Tuesday, November 13, 2001 Updated: November 16, 1:11 PM ET
Potter to turn pro early
By Dan Shanoff Special to Page 2
BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Prep phenom Harry Potter announced yesterday that he is foregoing his final two years of student eligibility at Hogwarts School for Wizardry to begin his professional Quidditch career.
Harry Potter has been called the best prep Quidditch prospect in the history of the game.
"I feel like I've done everything I can do at the schoolboy level," Potter said at his press conference at Junior's, a Brooklyn diner.
Potter has already signed an agency contract with IMG, which immediately inked a movie pact, merchandising rights and an endorsement deal with the Nimbus brand broomstick to develop a signature "H-Pot" model.
"I mean, I look at Kwame and Tyson and Eddy and I just say to myself, 'It's time to get mine.' " Potter said, draped in a new robe, part of a joint fashion-marketing venture between rap mogul Jay Z's "Roc-A-Wear" line and Potter's new "Scarr-Fayce" label.
"T-Mac and Kobe -- two high-schoolers -- are two of the top three players in the NBA," Potter said. "I think the idea that I need to spend any more time at the school level makes no sense, personally or economically."
Potter will trade his Hogwarts sweater for his own "Scarr-Fayce" label.
Speculation began to run rampant that Potter would leave school for the professional ranks after he led his Gryffindor house team to the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup.
"The kid has the potential to be the best ever -- and I discovered Kobe," adidas hoops impresario Sonny Vaccaro declared.
Potter is projected to play the "Seeker" position in the pros and will likely be among the top picks in the draft.
Professional quidditch officials, concerned about Potter setting a trend for prep wizards everywhere, are considering a plan to found the National Quidditch Development League (NQDL).
Dan Shanoff is a regular contributor to Page 2.
