}

Harvard Lands a Hooper

New England Recruiting Report | Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Harvard Lands a Hooper

Brewster Academy post-graduate Max Hooper was excited about Harvard even before he arrived on their Cambridge campus this weekend for his official visit. 

“Going into the visit I really liked the coaching staff a lot and just liked the vision they had for the program and for me as a player,” Hooper said.  “Academically, Harvard is Harvard.  You can’t dispute that fact.” 

Hooper’s affinity for the Crimson was only reinforced this weekend, leading him to make a verbal commitment less than 48 hours later. 

“It was a great visit,” he said.  “Everything just seemed to click and I felt really comfortable.  My parents and I just decided it was time to pull the trigger.” 

Hooper took an official visit to Oakland last month and recently took an unofficial trip to see Minnesota, but ultimately Harvard’s combination of academics and athletics was too much for him to pass up.  Specifically, the opportunity to play a prominent role on a Harvard team that has shot up the Ivy League standings since head coach Tommy Amaker’s arrival. 

“The first thing that they mentioned was that they appreciated my work ethic and passion for the game,” Hooper said.  “They feel like that can be contagious for the team and cause good things to happen.  Also, my ability to be a shot maker.  They have some guys to be playmakers but they said they needed some guys to be shot makers while filling other roles.” 

Before arriving at Brewster Academy, Hooper starred at Mater Dei High School in California where he first established himself as a premier shooter.  The six-foot-seven forward made his New England debut this summer when he ran with the New England Playaz on the grassroots circuit.  

Hooper is the sixth player to commit to the Crimson in the class of 2011, and second this week as six-foot-six forward Steve Moundou-Missi from Montverde Academy in Florida made a verbal commitment on Monday.  Hooper and Moundou-Missi are joined by six-foot-seven big man Kenyatta Smith, six-foot-two shooting guard Corbin Miller, six-foot-six forward Jonah Travis, and six-foot-five forward Wesley Saunders.