Sullivan Commits to Harvard
Just the other day Worcester Academy and the BABC big man Ryan Sullivan announced his commitment to Harvard University.
The Auburn native has spent a long time with the Worcester Academy Hilltoppers, winning two straight NEPSAC AA titles with the program in 2022 and 2023. Those respective teams were chalk full of scholarship level talent as Tre Norman (Marquette), TJ Power (Duke/UVA) and Kayvaun Mulready (Georgetown) served as the stars.
Sullivan has been a notable name in his class for a while now due to his imposing size. Big men are often a sought out commodity in the recruiting ranks due to the overall lack in the combination of size and skill needed to play at the next level. Sullivan however was an outlier.
An obvious talent on the basketball court, Sullivan also serves as a southpaw pitcher for Worcester Academy.
On the basketball court though, you can’t miss Sullivan. As the team’s center, the Hilltoppers use him to churn their offense as a roller in screens where he can use his impressive athleticism to finish above the rim. While getting to the cup for dunks is a skill of his, Sullivan is also a floor spacer from beyond the three-point line able to knock shots down off the catch.
There was one thing holding Sullivan back from being a very popular in the class of 2025 though: “I broke my leg the spring of my sophomore year and wasn’t able to fully come back until my junior year playing for Worcester.”
Missing out on some time, Sullivan had to battle and really push himself to new limits to get his body ready for court time again. It paid off though as the southpaw made an impact as a junior shooting 61% from the field, and 47% on shots from outside.
Since then, he’s continued to make the most of his opportunities and actively pursued his development as a player, which has particularly stood out in Worcester’s strong season this winter: “It feels great to come back and have an opportunity like this arise this season. While the journey has only just begun, it is rewarding to see that hard work and perseverance pays off.”
Getting the opportunity to play college basketball at the Division I level was a goal of Ryan’s. Just before Christmas, he received the offer which he would ultimately commit to from the Harvard Crimson.
Sullivan spoke very highly of the new partnership in talks with NERR: “I felt it was the perfect fit for me both athletically and academically after talking with the coaching staff,” he said discussing the benefits of attending the prestigious university in Cambridge Massachusetts.
He continued with, “Coach Amaker and the entire coaching staff are great leaders who will push me to become the best I can be both on and off the court.”
Sullivan concluded, “Being able to continue my basketball career at the highest level, and also receive a world renowned education is a life changing opportunity I couldn’t pass on.”
Life-changing opportunities are just what they sound like, monumental chances to attempt to alter the outcome of your future. By attending Harvard, Sullivan will not only get a chance to play in the Ivy League, but he’ll also get the honor of working towards one of the most highly-thought of college degrees in the world.
But before that all starts, the winter season is still underway, and Worcester is well in the race in AA of the NEPSAC. With wins over Class A powerhouses Phillips Exeter and Williston Northampton, as well as Blair Academy, Phelps and Northfield Mount Hermon, there’s no counting out the Hilltoppers as the season wraps up.
Keep an eye on the newly-committed big man in the final moments of his high school career as he looks to help lead Worcester to more success.
Ryan Sullivan