Tommy Amaker putting together a blockbuster class at Harvard

[bob_duke_jd]

Top-100 point guard, Bryce Aiken, declared for Harvard today, giving Harvard it's fourth top-150 commitment from the class of 2016. Obviously, their class doesn't match up with Duke's, though it's probably better than that of Duke's disgraced neighbor and crazy-loaded for an Ivy League school. Harvard beat out Miami and Seton Hall for this kid; tellingly, he said he was impressed that Harvard had been to three straight NCAA tourneys and played well in each. Hopefully, they'll get another shot at UNC-Cheat, though by the time these guys are seniors, it seems unlikely that UNC-Cheat will make the tournament.

I've read that each of these four kids has a GPa at or near 4.0 and is taking AP classes, so this is a remarkable achievement--this class may be the greatest Ivy League class ever assembled, and all four are expected to stick around for four years. Great to see another Duke alum tearing it up on the recruiting trail at what is now a major program--I expect you will be seeing a lot more of them in the NCAA tournament, though they may be down a bit this year, as their PG, Siyani Chambers, blew his knee out and is done for the year.

I saw Coach Amaker with my son outside the stadium after a Harvard game last year, and I told him I was also a Duke grad. He was all smiles and immediately invited us to join him at a post-game reception--just like Coach K--totally open and welcoming.

 

[dadecodevil]

T.A. Is a really quality guy. He hasn't changed much from his days in Durham.

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

Tommy is gettin' it done!
With a little more luck his team would have sent the Heels packing earlier last tourney. Now that would have been sweet!

OFC

 

[DukeDenver]

Amaker should finish his career there. He seems to have that particular job figured out. I love to see Alum setting new standards of excellence.

 

[Mark Gastineau]

Love to see Amaker, Dawkins, Collins, Wojo, and Hurley doing well. They learned from the best in the game, and it shows.

 

[skysdad]

The thing about Harvard is Tommy's always gonna have a vet squad, Experience goes a long way and even if he doesn't get the 4 and 5 stars he will always have a pretty good team. Would not like to have to play them in the tourney. OFC

 

[dukiejay]

He's built/building something pretty special at a place like Harvard. It's impressive.

 

[timo0402]

He's come up with an incredible recruiting pitch and a really unique mentor program, which if a kid is interested in this sort of option, he's a home run.

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

The thing about Harvard is Tommy's always gonna have a vet squad, Experience goes a long way and even if he doesn't get the 4 and 5 stars he will always have a pretty good team. Would not like to have to play them in the tourney. OFC

Good point, Sky. Good players that stay all 4 years (or even 3) will help in overcoming more talented squads.

OFC

 

[twdukefan]

Love to see Amaker, Dawkins, Collins, Wojo, and Hurley doing well. They learned from the best in the game, and it shows.

I thought Roy Williams was the best? He turns down things that aren't the best

 

[pg4foy]

I don't post often - prefer just to read but wanted to share.

I did my MBA at Harvard and ended up doing a consulting project (instead of a class) on Harvard Basketball with Tommy Amaker. This was during the final year of Jeremy Lin. I'm also a huge Duke fan so it was even better.

I have to say, I was extremely impressed with Tommy Amaker. He is the most charismatic person I have ever met (and I meet a ton of CEOs and great entrepreneurs in my line of work). Extremely kind and engaged. You just want to follow him. It kind of highlighted to me how special a head coach must be to be able to successfully recruit these kids. I really hope he becomes the head coach at Duke in 5-10 years when K calls it quit.

I'm still in touch with him and exchange emails every year. He reads and responds with long paragraphs... he doesn't need to... just a great human being.

 

[Willcampbell]

I don't post often - prefer just to read but wanted to share.

I did my MBA at Harvard and ended up doing a consulting project (instead of a class) on Harvard Basketball with Tommy Amaker. This was during the final year of Jeremy Lin. I'm also a huge Duke fan so it was even better.

I have to say, I was extremely impressed with Tommy Amaker. He is the most charismatic person I have ever met (and I meet a ton of CEOs and great entrepreneurs in my line of work). Extremely kind and engaged. You just want to follow him. It kind of highlighted to me how special a head coach must be to be able to successfully recruit these kids. I really hope he becomes the head coach at Duke in 5-10 years when K calls it quit.

I'm still in touch with him and exchange emails every year. He reads and responds with long paragraphs... he doesn't need to... just a great human being.

Come back any time.
OFC

 

[dukiejay]

I don't post often - prefer just to read but wanted to share.

I did my MBA at Harvard and ended up doing a consulting project (instead of a class) on Harvard Basketball with Tommy Amaker. This was during the final year of Jeremy Lin. I'm also a huge Duke fan so it was even better.

I have to say, I was extremely impressed with Tommy Amaker. He is the most charismatic person I have ever met (and I meet a ton of CEOs and great entrepreneurs in my line of work). Extremely kind and engaged. You just want to follow him. It kind of highlighted to me how special a head coach must be to be able to successfully recruit these kids. I really hope he becomes the head coach at Duke in 5-10 years when K calls it quit.

I'm still in touch with him and exchange emails every year. He reads and responds with long paragraphs... he doesn't need to... just a great human being.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[bob_duke_jd]

Now Tommy is taking Harvard to a whole new level--taking on Duke in the chase after Wendell Carter, who apparently is interested:
http://zagsblog.com/articles/can-harvard-compete-with-duke-and-kentucky-for-wendell-carter/

In any event, it's good to know that Carter takes school so seriously and does so well. His HS GPA is 3.8. And if anyone else beside K and Duke is crushing it on the recruiting trail, I am glad to see it be Tommy and Harvard.

Meanwhile, Harvard's 2016 class is now ranked 8th by ESPN, one spot behind Kentucky:
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/classrankings

 

[youngman42]

The thing about Harvard is Tommy's always gonna have a vet squad, Experience goes a long way and even if he doesn't get the 4 and 5 stars he will always have a pretty good team. Would not like to have to play them in the tourney. OFC

Def. don't want to play them! (I felt they were a bit underseeded last year). That's been the MO in the past and has served the top Ivy schools well (including Amaker). And will still be there to some extent. However, his recent recruiting belies that stereotype.

 

[hpnole]

If you can build a program at Harvard, you can build one anywhere. Do they even give scollys there? I have heard they do not.

 

[bob_duke_jd]

Ivy League schools do not give athletic scholarships. However, they typically give generous need-based scholarship. So if your family is not well off, you can probably get close to a full ride; though, if your family is wealthy, you may not get any financial aid--no matter how great a player you are.