players in the 1999 season, including standouts Baron Davis
, Matt Barnes
, Jason Terry
, Richard Jefferson
, Mark Madsen
, Brian Scalabrine
, Eddie House
, Todd MacCulloch
and Oregon Ducks
teammate and Harkers college roommate, Fred Jones. Harker played for Ducks head coach Ernie Kent
, and assistant coaches Greg Graham (former Boise State University
head coach) and Don Newman (present San Antonio Spurs
assistant coach). The Ducks ended the 1999 regular season with a 40 RPI but were left out the NCAA Tournament due to finishing fifth behind four nationally ranked Pac-10 teams; Stanford, Arizona, UCLA, and Washington. As a result, the Ducks advanced to the National Invitational Tournament Final Four. An ankle injury sustained by Harker during a 92-63 win versus Brigham Young University
six games into the season limited his productivity, and forced him from being sixth man and potential starter into a reserve role. Harker chose to play and help the team as he was not made aware by the coaching staff that a NCAA Medical Red Shirt would have saved his eligibility and season. Even with surgery looming, Harker managed 15 points versus St. Martins, and 10 points versus Washington State Cougars
, six points and a team high eight rebounds versus University of Washington Huskies in what proved to be his best Pacific 10 conference weekend. Harkers post season ankle surgery sidelined him for over six months.
. http://www.bbl.org.uk
During the 2005-2006 season while playing for the Bullets during a match with Newcastle Eagles
, Harker and Eagles player/head coach Fabulous Flournoy
became involved in an on-court fight in which Fabulous swung from behind Harker punching Harker in the head, which resumed in the locker rooms post-game. Both Harker and Flournoy were banned one (Harker) and five (Flournoy) games. Flournoy's ban was later reduced to thee games. Police were informed about the incident and an investigation into Flournoy took place.
During the summers of 2005 and 2006 the Bullets became the first professional basketball club from Britain to tour China competing against Chinese Basketball Association
clubs during the 'UK/China Basketball Friendship Tour'. Over the two summers Harker led the Bullets to 13 wins and 11 losses. Harker scored a professional career high of 44 points versus the Shandong Lions in 2006. Harker left Birmingham prior to the 2006 season after the franchise was forced into liquidation.
as the player/coach of BBL franchise Worcester Wolves
in July 2007.
After a four wins and 36 losses season in 2006/07 Harker led the club to 20 wins and 20 losses and the BBL Trophy Semi-Finals in his first season at the helm in 07/08.
The 2008/09 season saw the Wolves beat three Eurobasket.com 'European Top 100 Clubs'(Newcastle Eagles
, Everton Tigers
, and Scottish Rocks
). The 2008/09 season was the first season ever to see three BBL clubs in the Eurobasket Top 100, with Newcastle and Everton both in the top 75 at one stage. The Wolves fell out of the playoff race after losing former NCAA assists leader William Funn (Portland State) and the BBL assists leader at the time, for the season as the club was in a playoff position.
Following a very successful two year stint as the Wolves Head Coach/player Harker opted to return to the club as strictly a professional player for the 2009/10 season.
Harker's list of BBL recruits include Jeff Bonds
(Birmingham 2005/06) who went on to become BBL Co-MVP in 2006/07. Prior to the 2007 season Skouson recruited BBL All-Star, Slam Dunk Champ and BBL Leading Scorer Anthony Paez
(Worcester 2007/08). Yorick Williams
also led the BBL in scoring after being recruited to play for Harker (Birmingham 2005/06). Former All-Pacific 10 performer Dino Tanner of Oregon State was also recruited by Harker to the Bullets. Harker also brought in former Euroleague assists leader and former CSKA Moscow
point guard Chuck Evans
to the Wolves for the 2007/08 season.
in March 2011.
Harker was named International Basketball League All-Star for the second consecutive season in August 2010 after helping the Edmonton Energy and Coach Paul Sir to finishing Runner-up in the Continental Division. Harker signed for German team Sports Club Rist Wedel in August 2010.
During spring 2009 the 6'9" (205 cm) 240 lb Harker played for Coach Paul Sir and the Edmonton Energy
of the International Basketball League
. The Energy won the 2009 Regular Season Championship with a 17-3 record.
Harker was named a 2009 IBL All-Star with a well rounded 18.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg playing all 21 games. The forward scored 32 points versus the Vancouver Titans, as well as 34 points versus the Oregon Wave..
