August 30, 2010

Harvard Adds Five Freshmen to Men's Basketball Roster

Photo courtesy of Gil Talbot.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard men’s basketball team welcomes five student-athletes of the Class of 2014 to the program this fall.  The class, which consists of three guards, a forward and a center, includes players who hail from three different states (California, New York and Rhode Island), as well as Quebec and Nigeria.

"We are excited to welcome this group of terrific young men into our program and university, said Tommy Amaker, who is entering his fourth season as the head coach of the Crimson.  “They have the unique opportunity to contribute to the making of a truly special program here at Harvard!"

Harvard, which established a program record with 21 victories last season, returns 10 players from last year’s team, which went 21-8 overall and 10-4 in the Ivy League. In addition, Harvard earned an invite to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, marking the first time the program has competed in the postseason since 1946.

The Class of 2014:

Matt Brown, Guard/6-3/205/Barrington, R.I./Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.)
Also a wide receiver on the Harvard football team … Attended Northfield Mount Hermon … Lettered in basketball, football and track and field … Captained all three squads as a senior and was a two-time football captain … McDonald’s All-American nominee … Reebok All-American in 2009-10 … Two-time All-New England Prep School Athletic Conference and two-time all-division in basketball … Was high school teammate of fellow Crimson freshman Laurent Rivard … Averaged 20.2 points per game as a freshman at Barrington High School before transferring to Northfield Mount Hermon … First-team All-New England and all-league in football as a senior … New England champion in the high jump in 2009 … Had a 273 receiving yard game in football in 2009 … Father, Donald, played basketball at Providence from 1982-1986 … 2009 Deans Award Winner.

Jamie Moore, Forward/6-8/215/Rocklin, Calif./Jesuit
Earned three varsity letters as a forward at Jesuit High School … Captained the team as a junior … Ranked by Rivals/NorCal Prep as a top 10 senior basketball prospects in Northern California … Three-time All-Delta River League, garnered first team status as a senior … Two-time all-metro honoree … Garnered six all-tournament honors during career … Led Delta River League three times in blocks and three point shots made per game … Holds Jesuit High School records for most points scored in a game by a forward (44) and most three point shots made in a game (seven) …  Awarded highest honors for academic excellence in each of his four years … Received the Jesuit High School Award for academic general excellence … Scholar-Athlete Award recipient … Volunteered at Sacramento-based homeless shelters and performed work in special needs class rooms in the Rocklin Unified School District … Father, Jim, was a three-year member of the Stanford crew team and earned the bronze medal at the 1987 U.S. National Championships.
 
Ugo Okam, Center/7-0/245/Enugu, Nigeria (Clermont, Fla.)/Montverde Academy
Three-year starter at center at Montverde Academy … Came to Montverde Academy before this sophomore year after starting high school career in Nigeria … Captained the squad in 2009-10 … National Honor Society  … French Honor Society … Graduated summa cum laude … Brother, Brian, is a center on the Appalachian State basketball team … Brother, Fleming, played basketball at Southwestern University, 2008-10.
 
Laurent Rivard, Guard/6-5/215/Saint-Bruno, Que./Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.)
Lettered in basketball and track and field at Northfield Mount Hermon … Previously attended Seminaire Ste-Trinite … Captain basketball team and was named team most valuable player in 2009-10 … All-New England Prep School Athletic Conference Class first team as a shooting guard … Was high school teammate of fellow Crimson freshman Matt Brown … Was named Montreal Basketball League most valuable player and played in conference All-Star Game in 2008 … Three-time Quebec champion in mountain biking … Under-19 junior national team member, finishing seventh at World Championships in New Zealand in 2009 … Under-17 Quebec  team member, placing first at nationals in 2008 and second in 2007 … Inducted into Cum Laude Society.
 
Ernest Rouse, Guard/6-2/175/Freeport, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy
Started for two seasons at shooting guard at Archbishop Molloy High School … Captained squad as a senior … First-team All-Catholic High School Athletic Association in 2010 … Was second in CHSAA in scoring at 22 points per game and led the conference in three pointers … Elected to All-Star Wheel Chair Classic New York team … Tabbed to the all-tournament team at St. Benedictine Classic  … New York Post Athlete of the Week in January 2010 … All-Queens third team during 2008-09 season … Named to all-tournament team at Aviator Classic …  Member of the math team and Ebony Club … Volunteered with Baldwin Community Service Group, visiting hospitals and giving gifts to the sick and shut in during holiday season.