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Harvard Basketball: Mohamed Bamba visits Crimson unofficially

By Carmine Carcieri

Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Harvard Crimson head coach Tommy Amaker talks with Crimson guard Corbin Miller (15) in the second half of a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Harvard Crimson head coach Tommy Amaker talks with Crimson guard Corbin Miller (15) in the second half of a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veteran Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Harvard basketball is starting to expose it’s muscles on the recruiting trail.

Harvard is one of the top universities in the nation and has been the heavyweight team in the Ivy League for years. Regardless of the school’s credentials, the Crimson have not been this impactful on the recruiting trail at any point in program history.

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Earlier this week, Tommy Amaker and the Crimson hosted five-star 2017 center Mohamed Bamba for an unofficial visit.

Bamba, who is ranked 4th in ESPN’s top 100 for the class of 2017, has offers from Arizona, UConn, Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Syracuse, Villanova, St. John’s and Missouri. He is the second best center in the class of 2017 and is the top player in the state of New York.

The 6’11”, 210 pound big man also took an official visit (one of five eligible officials) to Michigan this past weekend.

Bamba is an outstanding prospect and is a potential one-and-done lottery pick. He has absurd length (7’8″ wingspan and 9’5″ standing reach), is mobile and possesses excellent skills. The Westtown School product is explosive in the painted area, as he finishes with authority and power.

The center is also capable of stepping out to knock down mid-range jumpers, while also having a remarkable impact on the glass on both ends of the floor. He still lacks the strength necessary to be an effective post player, but once he is able to get into a college strength and conditioning program, he will likely fill out his frame and add some bulk.

While Harvard is very unlikely to land Bamba, it is promising for future recruiting purposes that the Crimson were able to even get a top-five recruit on campus.

Elite high school talents will now see that Bamba legitimately considered the school by taking a visit. This in turn could have a profound impact, giving Harvard the opportunity to host more five-star talents and to possibly blow them away with their facilities, academic reputation and location.

I’m not here to say that an Ivy League school will end up beating out Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona for multiple recruits. However, there is a chance that the Crimson do land a major commitment in the near future.

Amaker, the head coach of the Crimson, played and coached under Mike Krzyzewski and is a rising star in this business.

Also, just take a peak at Harvard’s 2016 recruiting class. The Crimson have seven newcomers, including four four-star recruits, Chris Lewis, Robert Baker Jr., Bryce Aiken, Seth Towns, who are all ranked in the ESPN top 100. While the highest ranking falls in the hands of Lewis at 68th overall, it’s still a massive step up from what Harvard is normally able to do on the recruiting trail.

Next: Syracuse rotation expectations

Maybe Bamba does indeed become the best recruit the Crimson have ever reeled in, but even if that’s not the case, the program is on the proper path and could eventually become a hot destination for certain young prospects.