Harker's two year stint as Head Coach at the Wolves has been said to have saved the Wolves from relegation back down to England's 2nd Division. Additionally Harker's tenor may have put the club in a position to hire current England National Team Head Coach Paul James
, as well a move forward with the new Worcester Arena. Without the conviction and principle of which the sacked Wolves players demonstrated, the club would have never been in a position to hire Coach James.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player of the FIBA European Leagues. Harker is from Raymond
Raymond, Alberta
Raymond is a town in Warner County, Alberta, Canada. It is located in southern Alberta south of Lethbridge on Highway 52. Raymond is known for its annual rodeo and its large Mormon population...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Harker was recently named the Head Coach of the Edmonton Energy of the International Basketball League
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...
.
Raymond High School
Harker led the Raymond Comets to three straight Alberta Schools Athletic AssociationAlberta Schools Athletic Association
The Alberta Schools' Athletic Association is the governing body that oversees amateur athelics in schools for the province of Alberta. It is a voluntary, non profit organization that currently has three hundred and fifty eight member high schools...
4A (unlimited enrollment) Provincial Silver Medals (1993–1995), including a controversial 1995 4A final game versus Lester B. Pearson High School
Lester B. Pearson High School
Lester B. Pearson High School can refer to:*Lester B. Pearson High School , in Calgary, Alberta*Lester B. Pearson High School , in Burlington, Ontario*Lester B. Pearson High School , in Montreal, Quebec...
, in which one referee counted the winning basket, and the other waived it off. CTV Calgary and Sports @ 11 Highlights concluded the ball was on the backboard before the buzzer sounded. The correct call would have gave the Comets their first provincial crown since Richard Bohne led the Comets to the 1989 title.
Raymond
Raymond, Alberta
Raymond is a town in Warner County, Alberta, Canada. It is located in southern Alberta south of Lethbridge on Highway 52. Raymond is known for its annual rodeo and its large Mormon population...
, population 3,674, has a long history of excellence in athletics and a reputation of winning versus Alberta's largest schools from Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
. This reputation includes producing tough, hard nosed players, like Harker.
NCAA
Harker attended the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. The Pac-10 featured 25 future NBA players in the 1999 season, including standouts Baron Davis
Baron Davis
Baron Walter Louis Davis is an American professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. Drafted as the third pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Davis was a star at Crossroads School and UCLA....
, Matt Barnes
Matt Barnes
Matt Kelly Barnes is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association.-High school years:...
, Jason Terry
Jason Terry
Jason Eugene Terry is an American professional basketball player playing with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He plays shooting guard, although he also can play point guard. His nickname, "JET," derives from his initials...
, Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson
Richard Allen Jefferson is a 6 ft 7 in American professional basketball player currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
, Mark Madsen
Mark Madsen
Mark Ellsworth "Mad Dog" Madsen is an American assistant coach and former professional basketball player.Madsen played NCAA basketball at Stanford, where he finished his career ranked in the school's career top 10 in blocks and rebounds. In addition, Madsen helped the Cardinal to four NCAA...
, Brian Scalabrine
Brian Scalabrine
Brian David Scalabrine is an American professional basketball power forward who plays for the Italian club Benetton Treviso. Raised in Enumclaw, Washington, Scalabrine attended the University of Southern California after transferring from Highline Community College...
, Eddie House
Eddie House
Edward L. House II , commonly referred to as Eddie House, is an American professional basketball player in the NBA for the Miami Heat.-Early life:...
, Todd MacCulloch
Todd MacCulloch
Todd Carlyle MacCulloch is a retired Canadian professional basketball player. He was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets in the NBA.-Basketball career:...
and Oregon Ducks
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
teammate and Harkers college roommate, Fred Jones. Harker played for Ducks head coach Ernie Kent
Ernie Kent
Ernie Kent is an American college basketball coach. He is the former head men's basketball coach at the University of Oregon. Kent replaced Jerry Green as coach following the 1996-97 season. Prior to becoming head coach at Oregon, Kent was an assistant at Stanford University and also coached at St...
, and assistant coaches Greg Graham (former Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
head coach) and Don Newman (present San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
assistant coach). The Ducks ended the 1999 regular season with a 40 RPI but were left out the NCAA Tournament due to finishing fifth behind four nationally ranked Pac-10 teams; Stanford, Arizona, UCLA, and Washington. As a result, the Ducks advanced to the National Invitational Tournament Final Four. An ankle injury sustained by Harker during a 92-63 win versus Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
six games into the season limited his productivity, and forced him from being sixth man and potential starter into a reserve role. Harker chose to play and help the team as he was not made aware by the coaching staff that a NCAA Medical Red Shirt would have saved his eligibility and season. Even with surgery looming, Harker managed 15 points versus St. Martins, and 10 points versus Washington State Cougars
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars are the athletic teams at Washington State University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Washington State University is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I...
