<p>To say Harry Flaherty grew up with a map to Princeton University is an understatement. Rutgers, Army and Harvard made strong overtures to the 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior tight end from Red Bank Catholic, but none of those schools have the same history with Flaherty, who will play for Princeton beginning this fall. </p>
<p>Flaherty's mother, Janine, is an older sister to a brother act that is synonymous with Princeton football, the Garretts: John, Class of 1988, a wide receiver who was a finalist for the Tigers' head coaching job in 2000; Jason, 1989, a quarterback and former Ivy League player of the year, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL and was named the Cowboys' offensive coordinator last month; and Judd, 1990, an all- league running back. </p>
<p>"That had a little influence," Flaherty said. "The decision came down to what was the best fit for me. The academics. They won the Ivy League title this past season. The campus, the coaches." </p>
<p>The program's first title since 1995, and a 16-4 record over the last two seasons, is paying dividends for Princeton. Although Ivy League schools do not announce recruiting classes until the spring, or offer the national letters of intent which many high school seniors signed with other Division I programs yesterday, research indicates eighth- year coach Roger Hughes has one of his better recruiting classes. </p>
<p>Headlining the class are offensive linemen Matt Boyer of Governor Livingston High and Jason Martin of Mifflinburg (Pa.) High; quarterback Bret Kan of Punahou High in Honolulu, Hawaii; wide receiver Matt Ransom of Salpointe High in Tucson, Ariz.; and cornerback Glen Wakam of St. Bonaventure High in Jacksonville, Fla. Delran High strong safety Kevin Dobes, son of Princeton linebackers coach Don Dobes, is part of the class. </p>
<p>Flaherty never saw his uncles play at Princeton, but he says he started going to games there about 10 years ago. He has followed their professional careers closely. Each has coached in the NFL, and Flaherty's grandfather, Jim Garrett, spent more than 30 years in the league as a coach and a scout. </p>
<p>Flaherty has 4.7-second speed in the 40-yard dash and an ability to find flaws in an opponent's coverage. He also has the size and blocking skills to play the H-back position that the Tigers sometimes utilize. </p>
<p>During his senior season at Red Bank Catholic, Flaherty caught 28 passes for 417 yards and five touchdowns for a 7-3 squad. He caught 14 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns for an 8-2 team as a junior. </p>
<p>"He's a coach on the field, as bright as can be," said Red Bank Catholic head coach Frank Edgerly. "We've been blessed the last three years. He's as good a communicator as far as assignments are concerned. </p>
<p>"This is probably the best compliment that I can give him: I have a 4-year-old son at home, and if he can grow up to be half the person that Harry is, I'll be blessed." </p>
<p>Flaherty, who said he has a 4.0 grade-point average and scored 2,220 out of a possible 2,400 on the new SAT, is considering majoring in history or religion, and is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Many Princeton players this past season were open about their religious faith. </p>
<p>"It probably has every aspect of college life that I was looking for," Flaherty said, "as far as athletically, academically, spiritually, socially." </p>