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Username Post: Spencer Freedman
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts 2685
06-09-17 11:16 PM - Post#229986    

Top 100 PG from Mater Dei in CA commits to Harvard. High IQ player chose Cambridge over Washington. First 2018 recruit for Amaker.
1LotteryPick1969
Postdoc
Posts 2261
1LotteryPick1969
06-10-17 09:37 AM - Post#229990    

Watched video: looks like a fantastic recruit. Congratulations. Also listened to an interview and he is very articulate. I'm sure he will do well academically. Very sorry to hear in the interview that he also at one time had Princeton on his radar.
Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts 2801
06-10-17 10:53 AM - Post#229991    

Well, that's one step forward. At least bright and exceptionally talented basketball recruits, who, until the last few years would not be considering the Ivies, are now not only doing so, but realize that all the Ivies are not named "Harvard".

Tommy Amaker is losing his exclusive franchise.
mrjames
Professor
Posts 6062
06-10-17 01:03 PM - Post#229992    

This one seemed preordained for a long time, but after a spring in which he averaged 12 and 6 in 24 mpg, shot 46% from three and climbed into Scout's Top 100, it was good to get this one wrapped up ASAP.
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts 2685
06-10-17 02:36 PM - Post#229993    

Apparently a nice addition. Should fit in very well both on and off the court. Smart play makers are crucial - still wondering how that plays out this coming season as McCarthy and Haskett are combo guards at best and Aiken is probably better with an unselfish partner in the back court.

Seems like program is stocked with shooters and wings. Still wondering if the 4/5 position could use another weapon. Assume Tommy was hoping Carter or Bamba might be the answer, but they weren't. Wonder if he focuses on a lower ranked but exceptional and athletic front court player for 2018. IMHO Harvard needs a shot blocking rim protector now that Zena has moved on. Lewis and Egi aren't as tall as Harvard might need OOC and prone to foul trouble.







mrjames
Professor
Posts 6062
06-10-17 04:31 PM - Post#229994    

My guess at a starting lineup would be Aiken, Haskett, Corey, Seth, Chris Lewis. Rotation of TMac/Juzang, Bassey, Djuricic, Baker/Perez, Egi/Welsh.

Not too concerned about the lack of a true PG. The Amaker offense really needs one thing out of its PG - end of the shot clock offense when things break down, and Aiken can definitely deliver that. The offense is actually better if you have more combo players on the court than one PG and a lot of takers. Freedman's advantage over Siyani is that as good as he is as a pure point guard, he can also fill it up from three, making him more of an offensive threat than Siyani. Defensively... we'll see.
HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts 2685
06-11-17 01:01 AM - Post#229996    

Thanks for the perspective. A few concerns:
- Lewis will need to play more minutes than this year and stay out of foul trouble;
- Defense is an issue. Looking for improvement from Seth and capability of Haskett;
- Can Corey become more consistent? He had a few rough stretches. Can Djuricic play defense while hitting 3's? He appears to be a few inches taller.
- Will Perez and/or Egi contribute? Egi got the not early last year but quickly fell out of the rotation. Perez joined the rotation early in conference play before ending the season in street clothes.

Again, I'm still looking for Amaker to recruit an impact center.

2017-18 could be a very competitive year in the Ivy League.

mobrien
Senior
Posts 390
06-11-17 01:23 PM - Post#229998    

Hey, longtime lurker, first-time poster. Anyone know who else is on Amaker's radar for 2018? Seems like the team could use another 6'6''-ish wing or two, and, depending on how Welsh develops, another big.
Local Observer
Junior
Posts 231
Local Observer
06-11-17 01:35 PM - Post#229999    

http://www.scout.com/college/basketball/re cruiting...

"Some day the ball is going to stop bouncing." That is the refrain from top players who go Ivy. We don't hear this from "one and dunners" who think the ball will keep bouncing forever.
mrjames
Professor
Posts 6062
06-11-17 01:46 PM - Post#230000    

There can always be a few kids that come on strong over the summer (Corey Johnson is a great, recent example). Right now, though, I'd say there are probably 4-5 focus kids that span across all the positions. Freedman was a good start, but Harvard still needs to land 2-3 more of the folks on that list to land a class that looks similar to the 2016 one. Very doable, though.
Tiger69
Postdoc
Posts 2801
06-11-17 04:58 PM - Post#230001    

It worked for us -- with a lot fewer stars, as in three and four star recruits. As for one-and-doners, if Tommy A ever seriously considered recruiting them, I hope that he has dumped that idea. Ivy creds are diamond ears studs.
iabhoops88
Sophomore
Posts 107
06-12-17 04:29 PM - Post#230004    

Back in February, I watched him lead Mater Dei to overtime victory in CIF-SS semifinal game vs. the two younger Ball brothers and Chino Hill. Impressive game with many high level D-I recruits on court. Look forward to see him play for the Crimson.
H78
PhD Student
Posts 1458
H78
06-13-17 04:24 AM - Post#230018    

Watched the Youtube of him "vs." Dennis Rodman's son, Link

Sweet 3 point touch. Appears to have good court vision, too. A lefty, like some other successful Crimson point guards.

Question Marks:
  • Low release point on his jumper
  • Does not appear to have reach or length to block shots
  • Not the kind of on-ball defender that BCurry was





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