GoBigGreenBasketball
Masters Student
Posts: 806
Age: 52
Reg: 05-19-16
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08-16-16 03:05 PM - Post#209622
With Tommy Amaker at the helm, the Harvard Crimson offer recruits elite academic and athletic opportunities
Link to article at Mid-Major Madness
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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Harvard is outgrowing its slipper
08-16-16 04:47 PM - Post#209628
In response to GoBigGreenBasketball
Nice article which seems to make three points:
1. Harvard is quickly losing it's Cinderella" claim;
2. Amaker and Harvard Brand have allowed Harvard to "corner the market" on attracting those rare students possessing academic and basketball prowess (Seth Towns and Chris Lewis are profiled mainly with regard to academic qualifications);
3. "With Yale pulling a 4 vs. 13 upset last year in the Big Dance and Columbia taking home the CIT title, the Ivy League brand, from sports to the science lab, is further strengthening its stronghold among potential recruits."
Conclusion seems to be that the tide is rising in two ways:
a. top recruits with academic qualifications are valuing education enough to choose Harvard, and likely others; and
b. it is expected that this trend will inure to the benefit of other Ivy League schools.
I hope this is so and believe that we are starting to see this evidenced starting with strong 2016 and 2017 recruiting results.
Edited by HARVARDDADGRAD on 08-16-16 04:48 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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H78
PhD Student
Posts: 1458
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Reg: 01-06-11
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Re: Harvard is outgrowing its slipper
08-18-16 08:36 AM - Post#209699
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Good points, all. I see that, in these particular athetes' cases, we see Towns as more of a 3-4 who can hit the outside shot, and also work under the rim, and near it. Whereas, Lewis seems more of a 4-5, at least in the Ivy context, with more activity under the rim.
Baker looks more like a 3-4 type, as Towns appears. Really nice court sense, ability to convert others' missed jumpers into tip-ins and stuffs.
Bassey looks like a 2-3, with Juzang and Aiken at the point, Welch a classic 5.
Any other thoughts?
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2691
Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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08-18-16 10:11 AM - Post#209705
In response to H78
Your analysis makes sense. I think the big questions are who can create as the shot clock winds down (ala Wes Saunders) and who supplies the perimeter defense.
On the former point, the ability of Siyani to penetrate was sorely missed last year. The latter point explains the recruiting of the defensive minded Haskins (2017). Either Andre or Bassey need to step up this year.
Wonder if Coach Amaker will be willing to use two of Siyani/Aiken/McCarthy at the same time. Harvard's offense really hummed when Siyani and Curry were on the court together. Lack of height in those situations probably not an issue in conference, especially with Zena, Lewis, Towns and Egi lurking to protect the rim.
By the way, watching Chris Lewis' senior year video I was impressed by his raw power and explosiveness. No comparison physically between Zena/Lewis and Ivy bigs like Miller, Brennan and Petrasek. Remember, Lewis was a 43rd ranked recruit not long ago and missed significant time with a back injury the first half of his senior year. Seth Towns is much more of a finesse/smooth scorer and a very good shooter, even from 3. Great outside option with Corey/Corbin (the killer "C's?) as well as Siyani/McCarthy/Aiken.
Can't wait for the annual Coaches clinic in late October. First chance to see the new guys. Last year Tommy stopped practice to accentuate the necessity to feed Zena down low whenever possible. Still a priority, but not a necessity.
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