The Bryce Aiken Sweepstakes is over and he’s headed to Harvard.
In the end, the 5-foot-11 point guard from the PSA Cardinals and Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick chose the Crimson over in-state Seton Hall and glamorous Miami because of the allure of an Ivy League education.
“It’s the No. 1 school in the world,” Aiken previously told SNY.tv. “The term ‘student-athlete’ is thrown out there a lot nowadays and most basketball players aren’t looking for academics and take high-academic schools for granted. Coach [Tommy] Amaker believes that I can take their program to the next level and I will play immediately.”
There had been hope among Seton Hall and its fans that Aiken would stay home and play with 2016 shooting guard Myles Powell, who comitted the same weekend he and Aiken visited.
“I would love to play with not only Myles, but with the current players they have there as well,” Aiken said after that visit last month.
Instead, Harvard is getting a diminutive yet poised and skilled floor general who has played at the highest levels on the high school and AAU circuit.
“Bryce Aiken is a super-skilled guard who’s eager to add new dimensions to his game every time he’s in the gym,” PSA Cardinals director Terrance ‘Munch’ Williams said. “He’s grown stronger physically and mentally each year. His playmaking ability is just beginning to scratch the surface. Combined with his basketball intelligence and work ethic, Bryce will be a coveted guard at the Division 1 level.”
Nick Richards, a 6-11 big man who plays with Aiken at St. Pat’s, says Harvard is getting a truly underrated player.
“I think he’s a great player,” he said. “He probably has the best IQ on the team, to me. I think he’s the most underrated guard.”
Photos: Lonnie Webb Photography