, six points and a team high eight rebounds versus University of Washington Huskies in what proved to be his best Pacific 10 conference weekend. Harkers post season ankle surgery sidelined him for over six months.
Birmingham Bullets
After playing two season's in US minor leagues NABL and IBA and one in Germany, Harker signed a contract to play for the Birmingham Bullets of the British Basketball LeagueBritish Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
. http://www.bbl.org.uk
During the 2005-2006 season while playing for the Bullets during a match with Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...
, Harker and Eagles player/head coach Fabulous Flournoy
Fabulous Flournoy
Fabulous Flournoy is a player and the head coach for basketball team Newcastle Eagles, who compete in the British Basketball League....
became involved in an on-court fight in which Fabulous swung from behind Harker punching Harker in the head, which resumed in the locker rooms post-game. Both Harker and Flournoy were banned one (Harker) and five (Flournoy) games. Flournoy's ban was later reduced to thee games. Police were informed about the incident and an investigation into Flournoy took place.
During the summers of 2005 and 2006 the Bullets became the first professional basketball club from Britain to tour China competing against Chinese Basketball Association
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
clubs during the 'UK/China Basketball Friendship Tour'. Over the two summers Harker led the Bullets to 13 wins and 11 losses. Harker scored a professional career high of 44 points versus the Shandong Lions in 2006. Harker left Birmingham prior to the 2006 season after the franchise was forced into liquidation.
Worcester Wolves
He returned to the British Basketball LeagueBritish Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
as the player/coach of BBL franchise Worcester Wolves
Worcester Wolves
Worcester Wolves is a basketball team from the city of Worcester which plays in the British Basketball League. The Wolves currently play at in the 800-seat capacity Sports Hall of the University of Worcester, although they are to use the new Worcester Arena as their home venue once completed in...
in July 2007.
After a four wins and 36 losses season in 2006/07 Harker led the club to 20 wins and 20 losses and the BBL Trophy Semi-Finals in his first season at the helm in 07/08.
The 2008/09 season saw the Wolves beat three Eurobasket.com 'European Top 100 Clubs'(Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles
Newcastle Eagles is a British Basketball League team from Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2010 they have played all home games at the 3,000 capacity Sport Central arena at Northumbria University in the city...
, Everton Tigers
Everton Tigers
The Mersey Tigers are a professional basketball team based in the city of Liverpool, in England. The club was established in 2007 as a start-up franchise of the British Basketball League, the country's elite competition...
, and Scottish Rocks
Scottish Rocks
The Glasgow Rocks is a basketball team which competes in the British Basketball League. Formerly known as Scottish Rocks and also Edinburgh Rocks, they are one of the leading franchises in the top-tier league, and the only team to be based outside of England, playing at the Kelvin Hall...
). The 2008/09 season was the first season ever to see three BBL clubs in the Eurobasket Top 100, with Newcastle and Everton both in the top 75 at one stage. The Wolves fell out of the playoff race after losing former NCAA assists leader William Funn (Portland State) and the BBL assists leader at the time, for the season as the club was in a playoff position.
Following a very successful two year stint as the Wolves Head Coach/player Harker opted to return to the club as strictly a professional player for the 2009/10 season.
Harker's list of BBL recruits include Jeff Bonds
Jeff Bonds
Jeff Bonds is an American professional basketball player, currently plays in the LEB Gold, for the Lobe Huesca...
(Birmingham 2005/06) who went on to become BBL Co-MVP in 2006/07. Prior to the 2007 season Skouson recruited BBL All-Star, Slam Dunk Champ and BBL Leading Scorer Anthony Paez
Anthony Paez
Anthony Paez is a professional basketball player, currently starring in Hungary for Dombóvár KC of the Hungarian Basketball League....
(Worcester 2007/08). Yorick Williams
Yorick Williams
Yorick Williams is a British professional basketball player, and currently plays for the Milton Keynes Lions in the British Basketball League....
also led the BBL in scoring after being recruited to play for Harker (Birmingham 2005/06). Former All-Pacific 10 performer Dino Tanner of Oregon State was also recruited by Harker to the Bullets. Harker also brought in former Euroleague assists leader and former CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow is a major Russian sports club based in Moscow. It is popularly referred to in the West as "Red Army" or "the Red Army team" because during the Soviet era, it was a part of the Armed Forces sports society, which in turn was associated with the Soviet Army...
point guard Chuck Evans
Chuck Evans
Charles "Chuck" Evans was an American football fullback who played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Baltimore Ravens...
to the Wolves for the 2007/08 season.
Edmonton Energy
After being an All-Star for the past two IBL seasons, Harker was recently named the Head Coach of the Edmonton EnergyEdmonton Energy
The Edmonton Energy is a professional basketball team in the International Basketball League, formerly known as the Edmonton Chill. The Chill name was revoked in August 2008 after allegations of misconduct were filed with the league regarding Troy Barns, the majority shareholder in the team.On 27...
in March 2011.
