The Crimson hired a new coach last season in Tommy Amaker and by the looks of it he may be turning things around.  And then again maybe not!  One thing is for sure, Amaker has opened up the recruiting doors to some new blood in Cambridge.  Will this work.  Well, if last year’s class is any sign of things to come then at least the Crimson have a few studs to build this program around.  

The most consistent and best returning player on the team is sophomore forward Joe Carrabino.  Carrabino is a solid scorer who can produce inside and out.  He knows how to play the game.  Carrabino loves to use his size, 6’9 235,  against smaller matchups and his quickness against bigger guys.  He can get to the hoop but has a nice soft touch as well. He led the team in scoring in his first year here and though most of the year he was guarding the other team’s center, he held his own defensively.  He still got his points because he knows how to roll to the hoop and get his shot.  This California kid knows how to play the game and Amaker has proved his new strategy of recruiting nationwide might just work.  After all, every kid in the country with an IQ over 120 does want to end up in Cambridge someday, whether they play basketball or not.  

Fellow Sophomore Don Fleming also saw significant time in the mix last season.  A good all-around player who does not miss a beat when playing, Fleming can score from inside and out on the wing.  The Crimson were in good shape with this multitalented player on the floor.  This 6’4 kid might not be as athletic as some but Fleming can get up and down the court.  His shot is adjusting to longer ranges but he can let it fly when he gets the chance.  A true small forward which means he is not quick enough to guard quicker guys, Fleming will play this year and could even start but this team does have some options at three.

Seniors George Hauptfuhrer, Merle McClung and Keith Sedlacek all return for one more year in Cambridge and will battle with Fleming for playing time at the three.  Adding to this group will be another senior, Wyndol Gray, who came through the transfer portal from Bowling Green.  Gray is a stud who will be the favorite to start after a terrific run for the Falcons.  At 6’1 he is undersized even for the Ivy and might be better suited as a two but has always played the three.  And played it well.  He might be the most talented played on the returning roster but that does not guarantee him the starting role as there are many suitors for the gig.  Hauptfuhrer is the incumbent but only averaged a bit over 18 minutes a game and like Gray transferred from a powerhouse college in the Northern Kentucky-Southern Ohio region.  Hauptfuhrer (yeah, I don’t know how to say his name either) came from Louisville last year and by the end of the year was starting.  At 6’3 he can score and is a good defender but with Gray around might not keep his job.  McClung is a 6’5 combo forward who plays better inside and Sedlacek is a 6’1 shooter who will play more two than three this year with Gray in town which is ironic as his best attribute is hitting threes.  This position has depth but I don’t think even Amaker knows how this competition will shake out.

The Crimson are also well-stocked at power forward especially with third year studs.  Junior James Brown had a very solid campaign last year and could start especially if Amaker has to play Carrabino at the five again.  ‘JB’ is a very articulate player who lets his actions speak more than his words.  He is tough and knows how to set up his teammates.  He is not afraid to be a team player as he lets his teammates get all the glory while he sets them up and does the dirty work.  Brown is a solid addition to any team but the Crimson fans loved him.  Fellow Juniors Tony Jenkins, Lou Silver and Floyd Lewis to give the Crimson some size and toughness up front.   Lewis is an old school player but was solid in his minutes and is best on the boards.  This DC kid goes 6’7 205 and is the most physical player on the team down low.  Silver is also 6’7 and can score some inside and out and has had some good years on the JV.  He might be better suited as a combo forward as he is not a great board guy.  Jenkins is a good board man who plays good defense.  This Detroit kid goes 6’8 but only 198 and has some issues with more physical players especially since he was guarding some centers often with this team’s lack of a true post presence.  Speaking of the post, fellow junior Brian Banks also returns and is the best rim protector (perhaps the only one) on the roster.  He goes 6’9 but like many on this roster is awful thin at only 200 pounds.  His offense is improving but he does not have a true on the block game yet.  If he develops one he should get some real minutes instead of the limited ones he has received so far in Cambridge.  A few seniors are also in the mix for the post spots but are much smaller.  Barry Williams, Harry Sacks and Ed Smith give Amaker some options down low.  Williams goes 6’5 and can board but he is the oldest of 6 kids and goes by the name Johnny Bravo.  Sacks is a 6’4 old school post player who led the Crimson in scoring one year but has faded due to his lack of size.  Smith does go 6’6 but a svelte 180 and like his fellow seniors in the paint might not get off the pine much too often this season. 

In the back court Amaker is bringing in a slew of players as the cupboard is not exactly full of talent.  Senior Saul Mariaschin is the returning starter at point and comes from the Big Apple.  This 5’11 165 pounder can play and was the first of a large group of fine point guards from the city that never sleeps.  He is not a great passer but he can defend.  Glenn Fine also got a shot at point but he is adept at including teammates.  Fine’s name fits because he is awesome at dropping dimes.  Still, none of these two have shown they were the guy and it opened the door for the incoming kids to steal the spotlight.  Another senior/junior battle will happen at the two guard.  Senior Bill Dennis will battle Dale Dover for the shooting guard spot.  Both are complete players but neither is a great three point guy so the door is open for Sendlacek and an incoming transfer from Duke.  Senior John Rockwell would be in the mix as he played often last year but is leaving school early to pursue a career in business ala Mark Zuckerburg and that fb thing he started.  Odds are at least one of these two back court spots will be taken by an incoming freshmen as Amaker has went as far as Palo Alto California to find some much needed help on the perimeter. 

The Crimson had great role players who all got a chance to contribute as Amaker tried everyone especially early trying to find the right blend.   Some of these guys started for most of their careers and it was hard for them to adjust to backup roles but they did.  Senior Wyndol Gray got hurt and opened the door for James but had a great career in Cambridge.  He is a multifaceted player on the wing who is good enough for the next level if he so chooses.  Seniors Keith Sedlacek and Merle McClung ended great careers coming off the pine and inspiring the Crimson.  Both can score quickly and often but were not the type of athletes Amaker wanted in his new up tempo style of play.  Junior Jim Fitzsimmons transferred in from Duke and missed half the year but got eligible just in time to play against the Blue Devils and really showed he can shoot by scoring 22 in that game.  He was work to do to stay on the court with Amaker around (ironically a former Dukey who did not play Fitzsimmons much after this game) 

The Harvard Crimson athletes know they go to one of the finest Universities in the world.  These are very talented kids who have great futures in front of them   It may not be in basketball but the experience for playing for the Crimson will not hurt them as they move onto the board room and commentators of the world.   Competing for Ivy League titles has not been a thing in Cambridge but with a coach who comes from a University known for not only academics but competing for basketball titles in the hefty ACC the Crimson think they have their man to lead them to the top.  Tommy Amaker understands that to be top here you have to beat Princeton and Penn just like he had to do in Durham taking on fellow NC schools NC State and Wake Forest.  But he also knows that nothing else really mattered at Duke but beating the Tar Heels of North Carolina and that is the same here with the hated boys from New Haven.  The Crimson could go 2-26 and as long as Harvard beats Yale, Amaker’s job is safe here.