Harvard Strikes Back

New England Recruiting Report | Monday, November 2nd, 2009

After suffering some recent losses in recruiting, Harvard University has struck back in a major way.  Northfield Mount Hermon's senior guard Laurent Rivard committed to the Crimson on Tuesday afternoon, giving head coach Tommy Amaker another high level talent and quick impact player in the Ivy League. 

"I thought Harvard offered the best combination of academics and athletics in the country," Rivard told the New England Recruiting Report. 

While Amaker and his staff have recently seen the likes of Dwight Powell, Rod Odom, and Austin Carroll chose high major alternatives, Rivard gives them a huge talent who had plenty of high major interest of his own. 

"I am going to have a chance to have an impact as a freshmen and that was really important to me," Rivard said.  "I think that's the best way to get better, getting out and getting game experience." 

Northfield Mount Hermon head coach John Carroll credits Rivard with helping to take the NMH program to another level and expects him to do the same at Harvard. 

"Laurent has been instrumental in taking our program to the national level and I would expect him to do nothing less at Harvard," Carroll said.  "He understands the Ivy League is a much more competitive league than it was five years ago and he wants to be part of the process of turning Harvard into a national power." 

Rivard, who also starred with the Canadian junior national team this summer, is one of the best pure shooters in the region.  Beyond that he's a tremendously hard worker with a strong body and someone who "eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball" as Carroll said. 

"Coach Amaker is dedicated to bringing the program to another level and I'm excited to be a part of it," Rivard said. 

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