Herman Harried said he “didn’t have a time frame,” of how long he wanted to coach the Lake Clifton High boys basketball team when he arrived at the East Baltimore school in 1997.

Twenty-seven years later, Harried, affectionately known as “Coach Tree,” still doesn’t. Harried added another milestone in his legendary career Wednesday with his 500th victory as the fifth-ranked Lakers defeated National Academy Foundation, 83-17, in a Baltimore City Division II contest in East Baltimore.

Harried, a member of the legendary Dunbar teams of the 1980s who played collegiately for Syracuse University (member of 1987 national runner-up team), is the ninth area boys coach to reach 500 victories.

After leaving Syracuse, Harried played professionally in Europe for five years. His coaching career started in 1996 as an assistant coach at Loyola College (now Loyola University) under Brian Ellerbe, who stepped down after the 1996-97 season.

Months later, Harried landed at Lake Clifton, his high school alma-mater’s biggest rival, as its new boys basketball coach. In his second season, the Lakers won the Class 4A state championship, the first of six state championships for Harried.

Harried, who also has five Baltimore City titles, is the only coach to win a state public championship in all four classifications. The 2008-09 Laker team (finished 28-0 and won Baltimore City and 3A state title), featuring current Washington Wizard Will Barton, is among the area’s best over the last 25 years.

Harried said he’s most proud of coaching Lake Clifton’s valedictorian the past four years including son Armon, currently a junior guard at Binghamton.

Being a mentor to young men is why Harried never returned to the college coaching ranks, despite opportunities over the years.

“The college level is more of a business. You win, you keep your job. You lose, you lose your job,” said Harried, who’s been on the USA Basketball staff for two decades. “I think at the high school level you really have time to leave your mark on young men to get them ready for that business side of basketball. I enjoyed the grooming side of it, as well as being blessed to coach and being successful.”

Kevin McDuffie, Harried’s best friend since they were eight years old, playing basketball at the Cecil Kirk Recreation Center, said Harried is passionate about instilling discipline.

“He’s worked hard for the kids not just on the court, but in the classroom,” said McDuffie, a former Lake Clifton under the late Woody Williams and a longtime assistant under Harried. “He understands what it takes to get to that next level and how to keep working hard.”