Nov. 4

Laurent Rivard, SG

St. Bruno, PQ, CAN

Crimson land Canadian sharpshooter

Shooting guard Laurent Rivard verbally committed to Harvard on Tuesday, according to The New England Recruiting Report.

Rivard, who played with the Canadian junior national team last summer, was also receiving high major interest but opted for an chance to play right away.

"I am going to have a chance to have an impact as a freshmen and that was really important to me," Rivard told the NERR. "I think that's the best way to get better, getting out and getting game experience."

ESPN's Scouts Inc. had this to say about Rivard following a summer travel team event.

"Laurent was one of the true sleepers of the Triple S Jam Fest tournament. Although he doesn't pass the look test of an elite level player his basketball IQ and court vision enabled him to time and time again locate the right teammate for the next pass.

"However, what allowed him to stand out was his ability to effortlessly knock down three after three from very deep range. The thing that separates him from many other shooters, and what makes him intriguing to the next level, is his big frame and strength that allows him to play against the stronger elite level players in this tournament effectively.

"He can score, he doesn't turn it over, he can finish on the break, he won't get knocked off the ball because of his size, and no one shot better throughout the tournament."

Rivard is the third recruit for head coach Tommy Amaker and his staff. He joins his Northfield-Mt. Hermon teammate Matt Brown and Montverde Academy (Fla.) center Ugo Okam in the Crimson's 2010 class.

Feb. 15

Kyle Casey, SF

Chestnut Hill, MA

SF Kyle Casey picks Crimson

Small forward Kyle Casey verbally committed to Harvard University on Thursday. The 6-foot-6 Casey had serious interest from high-major programs like Stanford, Vanderbilt and Providence along with Pennsylvania and Davidson.

The chance to receive a Harvard degree, as well as playing for the Crimson coaching staff, were what made up his mind, according to the Boston Globe.

"Harvard academics are Harvard academics. I had a lot of schools looking at me," Casey told the paper. "But Harvard expressed the most interest, they came to the most games to watch me. I just had a great relationship with coach (Will) Wade, coach (Brian) DeStefano and later Tommy Amaker. That was a huge contributor to my decision."

ESPN.com Recruiting Coordinator Antonio Williams breaks down Casey's commitment.

"The Crimson added a big-time wing prospect in Kyle Casey," he said. "Harvard beat out some quality high-major programs to keep Casey home, a major win for Tommy Amaker and his staff.

"Casey has a very diverse, mature offensive game and the ability to be effective offensively in a number of ways," Williams continued. "He has good but not great athleticism, which he uses to make plays on the offensive end. He has the ability to connect on jumpers with range that extends to the 3-point line, though he needs to continue to improve his consistency from the area."

Casey has the potential to become even better.

"He also has enough quickness to get into the lane, where he uses his good length and solid leaping ability to finish in traffic," Williams noted. "Casey will become even better off the dribble and in the paint when he adds strength and muscle to his frame.

"Kyle also plays with good energy on the defensive end, contesting shots in as well as out of his area and will battle for boards on both ends of the court," Williams concluded. "He should see the floor rather quickly at Harvard."

Oct. 8

Brandyn Curry, PG

Charlotte, NC

Brandyn Curry to Ivy League

Head coach Tommy Amaker and his staff at Harvard have a commitment from Brandyn Curry of Hopewell (Charlotte, N.C.).

The 6-foot-1 guard also considered Stanford and William & Mary.

Jul. 18

Dee Giger, SG

Arden, NC

Harvard nabs N.C. wing Dee Giger

6-foot-6 shooting guard Dee Giger verbally committed to Harvard on Thursday, according to multiple sources. Giger averaged 10.0 points per game as a junior on a loaded Christ School team which features Division I recruits Miles Plumlee (Duke), Mason Plumlee (Duke) and Lakeem Jackson (South Carolina). Giger turned down an offer from Williams and Mary in choosing the Crimson.

Oct. 29

Andrew Van Nest, PF

Northfield, MA

Andrew Van Nest lands in Ivy League

6-foot-10 power forward Andrew Van Nest has verbally committed to Harvard University, according to multiple sources. The Weston, Mass. native had offers from Northwestern and other Ivy Leagues schools but felt comfortable with the direction new head coach Tommy Amaker is taking the program. "The education, the city feel on the campus, what Coach Amaker is trying to do, it was all too good to pass up," Van Nest told the New England Recruiting Report.