MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Lin Gains National Respect in Storied Career

For almost all Harvard students, résumé-building requires constant effort. Men’s basketball co-captain Jeremy Lin makes it look easy.

To name a few of his honors: unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection, finalist for the Bob Cousy Award and the John R. Wooden Award—given to the best point guard and all-around player of the year, respectively—and 2010 Lou Henson All-American.

And that was just this year.

After receiving zero Division I scholarships following a standout high-school career, Lin rose to prominence as one of the few Asian-American players in college basketball throughout his first three years at Harvard. Gracing the top-10 player list of 10 different statistical categories within his conference last year—the only player in the NCAA to perform such a feat—Lin’s numerical prowess continued through to his senior year as his persona grew increasingly large in the national eye. The guard led all Ivy players in steals at 2.4 per game and also worked his way into the top 10 in scoring (16.4), field goal percentage (.519), assists (4.6), blocked shots (1.1), assist/turnover ratio (1.5), defensive rebounds (3.6), and minutes played.

Furthermore, Lin brings more to the court than any statistical categories can describe—namely in attitude. Starting all 29 games for the Crimson en route to a 21-8 finish and a third-place, 10-4 Ivy season, Lin proved to be an integral part of the best season in Harvard history. Regardless, the point guard remains unsatisfied.

“I had the goal going into the season to win an Ivy championship, and we didn’t do that,” Lin said. “So I don’t feel a huge sense of accomplishment or fulfillment...we all appreciate setting the record, but I think we fell short of our ultimate goal.”

Goals fulfilled or not, Harvard coach Tommy Amaker ranks Lin as the top talent to walk the court at Lavietes.

“The best player to ever play at Harvard. Period,” Amaker wrote in an email.

In the final year of his career playing at Lavietes, Lin’s triumphant efforts in games against Boston College (25 points), Boston University (19 points), and a triple-overtime victory against William and Mary (19 points) sparked high hopes for the Crimson as it entered its conference season and brought additional media attention from the likes of Time Magazine, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated, all concentrated on the humble Palo Alto, Calif. native.

Even when the rest of the Crimson struggled in the Ivy arena, Lin’s electric pace could rarely be stopped. In Harvard’s four Ivy losses to Princeton and Cornell—the first- and second-ranked scoring defenses in the Ivy League, respectively—Lin averaged 17.5 points and was held to single digits only once.

With his collegiate career behind him, Lin now looks to start anew in the NBA. After earning an invitation to the Portsmouth Invitational last month, Lin continues ongoing training in Las Vegas, Nev. in preparation for a professional career. Although impressive, it will take more than Lin’s résumé to boost him to the next level.

But though his future in the NBA is uncertain, Lin’s accomplished career and legacy as one of Harvard’s best is clear.

—Staff writer Emmett Kistler can be reached at ekistler@fas.harvard.edu.