A tale of two brothers and their unique journey in going pro on and off the field
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they are just the sixth pair of brothers to play concurrently in the NBA and the NFL.
Harry Douglas IV is the older brother by 18 months. He stands 6 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds. Outgoing and extroverted, he enjoys roughhousing and contact, which is why he chose to pursue football. Harry IV is a wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons.
Toney is the younger brother. He is 6-foot-2 and weighs about 185 pounds. Quiet and reserved, he was calmer and did not like as much contact, so he chose to pursue basketball. Toney is a point guard for the New York Knicks. The two are best friends.
Growing up 12 miles outside of Atlanta in Jonesboro, Ga., the Douglas brothers were raised in an academically-focused household with their older sister, Jamila. Their parents, Stephanie and Harry III, believed that school came first.
According to an interview last year with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Douglas children were expected to wear their Sunday best to school every Tuesday so they could get used to dressing for success.
Stephanie and Harry III pushed their children from a young age to diversify their talents. Harry IV and Toney each played football, basketball and baseball as children.
Though he started on the junior varsity basketball team his first year at Jonesboro High School, Toney quickly advanced to be a starter on the varsity team with his brother by 2001. Evident to onlookers that basketball was Toney’s standout sport, it became his athletic focus.
Despite criticism that he was not big enough to play football at the next level, he was determined to make himself stronger and faster than the competition. While Harry IV played basketball and football all four years at Jonesboro, he chose to pursue football at the University of Louisville after graduating in 2003.
Harry IV led his team to a 2004 AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory, a 2006 Orange Bowl victory—when he had a career-high 10 catches for 165 yards—and an invitation to play in the Under Armor Senior Bowl. He graduated a two-time All-Big East selection and second-team AP All-America.
Toney excelled at point guard for Florida State. In his final season, he led his team to the ACC Championship Game and the NCAA Tournament. He graduated as an All-ACC selection.
Harry IV was the 83rd overall pick in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Falcons. Growing up just miles away from the Georgia Dome at Philips Arena, his childhood dream was to play in front of his family and friends. He made an immediate impact on special teams as a punt returner in addition to playing wide receiver, becoming the 10th player in team history to return a punt for a touchdown.
Toney was the 23rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Hours later, he was traded to the Knicks. He has played in 141 games in two seasons, including a playoff appearance in 2011.
Gearing up for his second NFL season, Harry IV injured his knee during training camp in 2009. He was placed on injured reserve, missing the season. Initially, Harry IV’s parents moved in with him to help take care of his knee. Toney was brought to tears when he heard of his brother’s injury. After living with his parents, Harry IV found himself spending most of his time with his brother in New York.
In an interview last year with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Harry IV and Toney said that they had agreed at an early age to aid youth who did not have ample opportunities, should they ever sign professional contracts. So in 2009, their family founded the Douglas Brothers Foundation, Inc. in Morrow, Ga. According to its website, the foundation’s mission is “to educate and empower underprivileged youth and families in our community to achieve their life and career goals, while building stronger communities that support the betterment of younger people.”
The foundation supports dozens of community programs and hosts several events each year. Programs include workshops, career development, life skills training, local community outreach, mentoring, tutoring and education, camps and athletic programs.
Showcased in the foundation hallways are athletic trophies from Harry IV and Toney’s childhoods. Front and center, however, are their college diplomas, which their parents consider their biggest accomplishments. It’s a reminder of their family’s system of values. The Douglas brothers always remember their roots.
What a cool story – parents must be proud!