Crimson Madness Showcases a First Look at Harvard Basketball

Five Things We Learned

Men’s basketball beat reporter David Freed reflects on three things to take away from the squad’s opening scrimmage.

1. It’s 2012 All Over Again — For the first time in three years, the Crimson are going to be young. As in, really young. The team has six freshmen and just three seniors—one of which, Patrick Steeves, is still out with injury. Among the seniors, Agunwa Okolie looks like a starter on the wing, but Evan Cummins—who fell out of favor with Amaker midway through last year after some erratic early performances—may start on the bench. Sophomores Chris Egi and Andre Chatfield look like possible starters, and freshmen Tommy McCarthy and Weisner Perez will be early options off the bench.

2. Siyani Will Be Missed In A Big Way — The return of senior Siyani Chambers, who is taking a year of leave due to a torn ACL, for the weekend only accentuated the team’s presumed hole at point guard. McCarthy and junior Matt Fraschilla handled the ball for the two teams, both flashing good vision and poor shooting. Fraschilla in particular was a revolving door at one end, letting McCarthy get by at will.

3. Same Old Zena — Not many changes at Crimson Madness. For the third straight year, junior Zena Edosomwan looked like a star against his scrimmage competition—dominating on offense and getting to the rim at will. He won the dunk contest by—once again—jumping over a player on his team (freshman Balsa Dragovic this year, Egi lsat year). Ultimately, however, he looked a lot like the freshman who put up 18.2 points per 40 minutes—his offense may be more effective, but his defense and passing remain suspect.

Grading Friday’s Crimson Madness Contests

Men’s basketball beat writer Stephen Gleason gives out his report card for the dunk contest and three-point shooting contest. Junior Zena Edosomwan took home the dunk contest title, 110-107, over senior Agunwa Okolie, while sophomore Zach Yoshor won the three-point shootout. Note that all grades come on the Harvard grading scale.

Dunk Contest

Okolie: While he was strong and safe to start the evening, with a reverse dunk, he saved his best for last in the third round, a strong, one-handed 180-degree dunk. The swingman took off, spun, and threw down with his right hand. It was the dunk of the night. B+

Edosomwan: The junior brought the crowd to its feet with a rim-rocking windmill dunk to start the day, sticking his left elbow through the rim on the second, and jumped over 6’10” teammate freshman Balsa Dragovic in his last one. Overall, a solid performance from the Crimson’s top returning big. A-

Three Point Shootout

Corbin Miller: The most accomplished shooter of the lot, Miller never got going except for a stretch where he made four at the top of the key. Disappointing effort by the junior. C+

Weisner Perez: Listed at 6’6”, Perez was the tallest person to compete and acquainted himself well. He looks to be capable of being a stretch four on bench units. B-

Tommy McCarthy: The guard couldn’t find his shot in the scrimmage that followed, but acquainted himself well in the contest, finishing just short of the final round. B

Corey Johnson: The freshman had a look at the win in an impressive shooting performance. Good start for the young guard, who had a contest high 14 in the first round. A-

Zach Yoshor: Slow and steady, Yoshor flashed the best part of his game. Of course, he nearly clanged his in-game three off the side of the backboard during the scrimmage. A