Class of 2010 Update

In Harvard’s 79-73 loss to Connecticut last year, Jeremy Lin ’10 had a career night, scoring 30 points, grabbing nine rebounds and handing out three assists. Lin’s performance against the perennial powerhouse Huskies put him on the radar for NBA scouts, which led him to eventually land a roster spot on the Golden State Warriors. Lin isn’t the only athlete from the class of 2010 to go pro, though.

Andre Akpan ’10, former men’s soccer co-captain and Harvard’s all-time leading scorer, recently finished up his first season with the MLS’s Colorado Rapids, culminating in an MLS Cup championship for Colorado. Akpan appeared in only one game for the Rapids during the 2010 campaign, logging 13 minutes against Chivas USA and registering one shot on goal. The Rapids’ veteran forward duo of Connor Casey and Omar Cummings limited Akpan’s playing time, but he was still able to gain valuable experience playing in five games while on loan to the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies and one at Real Maryland. The 2009 Ivy Player of the Year also played in two matches for Colorado in U.S. Open Cup qualifying.

Akpan’s teammate, Kwaku Nyamekye ’10, was also selected in the fourth round of the 2010 MLS Super Draft by the Columbus Crew, but was not signed after failing to pass a medical examination. The first-team All-Ivy defender trained with Columbus after graduating in May, and went on trial with the Scottish club Rangers during last year’s J-term. Nyamekye will likely sign with Columbus for the 2011 season, as the club still retains his rights from the 2010 draft.

Colin West ’10, the 2010 College Squash Association Individual National Champion, joined the professional squash ranks and has risen to a career-high world ranking at No. 325. West reached the quarterfinals of the White Oaks Cup, a Professional Squash Association tour event, where he fell to world No. 63 and Canadian countryman Shawn Delierre, 3-1. West also defeated No. 124 Dane Sharp in the first round of the event.