Harvard Basketball: Bryce Aiken return makes Crimson Ivy favorite for 2019-20

Harvard Basketball fell short of an NCAA Tournament birth last season. However, with Bryce Aiken withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning for his senior season, look for Harvard to make it back to the big dance in 2019-20.

Despite very solid regular seasons the last few years, Harvard Basketball hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2015.  Harvard won a share of the regular season Ivy League in consecutive years only to lose in the tournament finals. With some close losses as well as tough injuries hopefully behind, Coach Tommy Amaker got great news when Bryce Aiken announced he would be returning for 2019-20 to play his senior season. Aiken highlights what could be a special group next season.

When healthy Aiken was among the nation’s most prolific scorers. Though he missed a decent chunk of the season to injury, in 18 games he averaged 22.2 points per game leading Harvard to a 13-5 record during that span. Aiken is listed at just 6’0, 175 pounds but is anything but limited in his ability to score in a variety of ways. He was able to knock down multiple three-point field goals in all but three games shooting a very impressive 39.8 3PT%. Inside the three-point line Aiken shot 46.5 2PT % and got to the free throw line with regularity averaging 6.2 free throw makes a game on the season. With Yale’s Miye Oni opting to keep his name in the NBA draft, Aiken should be the preseason favorite for Ivy League Player of the Year.

While coach Amaker has to be thrilled to have Aiken back, he should be almost equally ecstatic to hopefully have Seth Towns back to full health. Townes missed the entirety of the 2018-19 due to knee issues but will be back as a team captain this coming season. The 6’7 forward had a sensational 2017-18 sophomore season as he averaged 16.0 PPG and 5.7 RPG on his way to being declared Ivy League Player of the Year. Towns paired alongside Aiken alone should be a lethal one-two punch. And yet, Harvard has other dangerous options returning next season.

Noah Kirkwood will return for his sophomore year after winning the Ivy League rookie of the year award. He managed to be Harvard’s second leading scorer at 11.1 points per game despite coming off the bench most of the season. Chris Lewis featured as the Crimson’s paint protecter and led the Ivy League in blocked shots at 1.9 per game. Returning as well is Justin Bassey, an athletic guard who led the team in rebounding and finished fourth in scoring. Aiken, Towns, Kirkwood, Lewis, and Bassey would be quite the lineup if all can stay healthy.

If injuries do haunt the Crimson once again, the good news is Amaker has perhaps the deepest team he’s had in quite some time. Christian Juzang started most games for Harvard last season and will get significant time. Juzang led the team in minutes played with his ability to handle the basketball with poise and confidence. Danillo Djuricic and Robert Baker both started at least 10 games for Harvard and will give solid depth at the front court position. Kale Catchings and Rio Haskett both started six games a piece and are capable of giving some key minutes as well.

Harvard also gets to add incoming freshman Chris Ledlum and Luka Sakota. Ledlum ranks 89th and Sakota 127th per 247 sports as coach Amaker has the good problem of finding ways to get these two significant minutes amidst the solid existing talent. At 6’6 Ledlum profiles as an excellent athlete who should be ready to make an instant impact on both ends of the floor. The 6’5 Sakota is seen as a shooter who could really be a valuable asset to Harvard’s three-point shooting next season.

On paper, it is difficult to argue against Harvard having the best looking squad at the Ivy League heading into 2019-20. Yale losses a lot from their NCAA Tournament squad leaving Penn as most likely the biggest threat. It’s even possible Harvard could enter the season as a top 25 team. High expectations often come with higher challenges, but Harvard could have what it takes to fulfill the hype.