Harker was named International Basketball League All-Star for the second consecutive season in August 2010 after helping the Edmonton Energy and Coach Paul Sir to finishing Runner-up in the Continental Division. Harker signed for German team Sports Club Rist Wedel in August 2010.
During spring 2009 the 6'9" (205 cm) 240 lb Harker played for Coach Paul Sir and the Edmonton Energy
Edmonton Energy
The Edmonton Energy is a professional basketball team in the International Basketball League, formerly known as the Edmonton Chill. The Chill name was revoked in August 2008 after allegations of misconduct were filed with the league regarding Troy Barns, the majority shareholder in the team.On 27...
of the International Basketball League
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...
. The Energy won the 2009 Regular Season Championship with a 17-3 record.
Harker was named a 2009 IBL All-Star with a well rounded 18.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg playing all 21 games. The forward scored 32 points versus the Vancouver Titans, as well as 34 points versus the Oregon Wave..
Controversy
Harker continued with the Worcester based club until November 2009. A week prior to his departure, both Harker and Evaldas Zabas were named to the BBL Team of the Week. A week later Head Coach Chuck Evans' racist rant during a film session forced six Wolves players to refuse to play for the coach, as the club wanted to keep the 'incident quite' and not fire the coach. Coach Evans' resigned. Numerous teachers and fans wrote in to the Worcester News to show their support for their fired Wolves players, making it the Worcester News' most commented story within 2009. The community of Worcester schools, both pupils and teachers, as well a many concerned fans and citizens wrote to the newspaper and rallied around the six sacked players; all to no avail as the Wolves Owner Roger Clarke refused to let the players back on the team, even after the coach had resigned.Harker's two year stint as Head Coach at the Wolves has been said to have saved the Wolves from relegation back down to England's 2nd Division. Additionally Harker's tenor may have put the club in a position to hire current England National Team Head Coach Paul James
Paul James
Paul John James is a soccer analyst, former head coach and Canadian national team player.In 2003 James was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame...
, as well a move forward with the new Worcester Arena. Without the conviction and principle of which the sacked Wolves players demonstrated, the club would have never been in a position to hire Coach James.
Career history
- 1998-99
University of Oregon Ducks - 2001-02 Frontier City River Dogz
- 2002-03 Akron WingfootsAkron WingfootsThe Akron Wingfoots are one of the oldest basketball teams in the United States. They were founded in 1918 by the workers at the Goodyear Tire Company in Akron, Ohio...
- 2003-04
Turner Shaft Göppingen - 2004-05 Birmingham BulletsBirmingham BulletsThe Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...
- 2005-06 Birmingham BulletsBirmingham BulletsThe Birmingham Bullets is a basketball team from Birmingham, who competed in the British Basketball League . The club resigned from the BBL league in the summer of 2006 and soon after went into liquidation, and currently no-longer exist as a basketball franchise.-The future of Birmingham...
Head Coach/player - 2007-2009 Worcester WolvesWorcester WolvesWorcester Wolves is a basketball team from the city of Worcester which plays in the British Basketball League. The Wolves currently play at in the 800-seat capacity Sports Hall of the University of Worcester, although they are to use the new Worcester Arena as their home venue once completed in...
Head Coach/player - 2009
Edmonton EnergyEdmonton EnergyThe Edmonton Energy is a professional basketball team in the International Basketball League, formerly known as the Edmonton Chill. The Chill name was revoked in August 2008 after allegations of misconduct were filed with the league regarding Troy Barns, the majority shareholder in the team.On 27... - 2009-10 Worcester WolvesWorcester WolvesWorcester Wolves is a basketball team from the city of Worcester which plays in the British Basketball League. The Wolves currently play at in the 800-seat capacity Sports Hall of the University of Worcester, although they are to use the new Worcester Arena as their home venue once completed in...
- 2010 Edmonton EnergyEdmonton EnergyThe Edmonton Energy is a professional basketball team in the International Basketball League, formerly known as the Edmonton Chill. The Chill name was revoked in August 2008 after allegations of misconduct were filed with the league regarding Troy Barns, the majority shareholder in the team.On 27...
- 2010-11 Sports Club Rist Wedel
- 2011 Edmonton EnergyEdmonton EnergyThe Edmonton Energy is a professional basketball team in the International Basketball League, formerly known as the Edmonton Chill. The Chill name was revoked in August 2008 after allegations of misconduct were filed with the league regarding Troy Barns, the majority shareholder in the team.On 27...
Head Coach