<p>Hi, I really want to be recruited by Harvard for basketball. I've played for many years, but haven't gotten an opportunity for play for a varsity team. I'm currently a sophomore. Would it be frowned upon if I finally played during my junior and senior years? Would it be an exception if I were to be an amazing player? I have the strong academics (90%+, but I'm not sure what my GPA is, and I'm a Canadian) and average-strong EC.</p>
<p>What would be the necessary steps to take and when should I contact and coach. What would I need to provide as well.</p>
<p>Many thanks!</p>
<p>saintvicious,</p>
<p>Truthfully, it is going to be very difficult for you to be recruited by Harvard or anyone if you don’t have a proven track record or experience at a high level of basketball. Not playiing Varsity as a sophomore is not a sin, but you should be an accomplished travel or AAU basketball player with incredible grades. You may want to read some of the Bios of the Harvard basketball team, as well as “the essential Guide to Ivy Athletic Recruiting” (on Amazon) that was authored by one of our contributors. You will learn a lot about Ivy recruiting for not a lot of coin. Good luck.</p>
<p>Also basketball at Harvard now is HOT<em>HOT</em>HOT. You may have read about this recent grad named Jeremy Lin? Well between Mr Lin and how well Harvard did this past season the coach will have a whole lot of potential recruits come to him that heretofore wouldn’t have even considered Harvard. </p>
<p>Not being varsity yet will make it very difficult – but not impossible if you are spectacularly impressive at a recognized summer camp but even that may not make up the difference. Of course if you are 6’10" and have a 3 foot vertical and weigh 265 --that could be a different story…:)</p>
<p>Clearly Harvard is on Your radar right now given the number and content of your posts…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1343606-im-heading-into-junior-year-i-want-become-recruit.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1343606-im-heading-into-junior-year-i-want-become-recruit.html</a></p>
<p>You need to be playing varsity and be a STAR player…and have top grades, test scores etc. </p>
<p>If basketball hasn’t been a passion until right now and you aren’t playing at that level…
why then the interest now and Harvard?.. and UPenn…</p>
<p>There are many fine universities in the US beyond the ivies.
Are you also looking at Canadian schools?</p>
<p>Also remember that suspensions usually stay on your record…
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1311148-suspended-fighting-self-defense.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1311148-suspended-fighting-self-defense.html</a></p>
<p>I’ve always like basketball and I’ve always been eager to play on a high school team except my parents moved around a lot, so I haven’t had much time to stick with one. While moving around a lot, I still played a lot of basketball, usually several hours a day if I wasn’t busy. Of course, it wasn’t at a very high level, but I’m still confident at proving my skills.</p>
<p>p.s. The suspension was under a zero tolerance fighting rule. I had to defend myself from the attacker and it wasn’t anything I started. Nothing was planned and all I wanted to do was get away without being hurt. Do they hurt if I’m able to justify them?</p>
<p>Although Harvard is an Ivy, it’s still a D-1 school and operates under NCAA mandates. More than likely, they have their recruits and targets for your class filled. If you matriculate to Harvard, your best option is to visit the coaches as soon as you step foot on campus and ask about the process of walking on…</p>