NMH Forward Harvard Bound
It was a combination of factors that led Andrew Van Nest to decide to attend Harvard University, and ultimately it was just too good of an opportunity to turn down.
“The education, the city feel on the campus, what Coach Amaker is trying to do, it was all just too good to pass up,” said the 6’10” forward.
Not only will the big man have the opportunity to receive his education from one of the top academic institutions anywhere in the world, but he also gets to play his college basketball about 20 minutes from his home is Weston, Massachusetts while still enjoying all that a city like Boston has to offer. Ultimately though, all that might not have mattered without Tommy Amaker and his lofty ambitions for the Harvard program.
“Having a chance to help Harvard win their first Ivy League championship is an amazing opportunity,” said Van Nest.
Van Nest’s addition is a major step towards those championship aspirations as his combination of size and skill was enough to warrant recruiting attention from countless schools including virtually every program in the Ivy League. At 6’10” his biggest attribute is his ability to stretch opposing defenses with his long range shooting ability, although he also has excellent footwork and an equally soft touch when he chooses to play with his back to the basket.
And while the talented big man is clearly eager to official join the Crimson program, leaving Northfield Mount Hermon at the year’s end will likely be bitter sweet for him, as he is quick to credit his school and coaching staff for his success.
“NMH has made me grow as a player and a person. I got all the looks I wanted from college coaches and really owe my future college experiences to the help that Coach Carroll, Bill Batty, and everyone at NMH has provided me with,” he said. “Plus with myself and Dan McGeary (NMH alum) we have a little bit of an NMH connection going on at Harvard.”
Andrew Van Nest