[NU Sports] Harvard and NU

[Beamsley, Jeff]

In looking for something to help Eric out with the urban legend that is
Tommy Amaker, I found this great article that goes in depth on Harvard's
recent basketball success.

http://www.ballinisahabit.net/2011/08/rise-of-crimson-how-harvard-went-f
rom.html

"We're very comfortable with who we are," Harvard assistant coach Yanni
Hufnagel told me by phone on Tuesday night. "We know that we're an Ivy.
We know that we might not have the biggest arena or the best locker
room. But what we think we have here is the best brand in the world and
an incredible environment for the right kid." 

"[The kids we recruit] come from great families who understand that
Harvard's not a four year decision, it's a 40 year decision."

As Hufnagel explains it, the high academic requirement actually works in
their favor. Whereas some of the bigger programs can literally recruit
any kid in the country that is capable of signing his name on a letter
of intent, Harvard has to narrow down their search. The pool of kids
they can choose from is limited. And while that requires the coaching
staff to do their due diligence identifying potential recruits, it also
allows them to focus their energy on the kids that they know they can
get into school. 

"We've been very aggressive in trying to figure out who we want to
recruit," Hufnagel said. "We want to get the best players in the country
who are academically motivated and who are looking to take a little bit
of a different path to greatness." 

Hufnagel also stressed the value of building a strong relationship not
only with the kid he is recruiting, but with the people in his life on a
day-to-day basis. 

"That's important," he said. "Without a strong relationship, we've got
very little chance to have the kind of success we're having and hope to
have in the future."


Bottom line, this is the same formula that Fitz uses to recruit smart
competitive football players.  

It works the same way in basketball. 

If there are enough smart good basketball players willing to more or
less pay their own way to play for Harvard, there are also enough smart
good basketball players who would value a free NU education.  Just have
to find them, create a relationship with them and their families as they
enter high school, and then welcome them when it is time for them to
choose a college.

Jeff