Bryce Harper’s ferry to sail today

It was not a decision made hastily by Bryce Harper and his family. The call to leave Las Vegas High School after his sophomore year and become a full-blown baseball prospect was the result of careful consideration and planning.

The unprecedented jump put Harper under intense scrutiny, and it brought some criticism on his father, Ron. All of that was expected, and they were prepared for most of it.

The uniqueness of Harper's story and talent formed a captivating mystery that will continue to be studied as it unfolds.

Fifty-one weeks after announcing he would prematurely attend the College of Southern Nevada, the 17-year-old Harper is appreciating the past and feeling prepared for the future.

"I wouldn't take anything back," he said.

By all indications, Harper will be the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Nationals in today's major league draft, which begins at 4 p.m. and will be televised by MLB Network.

Harper, in Los Angeles with his adviser, agent Scott Boras, is set to become the first Las Vegas native to be the top draft pick in any major professional sport.

In one year in college, Harper batted .443 with 31 home runs, 98 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He also was an honor student after earning his GED test credentials in the fall.

"It was a good move for Bryce to be able to play against this kind of competition and do well in school, and go further his education," said Ron Harper, a Rancho High graduate and a 27-year iron worker. "So many people put so much emphasis on it.

"There are going to be people who like us and don't like us. I was born and raised here. I wish the people of Las Vegas would embrace it."

The 6-foot-3-inch Harper, a catcher and right fielder, has been smothered by hype since his Sports Illustrated cover appearance last year. More important is major league scouts seem sold on his talent as the most intriguing power-hitting prospect to surface in years.

Washington also had the No. 1 spot in last year's draft and grabbed Stephen Strasburg, a power pitcher from San Diego State. Boras also represented Strasburg, who signed a record-breaking $15.1 million, four-year contract. Speculation is Harper could get a bigger deal, and the deadline to sign is Aug. 16.

If the Nationals pass on Harper, the Pittsburgh Pirates are waiting with the second selection. But CSN coach Tim Chambers said he would be "shocked" if Harper is not the top pick.

Jim Bowden, Washington's former general manager, said the team's "draft board is etched in stone … Harper's No. 1 on their board. This is the best player in this draft. There's no question about that."

What is questioned is Harper's character and maturity. In last week's Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., he provided fodder for critics after getting ejected from a game for swiping his bat in the dirt to dispute a called third strike.

Harper was suspended for the next game, which the Coyotes lost. They were eliminated from the tournament as Harper sat in a nearby hotel room. If he has one regret, that might be it.

"He's moving on to better places, whether he stays here or goes in the draft. He's going to be doing big things," said older brother Bryan Harper, a CSN sophomore left-hander and a 31st-round pick by the Nationals in 2008. "So I'm proud of him no matter what he does, even if he did end his college career in an ejection. He had a great year. He's by far the best college baseball player in the nation."

Predictably, support for Bryce Harper also comes from Chambers, who ripped the umpire's call -- replays showed the pitch was at least six inches outside -- and the quick-trigger ejection. Harper did not argue the ejection, and Chambers praised his reaction to the situation.

"What a shame. (The umpire) destroyed the tournament," Chambers said. "I got calls and e-mails from people in Grand Junction saying, 'We're sorry it got taken away from you.'

"I've known Bryce for a long time and certainly there's no character issues. Trust me on that one."

Ron Harper said he wants his son to learn from the experience.

"He felt terrible. I know it was killing him not to be out there," Ron Harper said. "I told him, 'You've got to forgive, you've got to ask for forgiveness, and move on.'

"We all make mistakes. If you can allow yourself to forgive and forget, you're going to be better off in life, and it took me awhile to learn that.

"I know my son. If you sit down with him for a while one-on-one and you talk to him and you get to know his heart and his mind, I think you can appreciate it. He's a great kid, and I love him."

Bryce Harper said his year at CSN was an opportunity to mature as a person and player, and he proved himself as a hitter against a level of competition far above what he faced in high school.

"I had a lot of media attention. I really needed to focus on getting into the college scene," he said. "Being around all the older guys, I get challenged more."

For those who asked why he ditched high school early, he answers, "Why not?"

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.