Harvey forgoes GA senior year for early entry at Vanderbilt

Baseball star Chris Harvey has completed 2 days of classes at Vanderbilt University.

Wait. Wasn't he a junior last school year at Germantown Academy?

Indeed he was. But the 6-5, 220-pound Harvey, a first-team Daily News All-City catcher, used the summer to make himself eligible for enrollment at Vanderbilt and, well, he sounds extremely happy.

"It does sting a little, the idea of missing out on your prom and your whole senior year of high school," Harvey said last night via cellphone. "But from the moment I got here, I've known I made the right decision. Things are going great. I'd recommend it to anyone who has the chance."

Harvey, long a star on the national circuit, undoubtedly would have been highly scrutinized for the 2012 draft. Now, he'll be eligible in 2014.

"This whole decision was based on getting a college education, and becoming a better player as early as possible," said Harvey, whose cousin, Joe Harvey, a product of Kennedy-Kenrick High, plays for Pitt. "My parents [Frank, Joan] are college-educated. They know the value. Sports is a bonus.

"I committed to Vanderbilt last August and thought about [early entry] as long ago as last October. Once I realized it could definitely be done, I went for it. I do hope to play pro ball. This will give me an early chance to accelerate my development and be as ready as possible [in 2014]."

Vandy last spring made its first appearance in the College World Series. The starting catcher was a senior, so Harvey will have to chance to seize that spot.