mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-29-21 01:29 PM - Post#322585
In response to H78
My guess would be:
Tretout
Kirkwood
Lesmond
Ledlum
Forbes
From there, I expect a ton of competition in a few different buckets:
On-ball guard:
Sakota
Nelson
Freedman
Simon
Wing/Stretch 4:
Hemmings
Catchings
Pitcher
Center:
Ajogbor
Pitcher
Keys for Harvard will be:
1) Finding a good, playmaking PG. Amaker's offense requires it, and if you look at the games where Harvard got stomped in 19-20, they didn't have it. Lots of options here, so I suspect they'll ultimately find a solution, but if it's not Tretout, it might take time (and early Ls) to do so.
2) Ledlum has to shoot better. He shot terribly on 2PT Js, 3s and from the line. Otherwise, he has a decent turnover rate (20%) for a freshman and draws a TON of fouls. He also had a 360 dunk in game action. Finally, he disrupts a ton of shots (5.3% BLK rate in Ivy play, 5th in the league and the only guy in the Top 10 under 6'7). But if he can't make shots, he's gonna be an offensive neutral at best.
3) A few key rookies being AS ADVERTISED. Ajogbor has impressed defensively, which should help a team that had the 2nd and 3rd best block rate players (Lewis/Baker) walk out that door. With Bassey gone, there will likely be more perimeter mistakes to clean up, putting the pressure on a rim protector to make his presence known. Forbes will be that, but this team needs two in case of foul trouble.
4) VACCINE (for the injury bug). Here's a list of players with assist rates of 10% or over (proxy for on-ball guards) that were unavailable for Harvard's final game against Yale: Aiken, Juzang, Kirkwood plus full-year injured players like TMac and Freedman. If Harvard gets pushed six deep at any position again, it's not going to achieve the potential that this team's talent would indicate.
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