High School Career
At Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, Harvin was noted for his speed (4.32 seconds in the 40-yard dash, as a freshman) and ability to make people miss in the open field. In 2003, during his sophomore year, the Landstown High School Eagles were the state Group AAA runner-up in football. A year later, Harvin led the Eagles' football team to a perfect 14-0 record and a Virginia Group AAA Division 6 state championship. In the title game against James Robinson High School, Harvin accounted for 476 all purpose yards in rushing, receiving, kick returns, and interception returns, as well as scoring 5 touchdowns in the 47-20 victory. In 2005 however, Landstown finished 13-1 after suffering a 28-7 state championship game upset loss to Oakton High School of Vienna, Virginia. Following his stellar high school career, Harvin participated in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He also set four state track records during his junior year at Landstown High, winning five gold medals at the state finals in June 2005 including long jump, triple jump, 100-meters, 200-meters, and 400-meter relay. He also triumphed in basketball, where he helped the team to a 33-6 record and runner-up in the 2005 Virginia AAA state championship game.
After receiving National Junior Player of the Year honors in 2005, Harvin became one of the most celebrated high school football players in the country. As one of the top recruits in the 2006 high school class, Harvin was ranked number one overall by Rivals.com and the number two receiver by Scout.com.
Despite his accomplishments, Harvin's high school athletic career was not without controversy. He served a one-game suspension early in his junior football season for unsportsmanlike conduct. As a senior, he was suspended for the final two regular-season games after making contact with an official and using inappropriate language during a game against First Colonial High School. In basketball, Harvin and a Green Run High School player were involved in a scuffle that prompted referees to stop the game with time remaining on the clock. As a result of this and prior incidents, Harvin was suspended from athletic competition by the Virginia High School League (VHSL). The suspension prevented Harvin from competing in the VHSL Group AAA State Indoor Track Meet at George Mason University that year. His loss, after becoming the first athlete to win five state track titles in the same meet during his junior year, was a huge blow to his high school track team.
Despite these missteps, Harvin ranks as one of the greatest high school athletes to come out of the Hampton Roads area. He scored 77 career touchdowns, accounted for more points than any player in South Hampton Roads history, and led Landstown High School to three consecutive Group AAA Division 6 state football championship games. As a junior Harvin led the Landstown HS basketball team to the state final, and became the first athlete since 1936 to win five gold medals at the state track meet. Despite several earlier statements that he would attend Florida State University, on December 19, 2005, Harvin committed to the University of Florida over Florida State, University of Miami (FL), University of Michigan, and University of Southern California.
Read more about this topic: Percy Harvin
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